Tuesday, April 30, 2013

business or pleasure?

The trip was a success!!  I am on the schedule for starting the drug on May 8th (assuming I can work out my insurance issues, which are still up in the air).  I will go back every other week for a quick appointment and the drug infusion (which should only take about 90 minutes).  In three months we will scan and see if it is working or not.  Of course it will be working, so we will do the same routine for another 12 week round.  If (when) I am still responding I would go every 12 weeks for 2 years for the medicine.  I originally thought it was every other week for a whole year, so 6 months was a nice surprise.  It's a small price to pay for possibly the best medicine melanoma has seen yet. 

From what I understand the response rates are around 25% or better.  It is drug very similar to Yervoy (IPI) that I responded to so well to in June.  It acts just the same way, but uses different pathways.  Pathways that aren't showing the same side-effects as IPI, and the side effects are generally less severe.  This is the first trial of this drug that would let me in because of my side-effects from IPI.  This trial is to see how patients who had dose-limiting toxicities with IPI (remember I could only take one dose of the four you are supposed to receive because of the colitis) would do with the anti-PD1.   It is a very exciting opportunity.  This is the same drug I tried to get in Portland. 

It will be very interesting to see what happens.  Will I respond quickly, as I did with IPI?  I hope so.  I have now lost some range of motion in my arm due to my growing tumor.  It hurts when I stretch, reach, and is very obvious when I swim.  The pain is above the tumor, and it feels like a tendon or something has just been pulled too tight, and has no more give.  So I kind of need it to work quickly. 

In the meantime we need to move!  We close on our house today, and have to be out of this one by Monday.  So ready or not...


Just found out I qualified.  Sitting on the softest beach, watching the sun go down and the moon rise.  It was a good night.

Nothing more romantic than the ocean.  Even if I was alone.

16 comments:

  1. Hip hooray! So delighted for you. And best wishes as you begin the move out of your home. What a great distraction a move will be :)

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  2. This post makes me so happy! I love your pictures. I am looking forward to more and more good news.

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  3. This is fantastic news! I'm so glad you got what you wanted and could do this treatment. Find yourself lots of good books to read on your plane trips to Florida. That will be many good hours of reading time.

    I'm so excited about your house too. When can I come see the new place?

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  4. I am so excited that you got into the trial! We will pray for you and your family!!

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  5. Such wonderful news. Can we do anything to help you move?

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  6. Hooray! I love that these treatments involve a beach for you:)Congrats on the house and especially the trial!

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  7. I'm so glad you get to start so soon. Which drug company is sponsoring this? You'll have to explain it to me, but love the bottom line that you get to try PD1.

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  8. Congratulations Alisa!! So happy for the wonderful possibilities!

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  9. all good news we will all be praying for you. Good luck with the new house and the move love Suzanne Campbell

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  10. YESSS! Great news, Alisa! So exciting.

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  11. I am so so happy to hear this! I want to hear more about this house too? Where is it? etc. etc. Alisa, truly this is great news... now it just needs to respond as we know it will! :)

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  12. Wahoo! My only wish was that it was in Portland!!!! Regardless, I am thrilled you are in!!!!!

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  13. WOW! Alisa! Great news! I am still curious where you are moving?! Thats an exciting adventure for sure!

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