Today I start a new treatment. It’s a combination of two immunotherapy drugs and from what I’ve heard from my medical team it has some seriously positive outcomes.
Every three weeks I will be going in to the Tom Baker Intravenous Emporium to be hooked up to an IV and take in the lovely concoctions. It’s a four hour session that includes separate infusions of each drug with observation times in-between. Yesterday i was given the go ahead to start the treatment and today I’m mentally preparing for the three month adventure.
I guess the toxicity increases from 30% to 60% with the combination and the resultant side effects may come as a result. So getting ready really just means taking one day at a time while being aware of what may transpire..
Actually I made the stupid mistake of doing online research and came across a research paper that says 40% of people don’t get to the end of the treatment due to the challenge of the side effects. Looking this up was certainly a dumb move as it puts potential doubt in to my mind. Hell, I still haven’t googled Cancer as I didn’t need to know the shit storm till it was actually taking place. No need to worry about something that hasn’t manifested itself yet.
And that’s different than being educated or aware, and I believe I am fully aware of the challenges I need to prepare for. You will see them below. They ain’t pretty, but I have a feeling it’s like a buffet, I will be allowed to select the ones I want right?? Expect my voice to get deeper.
But till they’re here I am not going to stress. And I’m pretty darn competitive so if 40% don’t finish then I know what the game is…celebrate with a trophy in April after the four sessions are done.
Here we go folks. Four coupons for this ride!! >>>>>>>>>
How Do OPDIVO® (nivolumab) + YERVOY® (ipilimumab) Team Up to Fight Metastatic Melanoma?
OPDIVO + YERVOY works by helping your immune system to fight cancer. It does this by combining 2 immunotherapy medications in different but complementary ways. Together, OPDIVO and YERVOY can help your immune system launch a response against cancer that’s greater than when either medication is used alone.
Watch this video to see how OPDIVO + YERVOY can work with your immune system to fight cancer.
Because OPDIVO + YERVOY works with your immune system, it can cause your immune system to attack normal organs and tissues in any area of your body and can affect the way they work. These problems can sometimes become serious or life-threatening and can lead to death. These problems may happen anytime during treatment or even after your treatment has ended. Some of these problems may happen more often when OPDIVO is used in combination with YERVOY.
SELECT IMPORTANT FACTS
OPDIVO can cause problems that can sometimes become serious or life-threatening and can lead to death. Serious side effects may include lung problems (pneumonitis); intestinal problems (colitis) that can lead to tears or holes in your intestine; liver problems (hepatitis); hormone gland problems (especially the thyroid, pituitary, adrenal glands, and pancreas); kidney problems, including nephritis and kidney failure; skin problems; inflammation of the brain (encephalitis); and problems in other organs. Additional serious side effects observed during a separate study of YERVOY alone include nerve problems that can lead to paralysis; and eye problems. OPDIVO can cause serious side effects, including severe infusion reactions.
What are the serious side effects of OPDIVO?
A serious side effect is a side effect that can sometimes become life-threatening and can lead to death. They may happen anytime during treatment or even after your treatment has ended.
Get medical help immediately if you develop any of these symptoms or they get worse. It may keep these problems from becoming more serious. Your healthcare team will check you for side effects during treatment with OPDIVO, and may treat you with corticosteroid or hormone replacement medicines. If you have a serious side effect, your healthcare team may need to delay or completely stop your treatment.
Lung problems (pneumonitis) — Things to look out for may include:
new or worsening cough
chest pain
shortness of breath
Intestinal problems (colitis) that can lead to tears or holes in your intestine — Things to look out for may include:
diarrhea (loose stools) or more
bowel movements than usualblood in your stools or dark,
tarry, sticky stoolssevere stomach area (abdomen)
pain or tenderness
Liver problems (hepatitis) — Things to look out for may include:
yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes
severe nausea or vomiting
pain on the right side of your stomach area (abdomen)
drowsiness
dark urine (tea colored)
bleeding or bruising more easily than normal
feeling less hungry than usual
decreased energy
Hormone gland problems (especially the thyroid, pituitary, adrenal glands, and pancreas) — Things to look out for may include:
headaches that will not go away
or unusual headachesextreme tiredness
weight gain or weight loss
changes in mood or behavior,
such as decreased sex drive,
irritability, or forgetfulnesshair loss
feeling cold
constipation
voice gets deeper
excessive thirst or lots of urine
dizziness or fainting
Kidney problems, including nephritis and kidney failure — Things to look out for may include:
decrease in the amount of urine
blood in your urine
swelling in your ankles
loss of appetite
Skin problems — Things to look out for may include:
rash
itching
skin blistering
ulcers in the mouth or other
mucous membranes
Inflammation of the brain (encephalitis) — Things to look out for may include:
headache
fever
tiredness or weakness
confusion
memory problems
sleepiness
seeing or hearing things that are not really there (hallucinations)
seizures
stiff neck
Problems in other organs — Things to look out for may include:
changes in eyesight
severe or persistent muscle or joint pains
severe muscle weakness
chest pain
Severe infusion reactions — Things to look out for may include:
chills or shaking
itching or rash
flushing
difficulty breathing
dizziness
fever
feeling like passing out