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Nausea after Opdivo and Yervoy: How long do side effects last?
Melanoma & Skin Cancer | Last Active: Jul 20 8:08am | Replies (6)Comment receiving replies
Thanks for good response nycmusic. To summarize, no symptoms first week after O+Y. Then moderate to severe fatigue and nausea for the next week, including soaking bed sweats and shaking chills/rigors.
Symptoms noticably improved morning of day 12. Mild nausea and fatigue, small changes maybe but made the difference between able to function and not. Now day 14, mild nausea and fatigue but able to function.
Knowing that symptoms will improve makes them more tolerable. Learning about mechanisms causing nausea and the many non-pharmacologic treatments, my PCP has been helpful with this. I plan to put together a preventive plan with help from PCP and suggest preventive measures to Mayo treatment team before next infusions.
Replies to "Thanks for good response nycmusic. To summarize, no symptoms first week after O+Y. Then moderate to..."
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@2bv02b: Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect where many of us have had experiences with immunotherapy, including myself with pembrolizumab (Keytruda). I can definitely empathize with side effects of such therapy.
You may find the following helpful guidelies about the particular agents you're taking: https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/nivolumab-intravenous-route/description/drg-20127723
https://www.aimatmelanoma.org/wp-content/uploads/IO-Ipi-Nivo-Combo-PAP-2024_082525_mk.pdf
Immunotherapy has definitely shown to work well in identifying and attacking cancer cells. Along with that, though, it can irritate other body systems and organs - up to 30% of individuals undergoing this kind of treatment do report nausea and fatigue especially in the early weeks following initial infusion(s). Some people have found eating smaller more frequent meals help, along with ginger or peppermint tea (personally, I preferred the latter) and most of all, staying adequately hydrated for which electrolyte rich drinks can help. Avoid rich or spicy food. For fatigue, try alternating short naps with light excercise such as 20 minutes walks. Perhaps these are things your PCP has suggested?
I gather from what you wrote you are treating at a Mayo facility. May I inquire as to what type of melanoma you're treating for, if you're comfortable with sharing?