› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Update and itching!
- This topic has 23 replies, 8 voices, and was last updated 6 years, 11 months ago by
thlavallee.
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- October 19, 2015 at 3:00 am
I was diagnosed in January, in transit met in my back was removed in February. Mets in my lungs, bowel, and lymph nodes being treated with the ipi/nivo combo trial in March. I was only able to tolerate one dose of the two meds, and once my thyroid was normalized and I was weened off prednisone, treatments of just nivo resumed. CT scan in June showed shrinkage of just about everything, and scan in August only mentioned the mesenteric lymph node! CT scan last week shows the lung mets again, as well as the mesenteric nodes. The lung mets are unchanged in size from June, but are less conspicuous. Mesenteric nodes are unchanged. I questioned why the August scan report made no mention of the lung nodules, and I was told it's because the wrong scan was ordered, so the lungs weren't scanned. But apparently they scanned enough that the bottom of the lungs are in the scan, and the nodules are so small the radiologist didn't even see them. That answer just doesn't sit well with me, but I'm focusing on that unchanged means stable, and overall, I have a very good scan report!
The biggest problem I've been having is that I have pretty bad reactions to the CT contrast, sometimes landing me in the hospital. We thought at first that it was a combination of the contrast and the nivo, since I was doing scans on the same day as treatments. But for the scan last week we decided to do it on the opposite week of my treatment, to see if I could tolerate just the ct contrast. It turns out I couldn't, so now we will have to make a decision on how to scan me from now on. The option we seem to be leaning towards is premedicating me with prednisone 24, 12, and 2 hours before my next scan.
With every adverse reaction came a delay in treatments. I just had my first treatment in a month (car broke down on my way to treatment two weeks ago) and I can't stop itching! I'm itching on most of my body, but especially my hands, arms, and torso. Has anybody experienced this, and if so, what worked for you? Thank you!!!
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- October 19, 2015 at 6:22 pm
Hi Eileen – Sorry about the side effects. The good news is your Tcells are working. Perhaps to overzealously.
I'm just on Keytruda (Pembro) but I experience significant dryness/itching on my hands, feet and some patches of my body (weird places like my wrist or ankle). I use Eucerin Intensive repair hand cream for my hands and feet. I was already predisposed to dry hands and this is my preferred one. Others use some type of oatmeal based calamine lotion.
For other areas (and my hands too), I use ammonium lactate. It's not particularly fun to use (smells) but it smooths rough spots and calms down itching. DO NOT USE it if you have any cuts or knicks or raw areas – it will burn and be very uncomfortable.
Don't worry. Itchiness is a common side effect.
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- October 19, 2015 at 6:22 pm
Hi Eileen – Sorry about the side effects. The good news is your Tcells are working. Perhaps to overzealously.
I'm just on Keytruda (Pembro) but I experience significant dryness/itching on my hands, feet and some patches of my body (weird places like my wrist or ankle). I use Eucerin Intensive repair hand cream for my hands and feet. I was already predisposed to dry hands and this is my preferred one. Others use some type of oatmeal based calamine lotion.
For other areas (and my hands too), I use ammonium lactate. It's not particularly fun to use (smells) but it smooths rough spots and calms down itching. DO NOT USE it if you have any cuts or knicks or raw areas – it will burn and be very uncomfortable.
Don't worry. Itchiness is a common side effect.
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- October 19, 2015 at 6:38 pm
Eileen: My husband's on Keytruda X 1 yr & itching from the get-go, about a 5 (1-10 scale) trunk, arms & legs. Sorry, it seems to go with the treatment. Uses an oatmeal lotion on back with not that much reduction. Just lives with it and glad Keytruda holding tumor in check. Sorry about your allergic reaction to contrast dye and hope that problem can be resolved. Best wishes. A.L.
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- May 12, 2017 at 2:42 pm
I read on this site about the use of benedryl. Called my cancer treatment team for an ok for its use . Got an OK. Tried it . Worked great! Major reduction in the torment of the itch. Best wishes
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- October 19, 2015 at 6:38 pm
Eileen: My husband's on Keytruda X 1 yr & itching from the get-go, about a 5 (1-10 scale) trunk, arms & legs. Sorry, it seems to go with the treatment. Uses an oatmeal lotion on back with not that much reduction. Just lives with it and glad Keytruda holding tumor in check. Sorry about your allergic reaction to contrast dye and hope that problem can be resolved. Best wishes. A.L.
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- October 19, 2015 at 6:38 pm
Eileen: My husband's on Keytruda X 1 yr & itching from the get-go, about a 5 (1-10 scale) trunk, arms & legs. Sorry, it seems to go with the treatment. Uses an oatmeal lotion on back with not that much reduction. Just lives with it and glad Keytruda holding tumor in check. Sorry about your allergic reaction to contrast dye and hope that problem can be resolved. Best wishes. A.L.
