Wonderful news!
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Wonderful news!

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Wonderful news!

  • Post
    • October 19, 2011 at 11:06 am
    Terra
    Participant

    Hi!  We just received news yesterday morning that Derek is a late responder to ipi! 

    His last injection was Aug 10 and follow up scans showed both larger mets and new mets in liver, a new met behind eye, and a larger one in lung.  He was given immediate radiation to eye and lung for 5 days because the met in lung was encasing his bronchial tube and he could hardly breathe and after that they suggested chemo for palliative care and he was given 2-3 mos. 

    Hi!  We just received news yesterday morning that Derek is a late responder to ipi! 

    His last injection was Aug 10 and follow up scans showed both larger mets and new mets in liver, a new met behind eye, and a larger one in lung.  He was given immediate radiation to eye and lung for 5 days because the met in lung was encasing his bronchial tube and he could hardly breathe and after that they suggested chemo for palliative care and he was given 2-3 mos. 

    We contacted NCI for TIL immediately and after 1st visit we were told he needed to wait 3 wks for radiation to work in lung and steroids to get out of his system.  On pins and needles we returned home and waited, Derek had to redo a pulmonary function test and be rescanned at home before he was able to return – I think they had given up on him but strangely enough the radiation worked on his lung and his breathing test was much better so he was admitted to NCI on Sunday had an MRI on Monday – brain was clear, spent yesterday morning with the surgeon, etc to get ready for liver surgery today – in the meantime I had sent his scan to Toronto to be compared with his ipi scans on off chance he was a late responder (I wasn't holding out much hope but you just have to do these things). 

    Derek had left for Washington with his dad on Sunday and yesterday I received a call from our oncologist in Toronto with the best news – he had just received the scan and said the radiologist confirmed that one met in his liver appears to be stable, several mets have decreased by 50%, and still others have disappeared into the haze!

    They contacted Washington and Derek was released (just before surgery!) – so he is on his way home today! 

    We are happy and guarded – not knowing what to expect next and stunned by the only good news we have received in over 5 years – 3 babies and several treatments, clinical trials, major surgeries, and minor surgeries later it is hard to know what to do or think!

    Thank-you to so many of you for your thoughts and prayers!

    I will keep you updated!

Viewing 53 reply threads
  • Replies
      • October 19, 2011 at 11:29 am
      shellebrownies
      Participant

      This is fantastic news! I am so happy for you! We are praying for our own ipi miracle, so it great to hear success stories like yours. smiley

      Michelle, wife of Don

      • October 19, 2011 at 11:29 am
      shellebrownies
      Participant

      This is fantastic news! I am so happy for you! We are praying for our own ipi miracle, so it great to hear success stories like yours. smiley

      Michelle, wife of Don

      • October 19, 2011 at 11:29 am
      shellebrownies
      Participant

      This is fantastic news! I am so happy for you! We are praying for our own ipi miracle, so it great to hear success stories like yours. smiley

      Michelle, wife of Don

      • October 19, 2011 at 12:05 pm
      Gene_S
      Participant

      That is great news.  I am so happy for Derek and the family.  My prayers are that he keeps responding.

      Judy (loving wife and caregiver) and Gene (the patient)

      • October 19, 2011 at 12:05 pm
      Gene_S
      Participant

      That is great news.  I am so happy for Derek and the family.  My prayers are that he keeps responding.

      Judy (loving wife and caregiver) and Gene (the patient)

      • October 19, 2011 at 12:05 pm
      Gene_S
      Participant

      That is great news.  I am so happy for Derek and the family.  My prayers are that he keeps responding.

      Judy (loving wife and caregiver) and Gene (the patient)

      • October 19, 2011 at 12:06 pm
      FormerCaregiver
      Participant

      Terra, this is truly excellent news!! You and Derek remain in my prayers.

      Take care

      Frank from Australia

      • October 19, 2011 at 12:06 pm
      FormerCaregiver
      Participant

      Terra, this is truly excellent news!! You and Derek remain in my prayers.

      Take care

      Frank from Australia

      • October 19, 2011 at 12:06 pm
      FormerCaregiver
      Participant

      Terra, this is truly excellent news!! You and Derek remain in my prayers.

