shrike

OP here. Thanks again for everyone's answers and useful links. Michelle, I just don't know if my father was tested for BRAF. I wasn't with him at the clinic at the time (in fact, my parents were hiding the news of recurrence from me for a couple of weeks…) and I somehow doubt they explained the details of the disease to him anyway. He didn't even know what kind of drug they wanted to use on him. I specifically told him to ask the onc if it was ippi, since the regimen was supposed to be once every three weeks with four repetitions. It turned out I was right but DTIC was planned to be used first. And I do know that chemo can and does work but a person's expectations are of extreme importance, too. If one has such aversion to chemo like my father has at the moment, then perhaps it's wisest not to take that road because negative feelings can surely contribute to the possible lack of success. I'm glad your husband is doing well and wish him all the best.

Thanks to Lynn, too. The results you've posted are consisted with the ones posted previously by Michael. By the way, I've googled that the Committee of EMA (European Medicines Agency) has just recently recommended the use of Yervoy (5 mg/ml) in the EU, although the final decision is still pending. Link: http://www.ema.europa.eu/ema/index.jsp?curl=pages/medicines/human/medicines/002213/smops/Positive/human_smop_000227.jsp&murl=menus/medicines/medicines.jsp&mid=WC0b01ac058001d127

And best of luck to Linda with her radiation tomorrow. I will keep my fingers crossed! 🙂

OP here. Thanks again for everyone's answers and useful links. Michelle, I just don't know if my father was tested for BRAF. I wasn't with him at the clinic at the time (in fact, my parents were hiding the news of recurrence from me for a couple of weeks…) and I somehow doubt they explained the details of the disease to him anyway. He didn't even know what kind of drug they wanted to use on him. I specifically told him to ask the onc if it was ippi, since the regimen was supposed to be once every three weeks with four repetitions. It turned out I was right but DTIC was planned to be used first. And I do know that chemo can and does work but a person's expectations are of extreme importance, too. If one has such aversion to chemo like my father has at the moment, then perhaps it's wisest not to take that road because negative feelings can surely contribute to the possible lack of success. I'm glad your husband is doing well and wish him all the best.

Thanks to Lynn, too. The results you've posted are consisted with the ones posted previously by Michael. By the way, I've googled that the Committee of EMA (European Medicines Agency) has just recently recommended the use of Yervoy (5 mg/ml) in the EU, although the final decision is still pending. Link: http://www.ema.europa.eu/ema/index.jsp?curl=pages/medicines/human/medicines/002213/smops/Positive/human_smop_000227.jsp&murl=menus/medicines/medicines.jsp&mid=WC0b01ac058001d127

And best of luck to Linda with her radiation tomorrow. I will keep my fingers crossed! 🙂

Hi all. OP here. Thanks for all your explanations. They clarified things up quite a bit. I guess I should clarify some matters, too.

My father was diagnosed and treated at the general Oncologic Institute in Slovenia (Europe). (This should also explain possible quaint use of English and weird grammar on my behalf.) We do not have a specialized melanoma center here. Our location (outside US) also suggests why doctors are only willing to administer Yervoy along with dacarbazine, just as Linda pointed out for Canada. I guess they are under some kind of obligation, although I feel patients should have the right to choose treatments themselves, even if their results are less than optimal.

Thanks to Michael for the trial links. I see now that DTIC-ipilimumab combo offers better results that ippi alone (especially at the 3-year mark), though only in standard dose. Since my father refuses to be treated with anything that would adversely affect his immune system, DTIC is for now out of the question. Ipilimumab/Yervoy might be an option because it works by actually enhancing the immune system (with possible severe side effects, I know), but if it only comes in bundle with DTIC than we have to scratch that one, too. For the time being, at least. As I've said, it's his decision.

He does not plan to just sit on his behind, though. He is already pursuing various alternative treatments. I've also read so much recently, while trying to wade through often murky waters of alternative medicine, that I feel my head is about to burst. I always say that information is the most potent weapon of all but it can get overwhelming sometimes. I'm not sure what the attitude of this board toward alternative cancer treatments is. It seems that most of the posts deal with the traditional approach. But if anyone can contribute something valuable from the nontraditional options I'd be more than glad to listen.

Thank you all for helpful answers. Good luck, take care.

Hi all. OP here. Thanks for all your explanations. They clarified things up quite a bit. I guess I should clarify some matters, too.

My father was diagnosed and treated at the general Oncologic Institute in Slovenia (Europe). (This should also explain possible quaint use of English and weird grammar on my behalf.) We do not have a specialized melanoma center here. Our location (outside US) also suggests why doctors are only willing to administer Yervoy along with dacarbazine, just as Linda pointed out for Canada. I guess they are under some kind of obligation, although I feel patients should have the right to choose treatments themselves, even if their results are less than optimal.

Thanks to Michael for the trial links. I see now that DTIC-ipilimumab combo offers better results that ippi alone (especially at the 3-year mark), though only in standard dose. Since my father refuses to be treated with anything that would adversely affect his immune system, DTIC is for now out of the question. Ipilimumab/Yervoy might be an option because it works by actually enhancing the immune system (with possible severe side effects, I know), but if it only comes in bundle with DTIC than we have to scratch that one, too. For the time being, at least. As I've said, it's his decision.

He does not plan to just sit on his behind, though. He is already pursuing various alternative treatments. I've also read so much recently, while trying to wade through often murky waters of alternative medicine, that I feel my head is about to burst. I always say that information is the most potent weapon of all but it can get overwhelming sometimes. I'm not sure what the attitude of this board toward alternative cancer treatments is. It seems that most of the posts deal with the traditional approach. But if anyone can contribute something valuable from the nontraditional options I'd be more than glad to listen.

Thank you all for helpful answers. Good luck, take care.