rbruce

You may be confusing BMS version of Anti PD1 and Mercks.  BMS showed a similar response for the low and high dose versions of around 38% whereas Merck has shown 38% on the 2mg per kg versus 52% on the 10 mg per kg.  I have been on the 10 mg dose every 2 weeks at UCSF since March of 2012. I started with lots of lung mets, a couple of rib bone lesions and a tumor in my axillary lymph node that biochemo and then  PI3k trial did not help.  since Anti PD1, tumors shrank continuously and now lung tumors and bone mets show 0 uptake on PET and tiny uptake in my axillary lymph node. that tumor used to be the size of a walnut that we cant even feel anymore.  The continuing news for Anti PD1 and immunotherapy is miraculous and changing the treatment of ALL cancers, not just melanoma.  

You may be confusing BMS version of Anti PD1 and Mercks.  BMS showed a similar response for the low and high dose versions of around 38% whereas Merck has shown 38% on the 2mg per kg versus 52% on the 10 mg per kg.  I have been on the 10 mg dose every 2 weeks at UCSF since March of 2012. I started with lots of lung mets, a couple of rib bone lesions and a tumor in my axillary lymph node that biochemo and then  PI3k trial did not help.  since Anti PD1, tumors shrank continuously and now lung tumors and bone mets show 0 uptake on PET and tiny uptake in my axillary lymph node. that tumor used to be the size of a walnut that we cant even feel anymore.  The continuing news for Anti PD1 and immunotherapy is miraculous and changing the treatment of ALL cancers, not just melanoma.  

You may be confusing BMS version of Anti PD1 and Mercks.  BMS showed a similar response for the low and high dose versions of around 38% whereas Merck has shown 38% on the 2mg per kg versus 52% on the 10 mg per kg.  I have been on the 10 mg dose every 2 weeks at UCSF since March of 2012. I started with lots of lung mets, a couple of rib bone lesions and a tumor in my axillary lymph node that biochemo and then  PI3k trial did not help.  since Anti PD1, tumors shrank continuously and now lung tumors and bone mets show 0 uptake on PET and tiny uptake in my axillary lymph node. that tumor used to be the size of a walnut that we cant even feel anymore.  The continuing news for Anti PD1 and immunotherapy is miraculous and changing the treatment of ALL cancers, not just melanoma.  

You are not alone.  I had vats in early 2011 and had a lot of pain for months.  Today, 2 years later I'm still experiencing pain in my rib areas near the surgery site.  i have had scans that show nothing there as well.  My original bone mets do not light up on PET and Doc thinks they are dead but may be cause of some of the pain.  But, the 3 incision areas are where most of the pain is.  Luckily, I can control it with 800mg ibuprofen.   

You are not alone.  I had vats in early 2011 and had a lot of pain for months.  Today, 2 years later I'm still experiencing pain in my rib areas near the surgery site.  i have had scans that show nothing there as well.  My original bone mets do not light up on PET and Doc thinks they are dead but may be cause of some of the pain.  But, the 3 incision areas are where most of the pain is.  Luckily, I can control it with 800mg ibuprofen.   

You are not alone.  I had vats in early 2011 and had a lot of pain for months.  Today, 2 years later I'm still experiencing pain in my rib areas near the surgery site.  i have had scans that show nothing there as well.  My original bone mets do not light up on PET and Doc thinks they are dead but may be cause of some of the pain.  But, the 3 incision areas are where most of the pain is.  Luckily, I can control it with 800mg ibuprofen.   

On pd1 and told NOT to take flu shot. A woman on my trial got the shot and had a bad reaction.

On pd1 and told NOT to take flu shot. A woman on my trial got the shot and had a bad reaction.

On pd1 and told NOT to take flu shot. A woman on my trial got the shot and had a bad reaction.

It's a great day in melanomaville!  I've been on MK3475 for a year now and have had awesome results.  I'm happy for Merck that they use this opportunity to seek investors, private enterprise at it's best rather than waiting for government.  As far as approval time, this announcement will help drive people to the trials, they fill faster, more research is completed and faster approval is the result.  My Doc believes approval will be within 2 years and more trials are opening regularly.  

