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Should I take Nivolumab for stage 2B nodular melanoma at age 75?

Posted by matt75 @matt75, Jul 17 12:33am

My pet scan was clear and had an excision and lymph node removal and was clear there. My oncologist wants to have me to take a 17-course treatment of immunotherapy drug Nivolumab. I worry about the side effects and wonder if at 75 years old just monitoring it with scans and skin examinations would be enough. Meeting with my doctor next week to discuss. Does anyone have any thoughts or experience with this drug?

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Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | 6 days ago
In reply to @matt75 "@joetex : My oncologist wrote up a memo of what we discussed when we first met..." + (show)
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@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.

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@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 | @matt75 | 6 hours ago
In reply to @colleenyoung "@matt75, how did your appointment with your oncologist go last week? What did you decide regarding..." + (show)
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@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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@colleenyoung ; The meeting went well and I decided to proceed with the Opdivo treatments. Had the first infusion last Wednesday. It went smoothly as of today no side effects at all. I'm scheduled for every three weeks for a year which seems like lot. Just hope the side effects stay away'

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