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Yervoy Side Effects After Treatment
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Yervoy Side Effects After Treatment

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Yervoy Side Effects After Treatment

  • Post
    • February 28, 2015 at 3:23 am
    mrsaxde
    Participant

      I finished the treatment course with Yervoy in January. Went back for a post treatment scan a week ago, and the results are encouraging. Several questionable areas, including one on a lung, that were new in November, but weren't "hot" on the PET scan, are unchanged, and still not hot. I do have one area that was mildly hot ("warm" my oncologist called it) with an SUV of 3.03, on my back.

      Throughout the treatment I've been dealing with the typical rash, and I've been on prednisone for over two months now. But, all through the time between the infusions, the rash was the only issue.

      About a week after the last infusion, a pain developed between the bottom of my ribcage, and my navel. My doctor thgought it was due to the prednisone, and advised me to take Maalox. That seemed to help for a while, but soon it got worse, and became more widespread throughout my abdomen. Maalox no longer provided any relief.

      For about a week now, I have been unable to eat much of anything. Almost everything I eat gives me pain, gas, diarrhea, and bloating. I was told to take Immodium for the diarrhea, and to help the pain. It helps, but not completely. It was also recommended that I try the BRAT diet (bananas, rice, applesauce, toast), but not even those are very tolerable, unless taken in very small amounts.

      After that long introduction, my questions:

      I'm wondering if anyone else who has been given Yervoy has experienced a worsening of side effects after the treatments ended, and if so, how long did it last before they began to subside? Also, does anyone have any recommendations about things I could try to eat? I've lost 10 pounds in just over a week.

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    • Replies
        • February 28, 2015 at 11:41 am
        Mat
        Participant

          Some of the symptoms you describe are symptoms of colitis, which can be dangerous.  Colitis is a well-known potential side effect.  When diagnosed properly, it can be dealt with through high dose steroids (high doses of prednisone or, if needed, Remicade).  Colitis is diagnosed with a colonoscopy (and possibly through a CT scan).  Are you with a melanoma specialist?

            • February 28, 2015 at 4:31 pm
            mrsaxde
            Participant

              I don' think my oncologist is a melanoma specialist. I had a PET-CT scan done a week ago yesterday, and my doctor told me to continue my current dosing of prednisone for two more weeks, rather than taper it sooner. There was no mention of colitis on the radiologist's report from the scan.

              • March 1, 2015 at 7:17 pm
              Mat
              Participant

                I don't know whether colitis will show up on a PET versus a regular CT.  In my case, colitis did not show on a regular CT, but rather was diagnosed with a colonoscopy.  I would suggest consulting with–and potentially moving your care to–a melanoma specialist if possible.

                • March 6, 2015 at 9:42 am
                jogo
                Participant

                  A gastroenterologist familiar with Yervoy should be able to diagnose ipilimumab (Yervoy) induced colitis from a colonoscopy.  The oncologist should be consulting with a G-I doc.  If prednisone isn't helping, Remicade (infleximab) may be necessary to stop the severe symptoms, especially bleeding.  Prednisone should be reduced gradually after the bleeding has stopped.  Are you near a medical school or a teaching hospital?  Be proactive!  Good luck!

                  • March 19, 2015 at 1:26 am
                  mrsaxde
                  Participant

                    After about 4 weeks, things gradually began to return to normal. Other than the pain, I never had much in the way of symptoms of colitis. No bloody stools, no mucus in my stool. Diarrhea occurred off and on. I'm fine now, and continuing to taper my prednisone.

                    • March 19, 2015 at 1:26 am
                    mrsaxde
                    Participant

                      After about 4 weeks, things gradually began to return to normal. Other than the pain, I never had much in the way of symptoms of colitis. No bloody stools, no mucus in my stool. Diarrhea occurred off and on. I'm fine now, and continuing to taper my prednisone.

                      • March 19, 2015 at 1:26 am
                      mrsaxde
                      Participant

                        After about 4 weeks, things gradually began to return to normal. Other than the pain, I never had much in the way of symptoms of colitis. No bloody stools, no mucus in my stool. Diarrhea occurred off and on. I'm fine now, and continuing to taper my prednisone.

                        • March 6, 2015 at 9:42 am
                        jogo
                        Participant

                          A gastroenterologist familiar with Yervoy should be able to diagnose ipilimumab (Yervoy) induced colitis from a colonoscopy.  The oncologist should be consulting with a G-I doc.  If prednisone isn't helping, Remicade (infleximab) may be necessary to stop the severe symptoms, especially bleeding.  Prednisone should be reduced gradually after the bleeding has stopped.  Are you near a medical school or a teaching hospital?  Be proactive!  Good luck!

                          • March 6, 2015 at 9:42 am
                          jogo
                          Participant

                            A gastroenterologist familiar with Yervoy should be able to diagnose ipilimumab (Yervoy) induced colitis from a colonoscopy.  The oncologist should be consulting with a G-I doc.  If prednisone isn't helping, Remicade (infleximab) may be necessary to stop the severe symptoms, especially bleeding.  Prednisone should be reduced gradually after the bleeding has stopped.  Are you near a medical school or a teaching hospital?  Be proactive!  Good luck!

                            • March 1, 2015 at 7:17 pm
                            Mat
                            Participant

                              I don't know whether colitis will show up on a PET versus a regular CT.  In my case, colitis did not show on a regular CT, but rather was diagnosed with a colonoscopy.  I would suggest consulting with–and potentially moving your care to–a melanoma specialist if possible.

                              • March 1, 2015 at 7:17 pm
                              Mat
                              Participant

                                I don't know whether colitis will show up on a PET versus a regular CT.  In my case, colitis did not show on a regular CT, but rather was diagnosed with a colonoscopy.  I would suggest consulting with–and potentially moving your care to–a melanoma specialist if possible.

                                • February 28, 2015 at 4:31 pm
                                mrsaxde
                                Participant

                                  I don' think my oncologist is a melanoma specialist. I had a PET-CT scan done a week ago yesterday, and my doctor told me to continue my current dosing of prednisone for two more weeks, rather than taper it sooner. There was no mention of colitis on the radiologist's report from the scan.

                                  • February 28, 2015 at 4:31 pm
                                  mrsaxde
                                  Participant

                                    I don' think my oncologist is a melanoma specialist. I had a PET-CT scan done a week ago yesterday, and my doctor told me to continue my current dosing of prednisone for two more weeks, rather than taper it sooner. There was no mention of colitis on the radiologist's report from the scan.

                                  • February 28, 2015 at 11:41 am
                                  Mat
                                  Participant

                                    Some of the symptoms you describe are symptoms of colitis, which can be dangerous.  Colitis is a well-known potential side effect.  When diagnosed properly, it can be dealt with through high dose steroids (high doses of prednisone or, if needed, Remicade).  Colitis is diagnosed with a colonoscopy (and possibly through a CT scan).  Are you with a melanoma specialist?

                                    • February 28, 2015 at 11:41 am
                                    Mat
                                    Participant

                                      Some of the symptoms you describe are symptoms of colitis, which can be dangerous.  Colitis is a well-known potential side effect.  When diagnosed properly, it can be dealt with through high dose steroids (high doses of prednisone or, if needed, Remicade).  Colitis is diagnosed with a colonoscopy (and possibly through a CT scan).  Are you with a melanoma specialist?

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