It's a great day in melanomaville!  I've been on MK3475 for a year now and have had awesome results.  I'm happy for Merck that they use this opportunity to seek investors, private enterprise at it's best rather than waiting for government.  As far as approval time, this announcement will help drive people to the trials, they fill faster, more research is completed and faster approval is the result.  My Doc believes approval will be within 2 years and more trials are opening regularly.  

It's a great day in melanomaville!  I've been on MK3475 for a year now and have had awesome results.  I'm happy for Merck that they use this opportunity to seek investors, private enterprise at it's best rather than waiting for government.  As far as approval time, this announcement will help drive people to the trials, they fill faster, more research is completed and faster approval is the result.  My Doc believes approval will be within 2 years and more trials are opening regularly.  

Phase 1 trials offer incredible potential for participants.  MD Anderson's Phase 1 Clinical Trial center is experiencing results equal to, or better than the "standard of care" drugs currently approved by the FDA for Stage IV Cancers.  With the current Anti-PD1 trials, there is over 3 years of trial results from BMS and now Merck demonstrating a superb efficacy over available drugs.  The number of people in my Merck Anti-PD1 trial began at 180 people worldwide, not 10, and they have added a number of new arms to include patients that had already done Yervoy.  BMS has had over 300 people in it's Anti-PD1 trials and is also adding more arms.  The BEAUTY of a Phase 1 trial is that you KNOW that you are getting the drug while waiting until a later phase will put you into a randomized situation.  The newest Merck trials opening are randomized to low dose, high dose, and a "dealers choice" chemo like Temodar or which ever chemo drug the trial chooses.  

That being said, it is up to the patient to research every therapy available for his/her particular cancer.  Anyone watching the Anti-PD1 space over the last 2 years knows of the success the drug is seeing.  Yes, different pharmaceutical companies may have different results, but the concep tis now proven short term and shoud not be relegated to "people who have already had all the standard treatments".  I did biochemotherapy and my Oncologist at the time just expected me to go on to Yervoy.  I chose a Phase1 Anti-Pd1 trial instead as my research indicated that it was a better choice.  

Bottom line, is that I was diagnosed Stage IV Metastatic Melanoma in March of 2011.  Tomorrow I go in for my 36 week scans after receiving infusions every 2 weeks since March of this year.  My 12 week and 24 week scans have shown significant tumor reduction and my case is not unique.  There are many of us having similar results.  ASCO abstracts this year showed that so far, only tumors expressing the PD Ligand respond to Anti-PD1 therapy, and the numbers from ASCO, as high as 35% response rate, are not based upon screening for the PD ligand first, so once they are testing for it, the response rate will certainly increase.  

The previous posters comments start with "please be aware" and sounds a little ominous compared to the reality of this therapy and it's trials. I would say that anyone that finds themselves with this disease should listen to Melanoma specialists and researchers and consider quality of life when determining a therapy.  There have been no "good" options for Stage 4 Melanoma until the past 2 years and the only reasons we are seeing the first good options in 20 years is due to Phase 1 trials.  I'm a proud guinea pig that owes his life to this trial.  Many that come after me will also owe their lives to Phase 1 trials and it's participants.   

Peace,

Robert

Phase 1 trials offer incredible potential for participants.  MD Anderson's Phase 1 Clinical Trial center is experiencing results equal to, or better than the "standard of care" drugs currently approved by the FDA for Stage IV Cancers.  With the current Anti-PD1 trials, there is over 3 years of trial results from BMS and now Merck demonstrating a superb efficacy over available drugs.  The number of people in my Merck Anti-PD1 trial began at 180 people worldwide, not 10, and they have added a number of new arms to include patients that had already done Yervoy.  BMS has had over 300 people in it's Anti-PD1 trials and is also adding more arms.  The BEAUTY of a Phase 1 trial is that you KNOW that you are getting the drug while waiting until a later phase will put you into a randomized situation.  The newest Merck trials opening are randomized to low dose, high dose, and a "dealers choice" chemo like Temodar or which ever chemo drug the trial chooses.  

