yervoy locally or md anderson

Hi Carolyn,

Is your local Oncologist a Melanoma specialist? 

Hi Carolyn,

Is your local Oncologist a Melanoma specialist? 

Hi Carolyn,

Is your local Oncologist a Melanoma specialist? 

Carolyn

For a couple reasons I would do yervoy locally  or at least closer to home (although a consult at MDA could be very worthwhile). Have you thought about going to UVA? I'm getting treated there. I just heard they are very close with their PD-1 EAP. If you started the ipi there it would be an easy switch to pd1 if you progressed.  Have you considered options at NIH?  

Brian

Carolyn

For a couple reasons I would do yervoy locally  or at least closer to home (although a consult at MDA could be very worthwhile). Have you thought about going to UVA? I'm getting treated there. I just heard they are very close with their PD-1 EAP. If you started the ipi there it would be an easy switch to pd1 if you progressed.  Have you considered options at NIH?  

Brian

Carolyn

For a couple reasons I would do yervoy locally  or at least closer to home (although a consult at MDA could be very worthwhile). Have you thought about going to UVA? I'm getting treated there. I just heard they are very close with their PD-1 EAP. If you started the ipi there it would be an easy switch to pd1 if you progressed.  Have you considered options at NIH?  

Brian

Sorry for all that you are going through, Carolyn.  I think Brian's advice is sound.  My only other thought is that while I think ipi now is not a bad plan, it is known to occasionally have side effects, which if recognized as such early on can be managed rather well.  I would want my provider to be well versed in recognizing and treating those should they occur, or at least be very open to checking in with those who have more expertise often.  Which it sounds like your local onc is willing to do..but I might ask about the plan for side effects specifically.

I wish you my best.  celeste

Sorry for all that you are going through, Carolyn.  I think Brian's advice is sound.  My only other thought is that while I think ipi now is not a bad plan, it is known to occasionally have side effects, which if recognized as such early on can be managed rather well.  I would want my provider to be well versed in recognizing and treating those should they occur, or at least be very open to checking in with those who have more expertise often.  Which it sounds like your local onc is willing to do..but I might ask about the plan for side effects specifically.

I wish you my best.  celeste

Sorry for all that you are going through, Carolyn.  I think Brian's advice is sound.  My only other thought is that while I think ipi now is not a bad plan, it is known to occasionally have side effects, which if recognized as such early on can be managed rather well.  I would want my provider to be well versed in recognizing and treating those should they occur, or at least be very open to checking in with those who have more expertise often.  Which it sounds like your local onc is willing to do..but I might ask about the plan for side effects specifically.

I wish you my best.  celeste

Agreed with everyone here.  The side effects are very well-documented by BMS, almost to the point where I was tired of hearing about them, receiving literature on them, reading about them, etc. (but I understand completely the need for being so thorough).  Your medical oncologist will have all this information and more.  So recognizing the side effects and addressing them early is hugely important.  You certainly don't want to have one turn into a serious, perhaps permanent issue.  But if possible, you want to figure out a way to get through the full course or four doses, even if it means pausing on a dose to properly manage a side effect (vs. just completely ceasing treatment as a first and final reaction) — there's an element of "art vs. science" to this, and experience can help.  That's something with which you should work closely with your doctor.  I'm not suggesting your current doctor isn't capable at all, he/she may be excellent and even highly versed and/or experienced with Yervoy, and that's great.  But have that conversation now before making the decision, understand what their approach will be to getting you guys through this and make sure they know that your goal is to get your four doses, even if it means having to make adjustments along the way.

Best wishes with your decision,

Joe

Agreed with everyone here.  The side effects are very well-documented by BMS, almost to the point where I was tired of hearing about them, receiving literature on them, reading about them, etc. (but I understand completely the need for being so thorough).  Your medical oncologist will have all this information and more.  So recognizing the side effects and addressing them early is hugely important.  You certainly don't want to have one turn into a serious, perhaps permanent issue.  But if possible, you want to figure out a way to get through the full course or four doses, even if it means pausing on a dose to properly manage a side effect (vs. just completely ceasing treatment as a first and final reaction) — there's an element of "art vs. science" to this, and experience can help.  That's something with which you should work closely with your doctor.  I'm not suggesting your current doctor isn't capable at all, he/she may be excellent and even highly versed and/or experienced with Yervoy, and that's great.  But have that conversation now before making the decision, understand what their approach will be to getting you guys through this and make sure they know that your goal is to get your four doses, even if it means having to make adjustments along the way.

Best wishes with your decision,

Joe

Agreed with everyone here.  The side effects are very well-documented by BMS, almost to the point where I was tired of hearing about them, receiving literature on them, reading about them, etc. (but I understand completely the need for being so thorough).  Your medical oncologist will have all this information and more.  So recognizing the side effects and addressing them early is hugely important.  You certainly don't want to have one turn into a serious, perhaps permanent issue.  But if possible, you want to figure out a way to get through the full course or four doses, even if it means pausing on a dose to properly manage a side effect (vs. just completely ceasing treatment as a first and final reaction) — there's an element of "art vs. science" to this, and experience can help.  That's something with which you should work closely with your doctor.  I'm not suggesting your current doctor isn't capable at all, he/she may be excellent and even highly versed and/or experienced with Yervoy, and that's great.  But have that conversation now before making the decision, understand what their approach will be to getting you guys through this and make sure they know that your goal is to get your four doses, even if it means having to make adjustments along the way.

Best wishes with your decision,

Joe