Is Yervoy working?

Golfingnut
Golfingnut Member Posts: 2
edited September 2020 in General Cancer
Received 4 rounds of Yervoy/Opdivo combo infusion. 2nd PET scan shows 80% of tumors increase in size and density. Does not seem like this is working. I have ~12 tumors running up my right leg. Nothing above the waist (not in organs, lungs, etc...) Has anyone else experienced this ad what were the next steps?

Comments

  • po18guy
    po18guy Member Posts: 329
    edited September 2020
    Are there additional tumors or the same number? What about the 20% - are they shrinking? Progress is made by slowing tumor growth, stopping tumor growth, or shrinking or eliminating tumors. If none of this has occurred, then disease progression appears to be occurring. If that is so, "I" would stop immediately and seek another opinion on treatment, even at a different facility. If you are in the US, are you at a National Cancer Institute designated comprehensive cancer center? If not, I strongly urge you to consult t one - the sooner the better. If needed, find the nearest center here: https://www.cancer.gov/research/infrastructure/cancer-centers/find
  • LiveWithCancer
    LiveWithCancer Member Posts: 470
    edited September 2020
    My first question is ... what does your oncologist say?

    I have heard about "bloom" that sometimes occurs with cancer - it makes it look like there's been a ton of growth and then the next scan shows a lot of tumor death. I can't remember if that happens with immunotherapy, but I think so. Some people were quitting on the treatment too quickly.

    I have lung cancer. My tumors immediately stopped growing when I began immunotherapy (or, within 6 weeks - the first scan after beginning treatment showed no growth).

    I would have a hard time NOT being worried if I saw growth and/or spreading.

    Wishing you the best.
  • GregP_WN
    GregP_WN Member Posts: 742
    edited September 2020
    Over 32 years and 5 diagnosis i have not been told i needed Yervoy. However. Most new drugs are developed with one type of cancer in mind. So I don't have any help for you here.

    These two have good information for you. All of us on the team here at Whatnext.com wish you the best.
  • po18guy
    po18guy Member Posts: 329
    edited September 2020
    My keyboard was acting up yesterday. I also meant to say that your oncologist should have plan B, C and D at the ready. That's just how the vast majority of cancer treatment is. If you have tried the most likely to succeed drugs to no avail, then a clinical trial makes perfect sense.
  • alivenwell
    alivenwell Member Posts: 84
    edited September 2020
    According to the Optivo site, the combination of Optivo and Yervoy can have serious side effects. I suppose you can have a complete blood count to see what is happening. Make sure your doctor knows all supplements, medications, and treatments that may interact. You may want to invest in ordering a keto kit and oximeter to measure ketones, oxygen levels, and heart rate. I saw eye adverse effects in the description of the drug. You may want to have your eyes checked. At the end of my chemo, my intraocular pressure (IOP) was extremely high from a history of controlled glaucoma.

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