That being said, it is up to the patient to research every therapy available for his/her particular cancer.  Anyone watching the Anti-PD1 space over the last 2 years knows of the success the drug is seeing.  Yes, different pharmaceutical companies may have different results, but the concep tis now proven short term and shoud not be relegated to "people who have already had all the standard treatments".  I did biochemotherapy and my Oncologist at the time just expected me to go on to Yervoy.  I chose a Phase1 Anti-Pd1 trial instead as my research indicated that it was a better choice.  

Bottom line, is that I was diagnosed Stage IV Metastatic Melanoma in March of 2011.  Tomorrow I go in for my 36 week scans after receiving infusions every 2 weeks since March of this year.  My 12 week and 24 week scans have shown significant tumor reduction and my case is not unique.  There are many of us having similar results.  ASCO abstracts this year showed that so far, only tumors expressing the PD Ligand respond to Anti-PD1 therapy, and the numbers from ASCO, as high as 35% response rate, are not based upon screening for the PD ligand first, so once they are testing for it, the response rate will certainly increase.  

The previous posters comments start with "please be aware" and sounds a little ominous compared to the reality of this therapy and it's trials. I would say that anyone that finds themselves with this disease should listen to Melanoma specialists and researchers and consider quality of life when determining a therapy.  There have been no "good" options for Stage 4 Melanoma until the past 2 years and the only reasons we are seeing the first good options in 20 years is due to Phase 1 trials.  I'm a proud guinea pig that owes his life to this trial.  Many that come after me will also owe their lives to Phase 1 trials and it's participants.   

Peace,

Robert

Phase 1 trials offer incredible potential for participants.  MD Anderson's Phase 1 Clinical Trial center is experiencing results equal to, or better than the "standard of care" drugs currently approved by the FDA for Stage IV Cancers.  With the current Anti-PD1 trials, there is over 3 years of trial results from BMS and now Merck demonstrating a superb efficacy over available drugs.  The number of people in my Merck Anti-PD1 trial began at 180 people worldwide, not 10, and they have added a number of new arms to include patients that had already done Yervoy.  BMS has had over 300 people in it's Anti-PD1 trials and is also adding more arms.  The BEAUTY of a Phase 1 trial is that you KNOW that you are getting the drug while waiting until a later phase will put you into a randomized situation.  The newest Merck trials opening are randomized to low dose, high dose, and a "dealers choice" chemo like Temodar or which ever chemo drug the trial chooses.  

That being said, it is up to the patient to research every therapy available for his/her particular cancer.  Anyone watching the Anti-PD1 space over the last 2 years knows of the success the drug is seeing.  Yes, different pharmaceutical companies may have different results, but the concep tis now proven short term and shoud not be relegated to "people who have already had all the standard treatments".  I did biochemotherapy and my Oncologist at the time just expected me to go on to Yervoy.  I chose a Phase1 Anti-Pd1 trial instead as my research indicated that it was a better choice.  

Bottom line, is that I was diagnosed Stage IV Metastatic Melanoma in March of 2011.  Tomorrow I go in for my 36 week scans after receiving infusions every 2 weeks since March of this year.  My 12 week and 24 week scans have shown significant tumor reduction and my case is not unique.  There are many of us having similar results.  ASCO abstracts this year showed that so far, only tumors expressing the PD Ligand respond to Anti-PD1 therapy, and the numbers from ASCO, as high as 35% response rate, are not based upon screening for the PD ligand first, so once they are testing for it, the response rate will certainly increase.  

The previous posters comments start with "please be aware" and sounds a little ominous compared to the reality of this therapy and it's trials. I would say that anyone that finds themselves with this disease should listen to Melanoma specialists and researchers and consider quality of life when determining a therapy.  There have been no "good" options for Stage 4 Melanoma until the past 2 years and the only reasons we are seeing the first good options in 20 years is due to Phase 1 trials.  I'm a proud guinea pig that owes his life to this trial.  Many that come after me will also owe their lives to Phase 1 trials and it's participants.   

Peace,

Robert