      Take care

      Frank from Australia

      • October 19, 2011 at 12:30 pm
      jim Breitfeller
      Participant

      Tera,

      Congrats on Derek being a responder to Yervoy

      Aug10 = day 63 of Yervoy therapy. If you add two months to that time you get approx. (60 day) + 1 week to bring you to about Oct 18th. 63+60+7=  130 days to tumor shrinkage.

      http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZkKD3zog9FQ/Tp7AX7qd1cI/AAAAAAAAAjk/cjqReUDy9ks/s1600/Yervoy%2Bdosing%2Bassessment%2Bschedule%2B2011.jpg

      http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8-uZNZRC1ww/Tp7C_BybU6I/AAAAAAAAAjw/7nSBuCbUonw/s1600/Yervoy%2B4%2Bdoses%2B10-19-2011.jpg

      I wish you and Derek all the best

       

      Jimmy B

      • October 19, 2011 at 12:30 pm
      jim Breitfeller
      Participant

      Tera,

      Congrats on Derek being a responder to Yervoy

      Aug10 = day 63 of Yervoy therapy. If you add two months to that time you get approx. (60 day) + 1 week to bring you to about Oct 18th. 63+60+7=  130 days to tumor shrinkage.

      http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZkKD3zog9FQ/Tp7AX7qd1cI/AAAAAAAAAjk/cjqReUDy9ks/s1600/Yervoy%2Bdosing%2Bassessment%2Bschedule%2B2011.jpg

      http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8-uZNZRC1ww/Tp7C_BybU6I/AAAAAAAAAjw/7nSBuCbUonw/s1600/Yervoy%2B4%2Bdoses%2B10-19-2011.jpg

      I wish you and Derek all the best

       

      Jimmy B

        • October 19, 2011 at 1:03 pm
        Lisa13
        Participant

        Terra,

        Congratulations on this wonderful news!  I'm so happy for you and your family!  Derek must thrilled!  This is why it's important to always remain positive and never give up.  🙂

        I hope Derek's tumours keep shrinking and remains stable for a long time.

        Lisa

        • October 19, 2011 at 1:03 pm
        Lisa13
        Participant

        Terra,

        Congratulations on this wonderful news!  I'm so happy for you and your family!  Derek must thrilled!  This is why it's important to always remain positive and never give up.  🙂

        I hope Derek's tumours keep shrinking and remains stable for a long time.

        Lisa

        • October 19, 2011 at 1:03 pm
        Lisa13
        Participant

        Terra,

        Congratulations on this wonderful news!  I'm so happy for you and your family!  Derek must thrilled!  This is why it's important to always remain positive and never give up.  🙂

        I hope Derek's tumours keep shrinking and remains stable for a long time.

        Lisa

      • October 19, 2011 at 12:30 pm
      jim Breitfeller
      Participant

      Tera,

      Congrats on Derek being a responder to Yervoy

      Aug10 = day 63 of Yervoy therapy. If you add two months to that time you get approx. (60 day) + 1 week to bring you to about Oct 18th. 63+60+7=  130 days to tumor shrinkage.

      http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZkKD3zog9FQ/Tp7AX7qd1cI/AAAAAAAAAjk/cjqReUDy9ks/s1600/Yervoy%2Bdosing%2Bassessment%2Bschedule%2B2011.jpg

      http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8-uZNZRC1ww/Tp7C_BybU6I/AAAAAAAAAjw/7nSBuCbUonw/s1600/Yervoy%2B4%2Bdoses%2B10-19-2011.jpg

      I wish you and Derek all the best

       

      Jimmy B

      • October 19, 2011 at 1:12 pm
      justlittleoleme
      Participant

      Woohoo!!!

      Great news!

      • October 19, 2011 at 1:12 pm
      justlittleoleme
      Participant

      Woohoo!!!

      Great news!

      • October 19, 2011 at 1:12 pm
      justlittleoleme
      Participant

      Woohoo!!!

      Great news!

      • October 19, 2011 at 1:28 pm
      NYKaren
      Participant

      Fantastic news.  I'm so happy for you and Derek!

