ipi treatment…severe fatigue and nausea

Forums General Melanoma Community ipi treatment…severe fatigue and nausea

  • Post
    CaringforMom
    Participant

      Hello all!

      My Mom ( age 71) is undergoing ipi treatment.

      Her tumors are in her lungs and liver.  The liver is very enlarged and causing her pain and discomfort.

      She was in a clinical trial for the next generation of ipi but had to stop due to severe rashes/itching. 

      Just had her 3rd of 4 ipi treatments but is having severe fatigue and nausea issues.

      She has lost a lot of weight.

      After experiencing low blood pressure and a high heart rate along with "floaters" she had another MRI last Friday.

      Hello all!

      My Mom ( age 71) is undergoing ipi treatment.

      Her tumors are in her lungs and liver.  The liver is very enlarged and causing her pain and discomfort.

      She was in a clinical trial for the next generation of ipi but had to stop due to severe rashes/itching. 

      Just had her 3rd of 4 ipi treatments but is having severe fatigue and nausea issues.

      She has lost a lot of weight.

      After experiencing low blood pressure and a high heart rate along with "floaters" she had another MRI last Friday.

      Now has brain mets – was clear on her scans in December so these are new.

      Just had a consult and she will be having gamma knife radiation to treat the spots on her brain which are small.

      My main concerns are her major fatigue and nausea.  She has had to have IV fluids for the past 2 weeks or I think we would have lost her.

      She is fighting hard to survive to help with my Dad who is suffering with dementia.

      Two parents with major health issues….I feel like I am drowning. 

      She is having a high resolution MRI and CT Scan on Monday to prepare for the gamma knife radiation.  She mentioned that the nurses said the 4th ipi treatment might not happen on Tuesday due to the tests on Monday.

      I am concerned that she needs all of the ipi possible to try to get the melanoma in her liver to respond.

      ????

      Also, not really clear how much time we are looking at for survival.

      Liver, lungs and now brain.

      Very scared.

    Viewing 8 reply threads
    • Replies
        FormerCaregiver
        Participant

          Welcome to our forum. Thanks for filling in the details the profile page. Sorry to read
          that both of your parents have major health issues.

          I feel that at the moment, the biggest immediate concern is the condition of your
          mother's liver. Severe fatigue and nausea could be caused by many things, although I
          suspect that liver problems might be causing some symptoms. Has she had liver function
          tests done recently? If so, what were the results?

          It is difficult to accurately predict how much time someone has left. Here is some info
          that could help: http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Support/end-of-life-care

          Take care

          Frank from Australia

          FormerCaregiver
          Participant

            Welcome to our forum. Thanks for filling in the details the profile page. Sorry to read
            that both of your parents have major health issues.

            I feel that at the moment, the biggest immediate concern is the condition of your
            mother's liver. Severe fatigue and nausea could be caused by many things, although I
            suspect that liver problems might be causing some symptoms. Has she had liver function
            tests done recently? If so, what were the results?

            It is difficult to accurately predict how much time someone has left. Here is some info
            that could help: http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Support/end-of-life-care

            Take care

            Frank from Australia

            FormerCaregiver
            Participant

              Welcome to our forum. Thanks for filling in the details the profile page. Sorry to read
              that both of your parents have major health issues.

              I feel that at the moment, the biggest immediate concern is the condition of your
              mother's liver. Severe fatigue and nausea could be caused by many things, although I
              suspect that liver problems might be causing some symptoms. Has she had liver function
              tests done recently? If so, what were the results?

              It is difficult to accurately predict how much time someone has left. Here is some info
              that could help: http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Support/end-of-life-care

              Take care

              Frank from Australia

                CaringforMom
                Participant

                  Thank you Frank.  I know that up to this point her liver melanoma is not responsive to the ipi treatment.  I am just praying for some time so that we might see some improvement to the tumors in her liver and that we will get some more quality time with her.  Her doctor indicated that the liver does not look good right now, but I was not able to be with her during that appointment so I am not 100% sure what his diagnosis/discussion was last Friday.  She did say that the latest blood work on the liver "wasn't good" but she did not elaborate.  She has blood work prior to each ipi treatment and just had one on Friday.  The head nurse mentioned that they may not give her ipi on Tuesday due to the high res mri and CT scan scheduled for Monday in preparation for her cyber knife radiation treatment in two weeks.

                  I will be with her on Tuesday when she is supposed to have her 4th ipi treatment and I am hoping to get more information then.

                  The doctors at Hopkins were positive during the consults on going forward with the cyber knife radiation to her brain mets.

                  I am hopeful that if they felt she was close to the end of her fight that they would not even consider putting her through anything else?

                  I will read the info from your link, thank you very much.

                  Not sure how much more she can take.

