Scan Results and a real plan

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  • Post
    • March 5, 2015 at 4:24 pm
    Julie in SoCal
    Participant

      Hi there friends!

      Thanks so much for your good wishes!  My scans yesterday showed that I only have the one met in my arm. So I'm still feet in stage 3c and toes in Stage 4- metaphorically, of course 😉  This is such good news!

      So, the plan is to start pembro next Wed.  I'll have scans after the 4th round and evaluate things from there, but I will probably be on it for at least 6 months, possibly longer!

      Something Rock Star Doc said yesterday that caught my attention was that it was rare for someone to have such a good and complete response to IPI as I had to recur.  I thought this was interesting in that it helped with my disappointment. #$%^&* you melanoma.  But I'm not sure I like falling into a rare category.  But then as it is with statistics like this, it might not mean anything – someone has to reach durable response, it might as well be me!!

      Thanks again all!

      Julie

    Viewing 5 reply threads
    • Replies
        • March 5, 2015 at 6:20 pm
        Mat
        Participant

          Julie, sounds like a good plan and you're at an excellent starting point.

          • March 5, 2015 at 6:20 pm
          Mat
          Participant

            Julie, sounds like a good plan and you're at an excellent starting point.

            • March 5, 2015 at 6:20 pm
            Mat
            Participant

              Julie, sounds like a good plan and you're at an excellent starting point.

                • March 5, 2015 at 7:52 pm
                killmel
                Participant

                  Julie

                  Such great news. I am also a stage 3c.

                  Since BMS Pembro & Merck Keytruda is only approved for Stage 4 after failing Braf & IPI, please tell me how is your Rock Star Doc. going to get your insurance to approve Pembro.

                  In case I need a Pd1 treatment, I would like to know how your doc is prescribing it.

                  Thanks so much. You give me hope to get pd1 at stage 3c.

                  Shalom

                  • March 5, 2015 at 9:52 pm
                  Julie in SoCal
                  Participant

                    Hi Anon,

                    I'm 3c with a met we can use as in indicator of progress without the met, there's no way I'd get Pembro.  Nowhere in the Keytruda literature says that you have to be Stage 4.  The actual words they use is "Advanced Melanoma" and "Unresectable".  3c can be both advanced (metastatic) and unresectable. For me a BRAF drug is counter indicated, so that's not an option.

                    But I suspect a lot of me getting Pembro is based on Rock Star Doc being comfortable with the drug and it's side effects, knowing Pharma and having done it before.  What all they do on the insurance side, I have no idea, but I'm sure they appeal, and appeal, and appeal and appeal…

                    I've just checked my insurance company's drug website, and they say they cover it (with a precertification and in limited quantities). Interesting.

                    I've also gone to Merck's drug access web page (merckaccesprogram-keytruda.com) and downloaded the assistance form.  It has a section for the doctor to fill in, so I left the application at the Dr's office yesterday. Hopefully I'll qualify for co-pay assistance.  I'm hopeful this will help too as my drug co-pay is insane.

                    Hope this info helps,

                    Julie

                     

                    • March 5, 2015 at 9:52 pm
                    Julie in SoCal
                    Participant

                      Hi Anon,

                      I'm 3c with a met we can use as in indicator of progress without the met, there's no way I'd get Pembro.  Nowhere in the Keytruda literature says that you have to be Stage 4.  The actual words they use is "Advanced Melanoma" and "Unresectable".  3c can be both advanced (metastatic) and unresectable. For me a BRAF drug is counter indicated, so that's not an option.

                      But I suspect a lot of me getting Pembro is based on Rock Star Doc being comfortable with the drug and it's side effects, knowing Pharma and having done it before.  What all they do on the insurance side, I have no idea, but I'm sure they appeal, and appeal, and appeal and appeal…

                      I've just checked my insurance company's drug website, and they say they cover it (with a precertification and in limited quantities). Interesting.

                      I've also gone to Merck's drug access web page (merckaccesprogram-keytruda.com) and downloaded the assistance form.  It has a section for the doctor to fill in, so I left the application at the Dr's office yesterday. Hopefully I'll qualify for co-pay assistance.  I'm hopeful this will help too as my drug co-pay is insane.

                      Hope this info helps,

                      Julie

                       

                      • March 5, 2015 at 9:52 pm
                      Julie in SoCal
                      Participant

                        Hi Anon,

                        I'm 3c with a met we can use as in indicator of progress without the met, there's no way I'd get Pembro.  Nowhere in the Keytruda literature says that you have to be Stage 4.  The actual words they use is "Advanced Melanoma" and "Unresectable".  3c can be both advanced (metastatic) and unresectable. For me a BRAF drug is counter indicated, so that's not an option.

                        But I suspect a lot of me getting Pembro is based on Rock Star Doc being comfortable with the drug and it's side effects, knowing Pharma and having done it before.  What all they do on the insurance side, I have no idea, but I'm sure they appeal, and appeal, and appeal and appeal…

                        I've just checked my insurance company's drug website, and they say they cover it (with a precertification and in limited quantities). Interesting.

                        I've also gone to Merck's drug access web page (merckaccesprogram-keytruda.com) and downloaded the assistance form.  It has a section for the doctor to fill in, so I left the application at the Dr's office yesterday. Hopefully I'll qualify for co-pay assistance.  I'm hopeful this will help too as my drug co-pay is insane.

                        Hope this info helps,

                        Julie

                         

                        • March 5, 2015 at 7:52 pm
                        killmel
                        Participant

                          Julie

                          Such great news. I am also a stage 3c.

                          Since BMS Pembro & Merck Keytruda is only approved for Stage 4 after failing Braf & IPI, please tell me how is your Rock Star Doc. going to get your insurance to approve Pembro.

                          In case I need a Pd1 treatment, I would like to know how your doc is prescribing it.

                          Thanks so much. You give me hope to get pd1 at stage 3c.

                          Shalom

                          • March 5, 2015 at 7:52 pm
                          killmel
                          Participant

                            Julie

                            Such great news. I am also a stage 3c.

                            Since BMS Pembro & Merck Keytruda is only approved for Stage 4 after failing Braf & IPI, please tell me how is your Rock Star Doc. going to get your insurance to approve Pembro.

                            In case I need a Pd1 treatment, I would like to know how your doc is prescribing it.

                            Thanks so much. You give me hope to get pd1 at stage 3c.

                            Shalom

                          • March 6, 2015 at 1:38 pm
                          _Paul_
                          Participant

                            Excellent news Julie! I am Keytruda as well. I hope it renders you NED as a whistle!

                            • March 6, 2015 at 1:38 pm
                            _Paul_
                            Participant

                              Excellent news Julie! I am Keytruda as well. I hope it renders you NED as a whistle!

                              • March 6, 2015 at 1:38 pm
                              _Paul_
                              Participant

                                Excellent news Julie! I am Keytruda as well. I hope it renders you NED as a whistle!

                            Viewing 5 reply threads
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