Melanoma Patient Story: Immunotherapy Treatment (Nivolumab/Opdivo) | Rich’s Story (5 of 5)

[@ThePatientStory]

How did you decide to choose the cancer treatment you ended up undergoing? Please share with us below 👇

[@powerofloveism]

I am so glad that your still aloud to choose Your course of treatment when it comes to Cancer. God Bless

[@daisy7141]

I had no choice, but to choose immunotherapy over chemotherapy because one of my kidneys was removed with a tumor, Nov 23, 2022. My Egfr and creatatinine were low and high. To protect my only kidney, the doctor put me on immunotherapy because chemo is hard on kidneys. After my kidney removal the doctor told me I would need a bladder cystoscopy every three months to make sure no cancer is there. They found 2 small noninvasive tumors in March and they were removed. I feel blessed!

[@rgaysek]

Does anyone still monitor these comments. Is there any follow up to Rich’s condition. This series has been a blessing in my journey.

[@keywest302]

3 years ago I had a Melanoma on my toe, my toe was removed and then I started Opdivo ever 2 weeks for the last 2 years. I thank God everyday for a second chance at life.

[@rizvvan21]

What stage you found out about your melanoma. I just got diagnosed with melanoma on my toe but not have Clear idea how deep itt is

[@keywest302]

@@rizvvan21 I had it on my toe, groin and brain. My doctor doesn’t know where it started. How big is the spot on your toe?

[@keywest302]

So you started Opdivo, how often do you take the treatments?

[@rizvvan21]

@@keywest302 it was less than 4 mm in diameter. Did it penetrated to Deeper skin or not is not clear. They just removed all mole and gave appointment to do wide excision biopsy in coming days. No medicine is prescribed yet.

[@springsalter5295]

My husband has stage III B melanoma. He had a lymph node surgery three weeks ago and begins immunotherapy next week. I cannot begin to tell you how much The Patient Story and especially Rich's videos have helped us through this situation. Thank you Stephanie and Rich. ❤

[@springsalter5295]

I thought some people going through the diagnostic process might like to know that things are going well for us at this point. The surgery went very well. He has some numbness and has had a very mild lymphoma we are hopeful will get better. He is on immunotherapy and is doing really well so far with the first three infusions. The oncologist believes the immunotherapy will completely knock the melanoma out and he won't have anymore problems with it. If you are reading this because you or a loved one is going through the same thing, we wish you all the luck and good health in the world.

[@rizvvan21]

How is he now ? I am 31 just got diagnosed with it but not sure about which stage it was

[@daisy7141]

I just had my second Nivolumab through my port with a scary side effect. My spine undulated and my pelvis, very painful. The nurse gave me a steroid shot. Meanwhile, my throat felt like is was closing and she gave me oxygen. She said the speed of infusion was too great. They needed to stop it and restart it. That seemed to do the trick. The next day, in the evening, I had a 101 fever and my arms were shaking. I took a Covid test, thinking it was that, but my test was negative. Thank you for sharing. I get more information on KZbin it seems, because doctors and nurses are so busy. Dostarlimab is in trials. Now the second trial I think. Out of 18 patients there were no side effects and their anal cancer disappeared. Trials are for other cancers now. ❤

[@stevefabian477]

Great video. Very generous patient disclosure. Having a swollen left neck lymph node as my only symptom, I would lean towards immunotherapy when and if its offered. My second biopsy did show squamous cell carcinoma and right now I'm on a kind of 'watch and wait ' mode until my 1st appointment at Moffitt in late September.

[@16B9]

My PCP referred me to a skin specialist to have a nickel sized spot checked on the back of my head during my annual physical last September. It took two months to be seen, have the spot removed the next week and a week later I was told the spot was melanoma. Based on the lab reports, my doctor thinks he got it all. I had a full body exam and no other concerning spots were observed. I'm on a three month body exam schedule next exam due in March. I'm 74, retired Army Vietnam Veteran and retired from the Hanford Nuclear Site here in Washington State. I've filed a claim for compensation under the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation program. My case is pending a decision by the Department of Labor. It's my opinion my cancer is related to the weapons grade Special Nuclear Material Plutonium I was exposed to. Thank you for this Patient Story. I'm much more informed about melanoma. I wish Rich B. continued success with his treatment(s) and his future. May he enjoy a long and healthy life. :)

[@cindykinser7850]

I lived by Hanford Nuclear Site in WA also. Had melanoma tumor removed in March but fortunately it had not spread to lymph nodes so no treatment needed. Good luck on the medical claim with Hanford ❤

[@michman2]

I got Ipilimumab (Yervoy) for stage 3 nodular melanoma, started June 2016, ended July 2019. 14 treatments in all. I was my hospital's first patient on Ipi. So far, only my thyroid has been effected causing the need for synthroid and a low steroid. I lost a day for each infusion... that's all.

[@janestorer6610]

Thank you for this. I’m just starting immunotherapy. I feel just a little bit better.