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- October 19, 2015 at 6:22 pm
Hi Eileen – Sorry about the side effects. The good news is your Tcells are working. Perhaps to overzealously.
I'm just on Keytruda (Pembro) but I experience significant dryness/itching on my hands, feet and some patches of my body (weird places like my wrist or ankle). I use Eucerin Intensive repair hand cream for my hands and feet. I was already predisposed to dry hands and this is my preferred one. Others use some type of oatmeal based calamine lotion.
For other areas (and my hands too), I use ammonium lactate. It's not particularly fun to use (smells) but it smooths rough spots and calms down itching. DO NOT USE it if you have any cuts or knicks or raw areas – it will burn and be very uncomfortable.
Don't worry. Itchiness is a common side effect.
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- October 20, 2015 at 12:13 am
Eileen,
Sorry to hear about all of you side effects. I am on Opdivo as well and I did get a minor rash after one infusion. It lasted two days and went away. I have developed joint pain in my back and fingers. I took Percocets for it.
I have never had a reaction to contrast from my CT's, MRI's or PET. Do you have an allergic reaction to Shellfish? if so you may be allergic to iodine.
Tom
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- October 20, 2015 at 2:59 am
Thank you all! All things considered, my sideffects have been pretty easy to deal with. The worst was the diarrhea, but even that has decreased quite a bit. I'm very lucky! I will try these suggestions… Thank you all so much!
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- October 20, 2015 at 2:59 am
Thank you all! All things considered, my sideffects have been pretty easy to deal with. The worst was the diarrhea, but even that has decreased quite a bit. I'm very lucky! I will try these suggestions… Thank you all so much!
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- October 20, 2015 at 2:59 am
Thank you all! All things considered, my sideffects have been pretty easy to deal with. The worst was the diarrhea, but even that has decreased quite a bit. I'm very lucky! I will try these suggestions… Thank you all so much!
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- May 12, 2017 at 2:49 pm
Can't thank you enough! The reduction of the torment ot the itch with the use of benadryl WOW!
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- October 20, 2015 at 12:13 am
Eileen,
Sorry to hear about all of you side effects. I am on Opdivo as well and I did get a minor rash after one infusion. It lasted two days and went away. I have developed joint pain in my back and fingers. I took Percocets for it.
I have never had a reaction to contrast from my CT's, MRI's or PET. Do you have an allergic reaction to Shellfish? if so you may be allergic to iodine.
Tom
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- October 20, 2015 at 12:13 am
Eileen,
Sorry to hear about all of you side effects. I am on Opdivo as well and I did get a minor rash after one infusion. It lasted two days and went away. I have developed joint pain in my back and fingers. I took Percocets for it.
I have never had a reaction to contrast from my CT's, MRI's or PET. Do you have an allergic reaction to Shellfish? if so you may be allergic to iodine.
Tom
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- October 20, 2015 at 4:54 pm
This might be a stange question, but have the doctor’s mentioned anything about how hydrated you are when you get scanned?I ask this because hydration can play a role in how your body reactions to the contrast.
There are also different contrasts, as I understand it, that can be used. Have you asked if others could be used?
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- October 20, 2015 at 4:54 pm
This might be a stange question, but have the doctor’s mentioned anything about how hydrated you are when you get scanned?I ask this because hydration can play a role in how your body reactions to the contrast.
There are also different contrasts, as I understand it, that can be used. Have you asked if others could be used?
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- October 20, 2015 at 4:54 pm
This might be a stange question, but have the doctor’s mentioned anything about how hydrated you are when you get scanned?I ask this because hydration can play a role in how your body reactions to the contrast.
There are also different contrasts, as I understand it, that can be used. Have you asked if others could be used?
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- October 24, 2015 at 5:03 am
Hi Eileen. I haven't been on the board in awhile and just saw your post. Poopy. Ugh…. I wanted to only hear good news from you (I'm sure you also wanted to give good news). I'm not any help concerning your CT issue, but I hope you get it figured out.
Xoxo
Ashley
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- October 24, 2015 at 5:03 am
Hi Eileen. I haven't been on the board in awhile and just saw your post. Poopy. Ugh…. I wanted to only hear good news from you (I'm sure you also wanted to give good news). I'm not any help concerning your CT issue, but I hope you get it figured out.
Xoxo
Ashley
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- October 24, 2015 at 5:03 am
Hi Eileen. I haven't been on the board in awhile and just saw your post. Poopy. Ugh…. I wanted to only hear good news from you (I'm sure you also wanted to give good news). I'm not any help concerning your CT issue, but I hope you get it figured out.
Xoxo
Ashley
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