1. < Melanoma & Skin Cancer
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Mentor

Immunotherapy Scheduling

Posted by Susan, Volunteer Mentor @grammato3, Dec 5, 2024

I am totally new to Keytruda infusions, having only had one a week ago. I was under the impression I'd be routinely scheduled for these infusions every three weeks - on the same day of the week - but to date I've not gotten any information about my next one which ought to be in two weeks on a Wednesday. I've called scheduling twice but have not yet received notification. Is it common to not get notification of the date/time until a few days beforehand?

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jaxthecat | @jaxthecat | Dec 9, 2025
In reply to @grammato3 "@jaxthecat I had also been going every 6 weeks w/o any incident after the inital few..." + (show)
Profile picture for Susan, Volunteer Mentor @grammato3

@jaxthecat I had also been going every 6 weeks w/o any incident after the inital few treatments at 3 weeks. My treatment has been on hold since Sept when I experienced some significant GI issues that may or may not be Keytruda related - I'm having another GI biopsy next week to try to determine if Keytruda played a role - so when I meet with my oncologist on the 22nd I'll see if I can resume immonotherapy and if so, if I go back to every 3 weeks or maintain the 6.

Glad the 3 week schedule is working out for you. Are you anticipating a 2 year treatment plan?

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@grammato3. yes, if the PET scans every 3_4 months say clear, they tell me 1 1/2 to maybe 2 years of Keytruda. This is due to my melonoma being grade 3C.

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jaxthecat | @jaxthecat | Dec 12, 2025
In reply to @grammato3 "@jaxthecat I had also been going every 6 weeks w/o any incident after the inital few..." + (show)
Profile picture for Susan, Volunteer Mentor @grammato3

@jaxthecat I had also been going every 6 weeks w/o any incident after the inital few treatments at 3 weeks. My treatment has been on hold since Sept when I experienced some significant GI issues that may or may not be Keytruda related - I'm having another GI biopsy next week to try to determine if Keytruda played a role - so when I meet with my oncologist on the 22nd I'll see if I can resume immonotherapy and if so, if I go back to every 3 weeks or maintain the 6.

Glad the 3 week schedule is working out for you. Are you anticipating a 2 year treatment plan?

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@grammato3
Yes, they anticipate 1 1/2 to 2 years of immonutherapy as long as the PET scans remain clear.
Keep us posted on your biopsy!

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jaxthecat | @jaxthecat | Dec 12, 2025
In reply to @grammato3 "@jaxthecat How have those five months been, any fatigue or other issues that you've experienced or..." + (show)
Profile picture for Susan, Volunteer Mentor @grammato3

@jaxthecat How have those five months been, any fatigue or other issues that you've experienced or care to share?

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@grammato3
Fatigue was more after the first and second infusions. I feel so fortunate to not have experienced a rash, diarrhea, or not keeping food down.

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Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Dec 21, 2025
In reply to @mark13903 "Mine was scheduled a couple days later. Send a note through the Portal, I get my..." + (show)
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Mine was scheduled a couple days later. Send a note through the Portal, I get my fastest results. Best of luck on your journey. It's not fun. But it is the best available.

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@mark13903, welcome. Are you being treated for melanoma? How are you doing?

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mark13903 | @mark13903 | Dec 21, 2025
In reply to @colleenyoung "@mark13903, welcome. Are you being treated for melanoma? How are you doing?" + (show)
Profile picture for Colleen Young, Connect Director @colleenyoung

@mark13903, welcome. Are you being treated for melanoma? How are you doing?

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@colleenyoung yes I have stage 4 Malignant melanoma that has Matastsized to my liver, both lungs, 2a cervical, left axillary nodes, baseball size left axillary mass. Braf Negative. I began the Opdualag on Nov 25, 2025 very few side effects. Since beginning my baseball size mass is gone. My next treatment is Dec 23rd... this Tuesday at the Jax facility. Are you also Melanoma positive?

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Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | 5 days ago
In reply to @mark13903 "@colleenyoung yes I have stage 4 Malignant melanoma that has Matastsized to my liver, both lungs,..." + (show)
Profile picture for mark13903 @mark13903

@colleenyoung yes I have stage 4 Malignant melanoma that has Matastsized to my liver, both lungs, 2a cervical, left axillary nodes, baseball size left axillary mass. Braf Negative. I began the Opdualag on Nov 25, 2025 very few side effects. Since beginning my baseball size mass is gone. My next treatment is Dec 23rd... this Tuesday at the Jax facility. Are you also Melanoma positive?

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I do not have melanoma, however, others here do, like @grammato3.

@mark13903, how did your recent appointment go? How are you doing?

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mark13903 | @mark13903 | 5 days ago
In reply to @colleenyoung "I do not have melanoma, however, others here do, like @grammato3. @mark13903, how did your recent..." + (show)
Profile picture for Colleen Young, Connect Director @colleenyoung

I do not have melanoma, however, others here do, like @grammato3.

@mark13903, how did your recent appointment go? How are you doing?

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@colleenyoung the staff is great... everything runs like a well oiled machine. Dr Doonan is perfect for my approach to this medical issue. I want direct... but most important he listens intently and truly thinks about my question... before answering. I slept for 2 days after my 2nd infusion. Advill for 7 days... all good.. Opdualag. Thank you for asking.

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Profile picture for Susan, Volunteer Mentor
Mentor
Susan, Volunteer Mentor | @grammato3 | 4 days ago
In reply to @mark13903 "@colleenyoung the staff is great... everything runs like a well oiled machine. Dr Doonan is perfect..." + (show)
Profile picture for mark13903 @mark13903

@colleenyoung the staff is great... everything runs like a well oiled machine. Dr Doonan is perfect for my approach to this medical issue. I want direct... but most important he listens intently and truly thinks about my question... before answering. I slept for 2 days after my 2nd infusion. Advill for 7 days... all good.. Opdualag. Thank you for asking.

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@mark13903: I also have Stage IV metastatic melanoma and have been treating at the Phoenix location. I recently learned that due to adverse effects I can no longer continue with immunotherapy with had been helpful in resolving my lung nodule. I will post about that after my upcomine PET scan in a couple of weeks.

I'm glad to hear you've been pleased with Dr. Doonan and your care at Jacksonville. Everyone I've come in contact with has had only positive things to stay about the oncology staff at all the Mayo facilities. How do I know this? Because I've been participating in the the Melanoma Support group offered through Mayo since shortly after my diagnosis in November 2024. We meet via Zoom on the second Tuesday of each month. Here's the information: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/events/.

Is that perhaps something you might be interested in?

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