has anyone with oesophageal cancer been treated with nivolum

Hi there

its been a while since my last post. My dad was diagnosised with oc in May 14 with mets to liver. he had chemo and responded well at first but it became resistant. within 8 weeks of cming off chemo the cancer has come back aggressively his liver is now completely covered and he hasmore mets in glands and possible lung. he was told last week that he has weeks to live.

Ive managed to get him on a trail at royal marsden with the drug nivolumab. It has had great results with advanced melomna and lung cancer as well as non-hodgkins. theres been kidney trails, brain trails and a few others.

He starts it in the next week or two if he can remain strong enough. I guess the only good thing is the fact that he is not on any medication since chemo not even pain relief although he has pain. Has anyone started this trail or had this trail? I need to give him positive news. I have spoken to clinics in the U.S and told him about positive cases there but i think he needs something nearer to home

Thanks for your time

skye

  • Is my dad the first OC patient to undergo this drug?

  • Skye,

    I've been offline for a few days, so I have only just seen this post. I'm sorry to hear about your Dad's condition worsening after he came off chemo, our worst fear.

    Apart from your post, I can find almost nothing about this drug being used in the UK to treat OC. As you say, there have been positive results with other types of cancer in the USA. I hope this trial is a success for your Dad.

    This was all I could turn up twitter.com/.../501715456789852161 . Apparently recruitment started at the end of 2013, so there may well be others with OC on the trial. 

    Is there a reason he isn't being given pain relief? That in itself must be a worry.

    Best wishes
    Dave

     

     

     

     

  • Hi dave

    It hasn't just worsen it has taken over. Dad is riddled with tumours. His liver is covered and he is now jaundiced. But he keeps going. Still be as active as possible, trying to eat and somedays he does ok and other days he doesnt. He stills walk the dog at least once a day.

    Its touch and go now if he gets on the trail as he is jau dice. They are goi g to try and stent his liver on wed. Your question to pain relief is dad doesnt want it. He says its not bad but I see him double over from time to time. I guess if he can feel pain he is still alive. You military men are all the same

  • Skye,

    Sorry to hear about the spread and the jaundice. 

    I should have guessed why he isn't on pain relief - I think the technical term is "being an awkward b*gger". My Grandad (an ex Sergeant Major and Dunkirk veteran) was the same and used exactly that expression!

     

    Best wishes
    Dave