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YERVOY (IPI, Ipilumumab) VS. Radiation – HELP
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YERVOY (IPI, Ipilumumab) VS. Radiation – HELP

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › YERVOY (IPI, Ipilumumab) VS. Radiation – HELP

  • Post
    • April 15, 2011 at 7:01 pm
    prayin4cr
    Participant

      My father (age 71) was diagnosed with stage 4 Melanoma about 2 years ago.

      Treated with IL2 first – got rid of Melanoma in hus liver, and shrunk nodes

      Treated next with oncovex – mixed reaction – killed some tumor and some grew

      Resection – got most, but grew back on nodes

      Other treatment – some pill (forget name) – mixed – they did surgery on tumor – now has large gaping hole and substantial tumor, hard to heal

      My dad was with a great Melanoma specialist, but now is back with Kaiser's more general oncology.

      My father (age 71) was diagnosed with stage 4 Melanoma about 2 years ago.

      Treated with IL2 first – got rid of Melanoma in hus liver, and shrunk nodes

      Treated next with oncovex – mixed reaction – killed some tumor and some grew

      Resection – got most, but grew back on nodes

      Other treatment – some pill (forget name) – mixed – they did surgery on tumor – now has large gaping hole and substantial tumor, hard to heal

      My dad was with a great Melanoma specialist, but now is back with Kaiser's more general oncology.

      He was planning on doing Yervoy (was scheduled in 3 weeks to start)

      The Kaiser general oncologist is recommending Radiation instead of Yervoy (IPI). 

      To me and my mother, it seems like the Yervoy would be the better option.

      Any opinions would be welcome.

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    • Replies
        • April 15, 2011 at 8:37 pm
        nicoli
        Participant

          I am beginning radiation next week (on my scalp) to try to kill remaining melanoma cells after surgery. It is my understanding that radiation can kill melanoma CELLS, but tumors… not so much.  Can your oncologist contact a specialist to double check?

          Nicki, Stage 3b, scalp, wide excision with skin graft, SNB, neck dissection, local recurrence, biochemo, more extensive scalp surger (flap), radiation.

            • April 15, 2011 at 11:46 pm
            ValinMtl
            Participant

              Like Nicki, my radiation was to 'hopefully' kill remaining melanoma cells in the area of my surgery.  And believe me it wasn't a walk in the park…the doctor was very aggressive using a 'bolus' to draw the treatment to the surface, so ended up with 2nd degree burns.  Alas, melanoma came back within 2 months as cutaneous melanoma (mucho on my leg by the time ipi trial was approved in September 2010). 

              Ipi/yervoy treats systemic melanoma (without knowing all the facts, I would assume your father is considered in this category).  Very little side affects…rather easy compared to interferon. Worked well to kill the cutaneous melanoma. Alas, mel raised its ugly head in the CT scan in November and the fight continues on from there…so I am back on 2nd round of ipi (2nd treatment yesterday).  Would I do ipi again, you betcha…it has lengthened my life so far and pray it continues to do so..hope it can, if not next trial will be IL 2 vs Dicarbazine (say a prayer that I get on the IL 2 arm..we live in Canada where IL 2 is not approved yet).  Wishing your father the best.  Val

              • April 16, 2011 at 12:10 am
              ValinMtl
              Participant

                Michael is right, I actually came running back to computer to add as a subscript…'these are just my thoughts, I would suggest getting a second opinion'…Val

                • April 16, 2011 at 12:10 am
                ValinMtl
                Participant

                  Michael is right, I actually came running back to computer to add as a subscript…'these are just my thoughts, I would suggest getting a second opinion'…Val

                  • April 15, 2011 at 11:46 pm
                  ValinMtl
                  Participant

                    Like Nicki, my radiation was to 'hopefully' kill remaining melanoma cells in the area of my surgery.  And believe me it wasn't a walk in the park…the doctor was very aggressive using a 'bolus' to draw the treatment to the surface, so ended up with 2nd degree burns.  Alas, melanoma came back within 2 months as cutaneous melanoma (mucho on my leg by the time ipi trial was approved in September 2010). 

                    Ipi/yervoy treats systemic melanoma (without knowing all the facts, I would assume your father is considered in this category).  Very little side affects…rather easy compared to interferon. Worked well to kill the cutaneous melanoma. Alas, mel raised its ugly head in the CT scan in November and the fight continues on from there…so I am back on 2nd round of ipi (2nd treatment yesterday).  Would I do ipi again, you betcha…it has lengthened my life so far and pray it continues to do so..hope it can, if not next trial will be IL 2 vs Dicarbazine (say a prayer that I get on the IL 2 arm..we live in Canada where IL 2 is not approved yet).  Wishing your father the best.  Val

                  • April 15, 2011 at 8:37 pm
                  nicoli
                  Participant

                    I am beginning radiation next week (on my scalp) to try to kill remaining melanoma cells after surgery. It is my understanding that radiation can kill melanoma CELLS, but tumors… not so much.  Can your oncologist contact a specialist to double check?

                    Nicki, Stage 3b, scalp, wide excision with skin graft, SNB, neck dissection, local recurrence, biochemo, more extensive scalp surger (flap), radiation.

                    • April 16, 2011 at 12:06 am
                    MichaelFL
                    Participant

                      As the others have said, radiation is used to "clean up"or for pain management. Not sure why the onc is going for this.

                      Maybe the onc feels he will not do well with the Yervoy due to his age?

                      Perhaps discuss this further with the onc.

                      Michael

                      • April 16, 2011 at 12:06 am
                      MichaelFL
                      Participant

                        As the others have said, radiation is used to "clean up"or for pain management. Not sure why the onc is going for this.

                        Maybe the onc feels he will not do well with the Yervoy due to his age?

                        Perhaps discuss this further with the onc.

                        Michael

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