Hello all,
I haven't been on here lately to post, just been reading when I have time, but I thought I would give an update.
My mom completed all 4 infusions of the ipi/nivo combo, after some delay of the last treatment due to side effects. She has been on prednoisine (spelling..??) for a few months now. She is swollen to the point where she is in pain and can barely put shoes on. Her rash has been to the point where it basically overtook her entire body and she had such itchiness that even the Benadryl wasn't working. They upped her dose of the steroid multiple times (it was over 70mg twice a day at one point). She stopped the carbo/taxol about 2 months ago. After the first infusion of the chemo, about a week later she had lost about 10 lbs. Her stomach (the primary location of the tumor on her ovary which was grapefruit sized), had basically gone back down to normal size and she could now function normally. All of us, including the Dr, cannot believe how fast this happened. After completing the 4th dose, she just had her first dose of the nivo for the maintainence phase of the treatment.
No scans have been done yet. My only assumption as to why is the primary tumor, which I think was the only tumor, we know had shrunk after the chemo/immunotherapy combo. The Dr. did mention scans in the new year and having her on a scan schedule for however long after that. She is only currently approved for the nivo period until mid-March, so I am unsure if that will be extended or not.
I had to return to school since my program is so competitive if I take anymore time off I may not be re-admitted. I am nervous to leave my mom alone, but she has been able to drive and function on her own ever since the dang tumor shrunk anyway! The Dr kept telling me not to worry and mom would be fine. Nurses keep saying they have had a lot of luck with the ipi/nivo treatment, especially with side effects similar to my mom, but I guess it is in my sole duty to continue to worry!
I have been following the site from time to time, I continue to pray for all of you on this site! My neighbors as well who are good friends of my mom have also been keeping everyone who is diagnosed in their prayers (I would share stories about this site frequently to them), especially since the one neighbors son has been battling lung cancer this past year.
I also wanted to say thank you to those who have followed my moms story and have been supportive along the way. This website has been a lifesaver for me and her, especially since we had no idea where to go once she was diagnosed. Through this site and learning about melanoma specialists, along with speaking with many who area dealing/dealt with melanoma, saved her life since our current Dr said she would have been gone 12 weeks ago. (The first hospital we had been to basically didn't deal with melanoma and was going to give her the wrong treatment). She ended up making it to her birthday and to the new year. Now we are planning for her to visit me over my break. As I cry and type this I just wanted to say thank you to all once again. Hopefully the new year and her scans will bring us good news and I hope the new year brings good news to all of you who are fighting as well.
Melissa
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