Yervoy Update (Bloodwork, etc)

Forums General Melanoma Community Yervoy Update (Bloodwork, etc)

  • Post
    Lisa13
    Participant

      Based on my bloodwork today, my LDH levels have gone from 245 to 187. This is good news, but my oncologist said it's a big jump and maybe perhaps it's nothing to get excited about as LD can be affected by many different events. I told him that I was going to believe it was the fact that I had tumours missing in my lungs. ๐Ÿ™‚  Anyway, my Absolute Lymphocyte count when I first started was 1.85, now it's 2.28 which he said is a good trend.  I really don't know what these numbers means exactly, but the fact my ALC is higher and my LD is lower is good news. As my Dr.

      Based on my bloodwork today, my LDH levels have gone from 245 to 187. This is good news, but my oncologist said it's a big jump and maybe perhaps it's nothing to get excited about as LD can be affected by many different events. I told him that I was going to believe it was the fact that I had tumours missing in my lungs. ๐Ÿ™‚  Anyway, my Absolute Lymphocyte count when I first started was 1.85, now it's 2.28 which he said is a good trend.  I really don't know what these numbers means exactly, but the fact my ALC is higher and my LD is lower is good news. As my Dr. also pointed out, my bloodwork doesn't show any progression "it's beautiful". 

      I havn't been having many symptoms, but my Dr. confirmed that symptoms doesn't necessarily mean it's not working and that many people have been responding without any symptoms whatsoever in his trial. They are seeing more itching than rashes and that's the only thing I've had so far.  We also discussed IL-2 after ipi (if this doesn't work) and he mentioned that the Dr. running the IL-2 program in Buffalo suggested these combo's of IL-2 after ipi were showing good results.

      ipi #3 tomorrow and I'm going to keep hoping that I respond to this drug!

      Lisa

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    • Replies
        mombase
        Participant

          Go, Lisa!!!!cheeky

          mombase
          Participant

            Go, Lisa!!!!cheeky

            JerryfromFauq
            Participant

              Sounds good to me.  And thanks to Jimmy B and his work on following Ipi with Il-2.  Amazing how some Onc actually listen and work with us.

              JerryfromFauq
              Participant

                Sounds good to me.  And thanks to Jimmy B and his work on following Ipi with Il-2.  Amazing how some Onc actually listen and work with us.

                jax2007gxp
                Participant

                  Great news, Lisa!!!

                  jax2007gxp
                  Participant

                    Great news, Lisa!!!

                    MariaH
                    Participant

                      Hi Lisa,

                      Congrats on the positive results!  My husband sees Dr. Khushalani at Roswell in Buffalo, if that's the doctor you are referring to.  He's a wonderful doctor and the nursing staff on 5West are wonderful.

                      And he's right about the combo – in both directions – IPI before or after – it is showing good results, and they are talking about doing clinical trials to combine them.  They are also combining the Zelboraf and IL-2, but I know that doesn't apply to either of our situations.

                       Hopefully the IPI does it's thing and you won't have to come down here !  But if you do, you'll be in good hands ๐Ÿ™‚

                      Best wishes,

                      Maria

                      MariaH
                      Participant

                        Hi Lisa,

                        Congrats on the positive results!  My husband sees Dr. Khushalani at Roswell in Buffalo, if that's the doctor you are referring to.  He's a wonderful doctor and the nursing staff on 5West are wonderful.

                        And he's right about the combo – in both directions – IPI before or after – it is showing good results, and they are talking about doing clinical trials to combine them.  They are also combining the Zelboraf and IL-2, but I know that doesn't apply to either of our situations.

                         Hopefully the IPI does it's thing and you won't have to come down here !  But if you do, you'll be in good hands ๐Ÿ™‚

                        Best wishes,

                        Maria

                        momof2kids
                        Participant

                          Good luck with the next treatment! I'm glad to hear that no major signs, or just one sign, etc doesn't mean it's not working, I'm just so anxious too about mine working.

                          momof2kids
                          Participant

                            Good luck with the next treatment! I'm glad to hear that no major signs, or just one sign, etc doesn't mean it's not working, I'm just so anxious too about mine working.

                            MichaelFL
                            Participant

                              I have been keeping an eye on you here.

                              Absolute value or Absolute lymphocyte counts (ALC) range:
                              720- 4400/µl or 0.72 – 4.4 x 10*9/L.

                              The 1.85 number was good, as it was already well above the .72 minumum, and the 2.28 was even better.

                              As you know, LDH is also affected by many things, but to have it go down is great!

                              Keep it up Lisa! Both of these sound good.

                              ANON admirer.

                               

                              MichaelFL
                              Participant

                                I have been keeping an eye on you here.

                                Absolute value or Absolute lymphocyte counts (ALC) range:
                                720- 4400/µl or 0.72 – 4.4 x 10*9/L.

                                The 1.85 number was good, as it was already well above the .72 minumum, and the 2.28 was even better.

                                As you know, LDH is also affected by many things, but to have it go down is great!

                                Keep it up Lisa! Both of these sound good.

                                ANON admirer.

                                 

                                FormerCaregiver
                                Participant

                                  Lisa, these results are certainly encouraging. Here is some info about LDH:
                                  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lactate_dehydrogenase#Medical_use What all this means is
                                  that since "tissue breakdown elevates levels of LDH", a lower level is always preferred.

                                  With ALC, a higher level is best from what I have read. Therefore, these are very good
                                  results.

                                  Best wishes

                                  Frank from Australia

                                  FormerCaregiver
                                  Participant

                                    Lisa, these results are certainly encouraging. Here is some info about LDH:
                                    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lactate_dehydrogenase#Medical_use What all this means is
                                    that since "tissue breakdown elevates levels of LDH", a lower level is always preferred.

                                    With ALC, a higher level is best from what I have read. Therefore, these are very good
                                    results.

                                    Best wishes

                                    Frank from Australia

                                      Lisa13
                                      Participant

                                        Thanks everyone!  I hope and pray the trend for these numbers continues.

                                        I have scans on Hallowe'en, so I don't have much longer to wait to see if this has worked.  I don't fear the lung mets as I do the cancer going elsewhere. 

                                        Your encouragment keeps me going and I wish you all the very best.

                                        Lisa

                                        Lisa13
                                        Participant

                                          Thanks everyone!  I hope and pray the trend for these numbers continues.

                                          I have scans on Hallowe'en, so I don't have much longer to wait to see if this has worked.  I don't fear the lung mets as I do the cancer going elsewhere. 

                                          Your encouragment keeps me going and I wish you all the very best.

                                          Lisa

                                        jim Breitfeller
                                        Participant

                                          Lisa,

                                          Based on the ALC numbers, it lloks like you are heading towards a clinical benefit with Yervoy.

                                          As for the combinatorial therapy using IPI and IL-2, I am see more and more Melanoma Patients responding to this therapy.

                                           

                                          best regards,

                                           

                                          Jimmy B

                                          jim Breitfeller
                                          Participant

                                            Lisa,

                                            Based on the ALC numbers, it lloks like you are heading towards a clinical benefit with Yervoy.

                                            As for the combinatorial therapy using IPI and IL-2, I am see more and more Melanoma Patients responding to this therapy.

                                             

                                            best regards,

                                             

                                            Jimmy B

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