[@fireblademan494]

I had melanoma removed from my forehead in U.K. in 2004 she said it was just the beginnings very thin, hadn't spread anywhere felt all my glands nothing. We moved to Australia 2007. In 2018 I started feeling ill and loosing balance. Had to go to hospital. Scans revealed a tumor at the back of my brain also a large one in my chest I never felt, or knew was there( not in the lung) I had the tumor in my head removed plus a dose of radiation to make sure in the cavity . My oncologist put me on Immunotherapy the same drug as above over time the tumor in my chest shrank. I was on Immunotherapy for 2.5 years. I Pet scans and MRI every 3 months then it went 4 months They said I was all clear also the Tumor in my chest died it has calcified no activity on the pet scan. I have my last 4 monthly scan February. Then I go to 6 months Of course I'm so grateful for all they are doing for me here in Australia. Side Effects at first I had all my fingers the skin pealed the skin on my hands is a bit thinner not that bad I can do everything day to day I can't play my guitar it gets too sore. I used to get itchy skin in various places But Derma ease cream sorted that. The only other problem, not a problem really, the treatment gave me Vitiligo on my arms and legs. Thats patchy skin color so in my case that's tanned and very pale. That's where there is no skin pigment color. I don't care I'm grateful to be here.

[@ThePatientStory]

Thank you for sharing your experience - reading about your gratitude after all you've been through will help lift so many others reading it. -Stephanie

[@myeverythingworld8123]

​@@ThePatientStory how you going m8 with it I have melanoma too

[@danielwalmsley]

Would love to know how Rich is doing a year on

[@josephmilla3977]

Thank you for your story. I just had my surgery today. I found these videos earlier this morning and it help me to calm down a bit and focus on staying alive instead of what the cancer may be doing to my body. Initial biopsy of the tumor Stage is 2A and I’ll get the sentinel lymph node biopsy results in the next 2 weeks.

[@anna_668]

Thanks for sharing! Could you share the time frame from diagnosis of the primary tumor to the biopsy of your lymph nodes? Thank

[@thisoldbag8336]

Really enjoyed listening to your experience with immunotherapy. I am the odd duck in this discussion group as I am diagnosed with metastatic squamous cell skin cancer at the end of 2023. I have two spots on my chest, one was successfully treated with surgery and the other was treated with Efudex (chemotherapy cream) and is having a reoccurrence. I have a large spot in my scalp has spread into my neck lymph nodes which are inoperable at this time due to how large one is. Also I am experiencing two new growths in my scalp. I will be going through immunotherapy tomorrow (1/17/24) with Libtayo. I am praying I won't have too many side effects. If I don't experience too many side effects and blood work shows no signs of major toxicity, I would prefer this treatment until clear PET scans over the risky surgery of removing the affected lymph nodes where there is risk of permanent nerve damage around the face.

[@brucekendall52]

Outstanding story.Thank you.

[@robinboyer6321]

My husband had this treatment and his eyes were affected causing blindness and his body to swell where he was unrecognizable. They were able to reverse this horrible rare side affect. Please watch for all side affects and push any doctor that don’t take them seriously.

[@topsoled]

Thank you for these videos, I watched all 5. Very informative and helpful.

[@georgiascott4172]

wonderful series. Thank you both.

[@ThePatientStory]

Thank you! -Stephanie

[@annkennedy1795]

So Happy for you. Brilliant you are cancer free. X

[@donnamiley6778]

Good luck Rich.

[@charlesjohnson5530]

Excellent!

[@pennyloafer3358]

Maybe I missed something. I understand you had a small tumour in your lymph nodes. You investigated clinical trials and chose to go back to your community oncologist who said you were in remission. Wouldn't that have been prior to the immunotherapy, and if so where did the lymph node tumour go? Sorry if I missed that. Wishing you well. Thanks for a great series. I lost my dad to melanoma. My mother and brother both have it currently. I have something like a BCC on my arm so I'm just going to ring my GP tomorrow but I know through my brother it can take almost a year to see a dermatologist here in Canada just for the first tests.

[@anna_668]

Hello everyone! Could anyone provide information about the typical timeframe for undergoing surgery on the sentinel node following a diagnosis?

[@dar7230]

I don't know After 2 opduvo treatments I am experiencing severe diarrhea, muscle ache, headaches, shortness of breath, fatigue, and dizziness every time i stand. One more then CT and PET and I am done. I was perfectly healthy prior to biopsy, no signs of cancer,wish i had never had mole biopsied and just kept living my life

[@kishorprasad1168]

is nivolumubab increase tumer and swelling in starting

[@rhondaliggett7386]

My husband died from severe adverse drug reaction from yervoy after his 3rd dose. A horrible death to watch someone to go through from the toxicity.

[@richardwalters5629]

What can you do about going outside in the sun? I am going for biopsy 02/17/23. Hope its negative..

[@annetteslife]

One thing is to apply sunscreen.

[@annetteslife]

Wear protective clothing including a hat and apply sunscreen