To finish….
Here is a recent post from my blog, with links addressing how to manage immune related side effects generally, how to manage patients with pre-existing autoimmune disease (since that's what returning to immunotherapy after the development of immune related side effects is like!!!), as well as a study where a rheumatic drug combined with a MEK inhibitor may be a treatment for melanoma –
http://chaoticallypreciselifeloveandmelanoma.blogspot.com/2018/02/for-jubesand-rest-of-us-anti-rheumatic.html
Unfortunately, just because you have melanoma and are on immunotherapy, there's no rule that says you can't have other other reasons for joint pain! (That sucks, right???) So, please speak with your doctor if you are experiencing joint pain or any other possible side effects to immunotherapy. The sooner they are addressed the better. The bottom line is that arthralgias are a very common side effect to melanoma treatment. Most can be managed with NSAID's and other drugs. For more severe cases, drugs like prednisone and even infliximab, along with a break from therapy are needed. However, we now know that even if drugs like prednisone are required, they do NOT diminish your chance of response to your therapy! Once side effects are controlled, with careful management, most folks can return to anti-PD-1.
Hope this offers some help. Hang in there. I wish you all my best. Celeste
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