Edwin

In March 2016 a PET scan showed melanoma in many of my bones. I received opdivo and yervoy 3 or 4 times then opdivo for 4 years. My melanoma seems to be gone. I received Zoledroic to strengthen my bones.
“Zoledronic acid initiated 4/2016.After DEc 2016, frequency decreased to q 3 months. On hold since 10/2018.” I did not notice any side effects from Zoledronic.

After my first infusion of Opdivo and Yervoy in 2016 for melanoma in several bones, I was very ill with very bad diarrhea and lost too much weight. I was given Opdivo only while I recovered. I received my 2nd infusion of Opdivo and Yervoy 9 weeks after my first. For my 2nd, 3rd and 4th infusion of Opdivo and Yervoy my dose of Yervoy was cut to 50% of my 1st dose. I felt much better with the 2nd, 3rd and 4th Opdivo and Yervoy immunotherapy. I received immunotherapy for 4 years 6 months. My most recents PET scans have shown no cancer.

After my first opdivo and yervoy immunotherapy for stage 4 melanoma 8 years ago, I could not concentrate enough to read. After a month or two, I could read again. There was melanoma in several of my bones, but none in my brain.

I received immunotherapy for melanoma in several bones. After cancer disappeared from my bones, a PET scan showed cancer in a lymph node. My oncologist sent me to talk with a surgeon, who said that surgery would not help. I was still receiving opdivo immunotherapy. I received radiation to that lymph node. This combination of radiation and immunotherapy seemed to work; the cancer disappeared.

In September 2015 I received radiation to a rib with melanoma. That helped reduce the pain, but melanoma spread to several more bones. I began receiving immunotherapy in November 2015. I hope today the practice would be to start immunotherapy with or before radiation.

After my first infusion of opdivo and yervoy in 2016, I had very bad diarrhea and lost 11 lbs. 9 weeks later I had regained most of the lost weight and received my 2nd dose of opdivo and yervoy. My doctor reduced the dose of yervoy by 50%. I had much less side effects with my 2nd and 3rd opdivo and yervoy infusions.

My aunt Ruth had melanoma on a toe. At that time surgery was the only effective treatment for melanoma. Today we have immunotherapy.

I had melanoma in several bones. After ipi/nivo immunotherapy followed by nivo alone, my bone cancer disappeared. Then cancer was found in a lymph node under my left jaw. My doctors decided that surgery would probably not help. I had radiation to that lymph node and continued nivo immunotherapy. Now PET scans show no evidence of melanoma.

I received radiation to a rib in September 2015. This made my rib pain less, but melanoma spread to many more bones. After melanoma disappeared from my bones, I received radiation to cancer in a lymph node in May 2018. Bone pain and lack of energy caused me to exercise less. I had bone pain for about 1 year. I took Oxycodone, when pain was most severe. I have not taken any pain medication in the past several years.

Zometa did not interfere with my running. Opdivo and Yervoy immunotherapy did. In 2016 I didn’t run from April through August. I was able to bicycle some in June, July and August 2016.

As far as I know my bone mass index was never measured.

When I no longer received Zometa, I didn’t notice any problem. Dr Gaba did not tell me why she chose Zometa. Healing of my bones could be due to immunotherapy or to Zometa. Perhaps it was due to the combination.

From April 2016 to December 2016 I received Zometa once a month. From December 2016 to October 2018 I received Zometa every 3 months. I could not have dental work too close to a Zometa infusion. I do not recall my oncologist telling me that we might have to restart Zometa. I have never broken a bone. I am 81 years old now. Dr Gaba has been my oncologist since September 2015. I knew her from running before I needed an oncologist. She still runs marathons.

Does anyone know how private replies are supposed to work on this forum? Who should be able to see a private reply?

In 2015 my oncologist told me that chemotherapy does not work for melanoma, but immunotherapy sometimes works. I had bone cancer ( melanoma in my bones ).

I received my 18th PET scan on May 8, 2023. I get a PET scan once a year now and see my oncologist every 6 months. She has been my oncologist since September 2014. I was diagnosed with stage 4 melanoma in August 2015. I received immunotherapy and radiation.