Opdivo after Yervoy

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    • January 9, 2018 at 5:13 pm
    jasonandmarsha4
    Participant

      I am a 36 year old wife and mother of 4 beautiful children.  I was diagnosed with stage 3b Melanoma in April 2017.  After surgical resection, I began receiving Yervoy.  After 2 doses of Yervoy, I developed hypohysitis (inflammation of the pituitary gland).  After 2 hospital stays and lots of steroids, I am finally feeling like myself again and doing well.  I do not have any longterm or lasting issues from this complication.  Before my second dose of Yervoy, my oncologist told me that with the finding from a new study, he felt like I needed to switch to Opdivo.  I opted to continue with my second Yervoy dose while we got everything straight for me to begin Opdivo.  Then, I developed the hypophysitis.  I really want to go ahead and do the Opdivo.  I want to do everything possible to prevent a recurrence.  At first, my oncologist said no, but now he agrees that I should do the Opdivo.  IHis nurse, however, was very discouraging about me doing this.  I am looking from your opinions.  If you were in my shoes, would you do the Opdivo?  

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        • January 9, 2018 at 5:58 pm
        ed williams
        Participant

          Hi Anon, my first thought is to go for it and my second thought is how do I back up that idea!!! There is data from Dr. Weber which he supports the thinking of go for it, but it is based on stage 4 patients (see link below). The adjuvant studies compared using Ipi to Nivo but I am not sure if they collected any data about crossing over to Nivo after progression for those who had to stop Ipi due to IRAE's. Best wishes!!! Ed https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=VCOAk7i9kmU

          • January 9, 2018 at 8:24 pm
          doragsda
          Participant

            Yervoy tends to have more and more-severe side effects than Opdivo, plus they each inhibit a different checkpoint blockade, so your experience with Yervoy may very well not be repeated with Opdivo (in terms of toxic effects.

            My wife went from Stage 1 to Stage 4 (with two brain mets) in 6 months between scans.   If it were me,   I would take any treatment they are offering to stay ahead of the disease.  Melanoma is aggressive and peristent;  you need to fight it accordingly, in my opinion.

              • January 9, 2018 at 8:29 pm
              Newmanbell
              Participant

                My husband is Stage 3b and in the same situation.  He started Opdivo and has had 3 or 4 infusions.  He seems to tolerate it better than Yervoy, however, he is extremely fatigued and has lost way too much weight.  There were times with Yervoy that he was crawling on the floor, so in the end this is better…. we are hoping this does the trick.  I would not take any chances and do all that I could for preventative measures.  Best of luck.

                Donna

                 

                • January 10, 2018 at 2:49 pm
                jasonandmarsha4
                Participant

                  Thank you so much!

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