                  How do you ever know when to stop fighting?

                  CaringforMom
                  Participant

                    Thank you Frank.  I know that up to this point her liver melanoma is not responsive to the ipi treatment.  I am just praying for some time so that we might see some improvement to the tumors in her liver and that we will get some more quality time with her.  Her doctor indicated that the liver does not look good right now, but I was not able to be with her during that appointment so I am not 100% sure what his diagnosis/discussion was last Friday.  She did say that the latest blood work on the liver "wasn't good" but she did not elaborate.  She has blood work prior to each ipi treatment and just had one on Friday.  The head nurse mentioned that they may not give her ipi on Tuesday due to the high res mri and CT scan scheduled for Monday in preparation for her cyber knife radiation treatment in two weeks.

                    I will be with her on Tuesday when she is supposed to have her 4th ipi treatment and I am hoping to get more information then.

                    The doctors at Hopkins were positive during the consults on going forward with the cyber knife radiation to her brain mets.

                    I am hopeful that if they felt she was close to the end of her fight that they would not even consider putting her through anything else?

                    I will read the info from your link, thank you very much.

                    Not sure how much more she can take.

                    How do you ever know when to stop fighting?

                    CaringforMom
                    Participant

                      Thank you Frank.  I know that up to this point her liver melanoma is not responsive to the ipi treatment.  I am just praying for some time so that we might see some improvement to the tumors in her liver and that we will get some more quality time with her.  Her doctor indicated that the liver does not look good right now, but I was not able to be with her during that appointment so I am not 100% sure what his diagnosis/discussion was last Friday.  She did say that the latest blood work on the liver "wasn't good" but she did not elaborate.  She has blood work prior to each ipi treatment and just had one on Friday.  The head nurse mentioned that they may not give her ipi on Tuesday due to the high res mri and CT scan scheduled for Monday in preparation for her cyber knife radiation treatment in two weeks.

                      I will be with her on Tuesday when she is supposed to have her 4th ipi treatment and I am hoping to get more information then.

                      The doctors at Hopkins were positive during the consults on going forward with the cyber knife radiation to her brain mets.

                      I am hopeful that if they felt she was close to the end of her fight that they would not even consider putting her through anything else?

                      I will read the info from your link, thank you very much.

                      Not sure how much more she can take.

                      How do you ever know when to stop fighting?

                    godwill200
                    Participant

                      Hello,
                      My name is Marry
                      I saw your profile today in this site and get intrested to know you, because you look very nice in your profile, here is my email address (maryoneill@mighty.co.za) please send me an email so that i will send you my photos and tell you more about my self,.
                      mail me at(Marry

                      godwill200
                      Participant

                        Hello,
                        My name is Marry
                        I saw your profile today in this site and get intrested to know you, because you look very nice in your profile, here is my email address (maryoneill@mighty.co.za) please send me an email so that i will send you my photos and tell you more about my self,.
                        mail me at(Marry

                        godwill200
                        Participant

                          Hello,
                          My name is Marry
                          I saw your profile today in this site and get intrested to know you, because you look very nice in your profile, here is my email address (maryoneill@mighty.co.za) please send me an email so that i will send you my photos and tell you more about my self,.
                          mail me at(Marry

                          runnergirl
                          Participant

                            Hi, I am so sorry that you and your entire family are going through these terribly tough times.

                            As a former geriatric social worker, I would recommend that you get your dad's name on a dementia-specific facility's waitlist.  I've seen good care from Manor Care.  You can always say "no" if they call too early.  Get this done now and you won't have to search under more stress.

                            For your Mom, love her, comfort her, support her decisions.  Show her how much you care.  Be there for her.  Whatever the outcome, my prayers are with you for peace and grace to support you.

                            runnergirl
                            Participant

                              Hi, I am so sorry that you and your entire family are going through these terribly tough times.

                              As a former geriatric social worker, I would recommend that you get your dad's name on a dementia-specific facility's waitlist.  I've seen good care from Manor Care.  You can always say "no" if they call too early.  Get this done now and you won't have to search under more stress.

                              For your Mom, love her, comfort her, support her decisions.  Show her how much you care.  Be there for her.  Whatever the outcome, my prayers are with you for peace and grace to support you.

                              runnergirl
                              Participant

                                Hi, I am so sorry that you and your entire family are going through these terribly tough times.

                                As a former geriatric social worker, I would recommend that you get your dad's name on a dementia-specific facility's waitlist.  I've seen good care from Manor Care.  You can always say "no" if they call too early.  Get this done now and you won't have to search under more stress.

                                For your Mom, love her, comfort her, support her decisions.  Show her how much you care.  Be there for her.  Whatever the outcome, my prayers are with you for peace and grace to support you.

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