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Should I take Nivolumab for stage 2B nodular melanoma at age 75?
Melanoma & Skin Cancer | Last Active: Aug 8 1:02pm | Replies (32)Comment receiving replies
@joetex : My oncologist wrote up a memo of what we discussed when we first met with him on the courses of treatments depending on what was discovered in tests and scans. In this memo he stated "For patients with stage IIB melanoma, the odds of cure without any additional postoperative treatment are approximately 70%. We improve the odds of cure with immunotherapy after surgery (excision) to approximately 85%." I'll follow up with this with him on Wednesday as well as side effects.
Replies to "@joetex : My oncologist wrote up a memo of what we discussed when we first met..."
@matt75 The AIM site shows how stage IIb risk can vary with tumor thickness. Mine was 4.5 mm which gives a much higher risk of recurrence. That could explain part of the difference between what your oncologist gave you and my numbers.
@matt75, how did your appointment with your oncologist go last week? What did you decide regarding treatment and taking nivolumab (Opdivo)?
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@matt75 Thanks for the information. It’s confusing to see the different predictions of recurrence. My oncologist gave me a lower chance of recurrence-free time. They use a prediction tool from the Australia Melanoma Society that refines the risk by adding age, tumor thickness, mitotic rate and other factors. Australia has more melanoma cases than any other country in the world so they have analyzed a lot of data. That predicted a higher chance of recurrence for me. I like your numbers! I’m interested in what you decide. Thanks.