      • October 19, 2011 at 1:28 pm
      NYKaren
      Participant

      Fantastic news.  I'm so happy for you and Derek!

      • October 19, 2011 at 1:28 pm
      NYKaren
      Participant

      Fantastic news.  I'm so happy for you and Derek!

      • October 19, 2011 at 1:54 pm
      TracyLee
      Participant

      Terra,

      I was so excited to read your post!

      God is good, prayer works, go hug Derek and your girls! Enjoy this happy, happy news, you both deserve it!

      TracyLee

      Stage IV May 2011

      • October 19, 2011 at 1:54 pm
      TracyLee
      Participant

      Terra,

      I was so excited to read your post!

      God is good, prayer works, go hug Derek and your girls! Enjoy this happy, happy news, you both deserve it!

      TracyLee

      Stage IV May 2011

      • October 19, 2011 at 1:54 pm
      TracyLee
      Participant

      Terra,

      I was so excited to read your post!

      God is good, prayer works, go hug Derek and your girls! Enjoy this happy, happy news, you both deserve it!

      TracyLee

      Stage IV May 2011

      • October 19, 2011 at 2:52 pm
      Rebecca and Bob
      Participant

      Terra,

       

      Great news! You both deserve and break and hopefully only more good news to come.

       

      Rebecca

      • October 19, 2011 at 2:52 pm
      Rebecca and Bob
      Participant

      Terra,

       

      Great news! You both deserve and break and hopefully only more good news to come.

       

      Rebecca

      • October 19, 2011 at 2:52 pm
      Rebecca and Bob
      Participant

      Terra,

       

      Great news! You both deserve and break and hopefully only more good news to come.

       

      Rebecca

      • October 19, 2011 at 3:45 pm
      mombase
      Participant

      That is SO awesome, Terra! May continued tumor elimination come Derek's way!

      Cristy, Stage IV

      • October 19, 2011 at 3:45 pm
      mombase
      Participant

      That is SO awesome, Terra! May continued tumor elimination come Derek's way!

      Cristy, Stage IV

      • October 19, 2011 at 3:45 pm
      mombase
      Participant

      That is SO awesome, Terra! May continued tumor elimination come Derek's way!

      Cristy, Stage IV

      • October 19, 2011 at 6:34 pm
      Carol Taylor
      Participant

      Terra,

      I am so thrilled for you, Derek, and your family! A true hallelujah moment! Prayers for many more.

      Grace and peace,

      Carol

      • October 19, 2011 at 6:34 pm
      Carol Taylor
      Participant

      Terra,

      I am so thrilled for you, Derek, and your family! A true hallelujah moment! Prayers for many more.

      Grace and peace,

      Carol

      • October 19, 2011 at 6:34 pm
      Carol Taylor
      Participant

      Terra,

      I am so thrilled for you, Derek, and your family! A true hallelujah moment! Prayers for many more.

      Grace and peace,

      Carol

      • October 19, 2011 at 7:34 pm
      lhaley
      Participant

      I am so thrilled to hear good news. Keep it up.

      Blessings to your family to continue improving and enjoying life.

      linda

      • October 19, 2011 at 7:34 pm
      lhaley
      Participant

      I am so thrilled to hear good news. Keep it up.

      Blessings to your family to continue improving and enjoying life.

      linda

      • October 19, 2011 at 7:34 pm
      lhaley
      Participant

      I am so thrilled to hear good news. Keep it up.

      Blessings to your family to continue improving and enjoying life.

      linda

      • October 19, 2011 at 10:09 pm
      James from Sydney
      Participant

      Dear Terra the emotions you guys are going through must be unbelievable, i am so so happy for you both. 

      best wishes

      James

      • October 19, 2011 at 10:09 pm
      James from Sydney
      Participant

      Dear Terra the emotions you guys are going through must be unbelievable, i am so so happy for you both. 

      best wishes

      James

      • October 19, 2011 at 10:09 pm
      James from Sydney
      Participant

      Dear Terra the emotions you guys are going through must be unbelievable, i am so so happy for you both. 

      best wishes

      James

      • October 19, 2011 at 11:17 pm
      jag
      Participant

      Terra, that is great news! Chest bump Derek for me, and I hope the late responding keeps responding.

