Generic Name: Opdivo for Melanoma, Metastatic (nivolumab)
Opdivo for Melanoma, Metastatic Reviews
"I have been on this treatment since April 2018 and only got sick 2 times. Besides Vitiligo, skin rash and my thyroid being messed up this treatment has been great for me. My melanoma moved from skin issue to lymph nodes. The original large lymph lump has gone down immensely in size but has not completely gone away even though scans show if to be non malignant. The other nodes throughout my body vanished with this treatment and I am so glad I opted not to have any removed before treatment. It is July 2019 and I am still being treated monthly. Best wishes to others this has been a God send to me."
"Surgery to remove polyp. Follow-up surgery to remove nasal and sinus mucosal melanoma. Proton beaming to clean-up remaining mm in nose/sinus. Metastasis in bones, brain, liver, kidney, gall bladder and spleen. Opdivo started and after 6 infusions observed reduction in size of tumors everywhere. Continue another 6 infusions until next scan."
"Devastating life-threatening side effects. Started mouth breakouts, muscle, joint. and tendens swollen to the point of needing a wheelchair. Started 80 mg steroids to stop destruction of joints. After a month on 80 mg started reducing steroid then pituitary gland swelled crushing optical nerves in both eyes. Permanent vision loss with blindness in one eye. Vision went from 20-20 to 20-200 in left and 20-40 right. Thyroid damage came next followed by sugar levels monitoring to start insulin. This week it seems to be starting in the lungs and heart. Rapid heartbeat with skipping and 3 month follow-up CT scan now show lung damage, I ask for quality of life over quantity and was told this was safe and steroids could control side effects. Consulting with other doctors they say 15-20% survive metastatic melanoma and they do not know if those treated with Opvido and survive are the same ones that would survive without taking it. Destroyed my life and will lead to and earlier death."
"I had stage 4 melanoma in my lymph glands, lung, liver, and bladder. After one year on Optivo 98% of the cancer was gone. I stayed on Optivo for another year and my last scans showed no c-cells. Currently I'm Opdivo off until my next scans are done. Yes, it did save my life. And yes there are side effects but they out way the other."
"I had a large lymph node that was melanoma, and also a lesion in my lung. After 5 treatments of Opdivo alone, I have no evidence of disease (NED). I have remained NED for 3 years and counting. The only side effects were fatigue and non-itchy skin rash. Had 24 treatments, ended 18 months ago."
"My friend Jason was given this drug for Melanoma. He had a spot removed on his leg and his lymph nodes were removed. After that the Dr said he was cancer free but suggested he take this drug to stay in remission. The drug attacked his brain and caused his to lose the ability to talk, walk, and have proper motor skills and spent 9 months in a hospital bed in utter frustration and anger unable to do anything on his own including going to the bathroom. There was no recourse. Once it did the damage it was irreversible. He died almost a year later. Cancer was all over his body. He was 47."
"Been on Nivolumab & Opdivo for 27 months with small amount of side effects and great success in tumor reduction . Merkel cell (MCC ) is what I have and went thru several Chemos & radiation and this treatment is working Great on this cancer. Merkel cell MCC is one of the cancer that foundations do not help with so these patients are on there own. Pricey but it does make a different s in the length of your life ."
"I had melanoma in my lung, large intestine and thigh. I am also on dialysis. I took a six-month course of Opdivo and had no cancer cells at that time. Five years and PET scans later I am still cancer free. Yes, Opdivo is a tough regime of medicine, very tired, achy, depressed, anemia, and at the end some sort of acute lung problem (that's when they took me off the medicine). After I stopped taking Opdivo it still took four months to get it out of my system. Was it worth it? Damn right."
"Received 12 months of Opdivo, 23 treatments from April 2018 to April 2019. Skin rash in splotches on hands, arms, stomach, and feet. Severe bone and muscle pain, weakness, and fatigue, stomach issues, loose bowels. All throughout treatment. I am now almost 5 years from the last treatment, but I continue to have bone and muscle pain, and from time to time I get rashes popping up randomly. My biggest complaint is that I continue to be tired and have bone/joint pain. All my treatments and blood work were in the right arm as I had lymph nodes taken from the left arm, so no blood pressure, no needle sticks, etc., in the left arm. Right arm held up well with all the treatments and blood work. Now my right shoulder and nerves down my arm bother me a lot. My final comment is, Opdivo worked. Thank God I am still here on this earth."
"Started Opdivo almost two years ago. When diagnosed with metastatic melanoma, I was suggested I had about 6 months to live. My Oncologist started me immediately after confirming I had metastatic melanoma. I have only seen low sodium levels just at the lower threshold. A little tired following infusion. I feel this therapy has extended my life for certain. I'm glad it is available at this time. 10-15 years ago I wouldn't be so lucky."
"At my appointment for the second infusion of Opdivo, it was discovered that I had lost 15 pounds, and I recalled that I was experiencing frequent urination, extreme thirst, and fatigue. My previously normal blood glucose and A1C were always normal. At this visit, my blood glucose was 680!! My doctor informed me that my immune system had attacked my pancreas, causing irreversible Type 1 Diabetes. I will be on insulin for the rest of my life. I was in the hospital for 4 days to get my blood glucose down and to learn how to monitor the readings, count carbs, and inject myself with insulin. Time will tell if the Opdivo is going to help with the melanoma. Repeat of PET scan in 3 weeks."
"Significant reduction in right lower pulmonary nodules and hepatocellular metastases after 4 injections. Side effects: Very high fever (required hospitalization) Pain in the abdomen, feeling of organs being inflamed Very high sensitivity of chest skin. The treatment is underway."
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