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Whole brain radiation + Yervoy

Forums General Melanoma Community Whole brain radiation + Yervoy

  • Post
    PeterO
    Participant

      My docs have a plan to treat my metastatic melanoma to the brain that calls for concurrent treatment with whole brain radiation and Yervoy. Anyone else been down this road? Would like to hear from you if you have been. I've just posted on my blog about my thoughts, doubts and convictions about this treatment plan: http://www.theogler.blogspot.com.

      My docs have a plan to treat my metastatic melanoma to the brain that calls for concurrent treatment with whole brain radiation and Yervoy. Anyone else been down this road? Would like to hear from you if you have been. I've just posted on my blog about my thoughts, doubts and convictions about this treatment plan: http://www.theogler.blogspot.com.

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    • Replies
        kylez
        Participant

          Have they discussed the possible benefits / drawback of using beam radiation (Gamma Knife, CyberKnife, etc.) an alternative to WBR? Beam radiation is often used to treat the resected tumor bed (s) , as well as smaller brain tumors. Are there any more tumors detected at the preseent time beside the one already resected? 

          Yes, there has been some recent press from some reputable oncologists highlighting possible synergistic effects from simultatenous radiation and Yervoy immunotherapy treatment. The idea is that as radiation blasts melanoma cells into dead bits, those dead bits serve as a source material for the immune system to react to more strongly and develop a stronger recognition to / response against. 

          kylez
          Participant

            Have they discussed the possible benefits / drawback of using beam radiation (Gamma Knife, CyberKnife, etc.) an alternative to WBR? Beam radiation is often used to treat the resected tumor bed (s) , as well as smaller brain tumors. Are there any more tumors detected at the preseent time beside the one already resected? 

            Yes, there has been some recent press from some reputable oncologists highlighting possible synergistic effects from simultatenous radiation and Yervoy immunotherapy treatment. The idea is that as radiation blasts melanoma cells into dead bits, those dead bits serve as a source material for the immune system to react to more strongly and develop a stronger recognition to / response against. 

            kylez
            Participant

              Have they discussed the possible benefits / drawback of using beam radiation (Gamma Knife, CyberKnife, etc.) an alternative to WBR? Beam radiation is often used to treat the resected tumor bed (s) , as well as smaller brain tumors. Are there any more tumors detected at the preseent time beside the one already resected? 

              Yes, there has been some recent press from some reputable oncologists highlighting possible synergistic effects from simultatenous radiation and Yervoy immunotherapy treatment. The idea is that as radiation blasts melanoma cells into dead bits, those dead bits serve as a source material for the immune system to react to more strongly and develop a stronger recognition to / response against. 

              dellriol
              Participant

                I had a brain met removed in February, and the option we discussed for radiation was gamma knife.  If you don't have numerous mets, I'd definitely ask about it.  I am in a clinical trial of zelboraf, and it is also crossing the barrier and shrinking my one remaining brain met.  If it doesn't totally wipe it out, I will go with gamma knife. the way they explained it to me, that saves WBR for if more mets show up.

                dellriol
                Participant

                  I had a brain met removed in February, and the option we discussed for radiation was gamma knife.  If you don't have numerous mets, I'd definitely ask about it.  I am in a clinical trial of zelboraf, and it is also crossing the barrier and shrinking my one remaining brain met.  If it doesn't totally wipe it out, I will go with gamma knife. the way they explained it to me, that saves WBR for if more mets show up.

                  dellriol
                  Participant

                    I had a brain met removed in February, and the option we discussed for radiation was gamma knife.  If you don't have numerous mets, I'd definitely ask about it.  I am in a clinical trial of zelboraf, and it is also crossing the barrier and shrinking my one remaining brain met.  If it doesn't totally wipe it out, I will go with gamma knife. the way they explained it to me, that saves WBR for if more mets show up.

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