      John

      • October 19, 2011 at 11:17 pm
      jag
      Participant

      Terra, that is great news! Chest bump Derek for me, and I hope the late responding keeps responding.

      John

      • October 19, 2011 at 11:17 pm
      jag
      Participant

      Terra, that is great news! Chest bump Derek for me, and I hope the late responding keeps responding.

      John

      • October 20, 2011 at 1:23 am
      Jim M.
      Participant

      Terra,

       I am so excited for you and Derek. I will be praying for continued and durable response from Yervoy!

      God Bless,

       Jim M.

      • October 20, 2011 at 1:23 am
      Jim M.
      Participant

      Terra,

       I am so excited for you and Derek. I will be praying for continued and durable response from Yervoy!

      God Bless,

       Jim M.

      • October 20, 2011 at 1:23 am
      Jim M.
      Participant

      Terra,

       I am so excited for you and Derek. I will be praying for continued and durable response from Yervoy!

      God Bless,

       Jim M.

      • October 20, 2011 at 2:12 am
      triciad
      Participant

      I just love good news before going to bed.  Tonight I will have happy dreams.  Congratulations on the wonderful news and I pray Derek is on the road to NED.  You wil be in my thougts and prayers…keep smiling!!!!

      Tricia

      • October 20, 2011 at 2:12 am
      triciad
      Participant

      I just love good news before going to bed.  Tonight I will have happy dreams.  Congratulations on the wonderful news and I pray Derek is on the road to NED.  You wil be in my thougts and prayers…keep smiling!!!!

      Tricia

      • October 20, 2011 at 2:12 am
      triciad
      Participant

      I just love good news before going to bed.  Tonight I will have happy dreams.  Congratulations on the wonderful news and I pray Derek is on the road to NED.  You wil be in my thougts and prayers…keep smiling!!!!

      Tricia

      • October 20, 2011 at 2:15 am
      ValinMtl
      Participant

      Terra, what wonderful news.  I am so happy for you, Derek and your young family…I pray good news may go on forever and ever.  Val xx

      • October 20, 2011 at 2:15 am
      ValinMtl
      Participant

      Terra, what wonderful news.  I am so happy for you, Derek and your young family…I pray good news may go on forever and ever.  Val xx

      • October 20, 2011 at 2:15 am
      ValinMtl
      Participant

      Terra, what wonderful news.  I am so happy for you, Derek and your young family…I pray good news may go on forever and ever.  Val xx

      • October 20, 2011 at 7:08 am
      JerryfromFauq
      Participant

      WOW, LOVE to hear such reports.  Sounds  like y'all are in the situation like me, I keep looking up and saying what have YOU kept me here to do?  Figure he must have someting more for me to do on this earth!

      • October 20, 2011 at 7:08 am
      JerryfromFauq
      Participant

      WOW, LOVE to hear such reports.  Sounds  like y'all are in the situation like me, I keep looking up and saying what have YOU kept me here to do?  Figure he must have someting more for me to do on this earth!

      • October 20, 2011 at 7:08 am
      JerryfromFauq
      Participant

      WOW, LOVE to hear such reports.  Sounds  like y'all are in the situation like me, I keep looking up and saying what have YOU kept me here to do?  Figure he must have someting more for me to do on this earth!

      • October 20, 2011 at 10:04 am
      MariaH
      Participant

      So very very very happy for you both!  And thank you so much for sharing.  It gives so many others hope.

      May he continue to respond for a long time to come 🙂

       

      Best wishes,

      Maria

      • October 20, 2011 at 10:04 am
      MariaH
      Participant

      So very very very happy for you both!  And thank you so much for sharing.  It gives so many others hope.

      May he continue to respond for a long time to come 🙂

       

      Best wishes,

      Maria

      • October 20, 2011 at 10:04 am
      MariaH
      Participant

      So very very very happy for you both!  And thank you so much for sharing.  It gives so many others hope.

      May he continue to respond for a long time to come 🙂

       

      Best wishes,

      Maria

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