Treatment stopping

Hi all. My mother received three rounds of immunotherapy for her metastatic oesophageal melanoma late last year. She had complications almost immediately but treatment was stopped after the third round as it caused myocarditis , followed by coilitis. After a long time in hospital these issues are resolving. Now it’s looking like she will be having no more treatment as chemo and radium don’t seem to be effective against this cancer. Is there any research supporting retrials of immunotherapy after such a severe reaction , perhaps at a lower dose. She recieved Ipilimumab and nivolumab , is there any evidence of people tolerating others better 

  • Hello and thank you for posting.

    I am sorry to hear what your mother has gone through. I'm sure that has been a difficult time for you all. Unfortunately, nobody on the forum is going to be able to give a medical opinion on what she could do next. Do talk through this with her team so you understand the decision and if your mother feels she would like a second opinion discuss this with them too.

    Cancer treatments are chosen by a specialist team for a specific reason and just as there are many different types of cancer there are many different types of treatments including immunotherapy. The particular types of immunotherapy that your mother was prescribed were called checkpoint inhibitors, these will be as they were expected to give the best outcome possible for her cancer.

    What comes with all these treatments is a risk of side effects, some far more serious than others. As your mother has responded already with serious complications from those treatments it would be unlikely that she would be well enough to risk any further therapies. The doctors cannot give treatments that they know someone is not well enough to receive and may make them even more unwell than they are.

    Knowing a loved one has advanced disease and is unable to have further treatment is a very distressing place to be. Ensuring you all have support is important to make the most of her quality of life after her lengthy hospital stays.

    Take care and if you want to talk anything through with the nurses on the helpline the number is 0808 800 4040. Lines are open mon-fri 9-5.

    Sarah.

  • Hi Ailey,

    Sorry to jump on board your post to the nurses but can I suggest you take a look at melanomafocus.org who have lots of information and a Nurses Helpline which may be worth contacting. Meanwhile, I've sent you a friend request so that, if you accept it, I can send you some more information that you may find helpful. Best wishes to you & your mum,

    Angie (Stage 3 melanoma patient since 2009)