When is Opdivo given for cancer?
Opdivo is often given when the cancer has spread to other parts of the body, or cannot be surgically removed, or has come back after prior treatment. For some types of cancer, Opdivo is given only if your tumor has a specific genetic marker (an abnormal "EGFR" or "ALK" gene).
What is the prognosis of Opdivo?
Opdivo was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on an "accelerated" basis for some types of cancer. In clinical studies, Opdivo produced complete or partial responses, or longer survival time without progression of the cancer. However, further studies are needed.
Is Xalkori the same as Opdivo or Keytruda?
Xalkori is not the same as Opdivo or Keytruda, but all three are prescription drugs are used to treat cancer. Xalkori is an oral capsule used to treats two types of cancers with genetic mutations: non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL), a type of blood cancer.
What is Opdivo (nivolumab)?
Medically reviewed by Sophia Entringer, PharmD Last updated on Jul 1, 2019. Opdivo (nivolumab) is a cancer medicine that is used alone or in combination with other medicines that works with your immune system to interfere with the growth and spread of cancer cells in the body.
How can you tell if Opdivo is working?
To tell if you're responding to treatment with Opdivo your doctor will order periodic tests, such as CT (computed tomography) and PET (positron emission tomography) scans and MRI (magnetic resonance imaging). These tests help work out whether the size of your tumors is changing or new tumors have appeared.
Does Opdivo cure lung cancer?
Yes, Opdivo has been shown to be effective for treating squamous cell lung cancer. Squamous cells are flat cells that are found in the outer layer of your skin as well as lining parts of your body. This includes the airways in your lungs.
How much longer does Opdivo prolong life?
With a minimum follow-up of 6.5 years, median overall survival (OS) was 72.1 months with Opdivo plus Yervoy (95% CI: 38.2-NR), the longest reported median OS in a Phase 3 advanced melanoma trial, 36.9 months with Opdivo (95% CI: 28.2-58.7) and 19.9 months with the Yervoy group (95% CI: 16.8-24.6).
Can Opdivo cause confusion?
Also, Opdivo can cause hyponatremia (low blood sodium levels). Confusion is a symptom of this condition, which was a common side effect in certain clinical studies of Opdivo. If you're feeling disoriented or having trouble thinking clearly during Opdivo treatment, contact your doctor right away.
What is the success rate of Opdivo?
Of patients still alive and part of the current analysis, 77% of those who received the combination of Opdivo + Yervoy, 69% of those who received just Opdivo, and 43% of those who received Yervoy have been off treatment and never received subsequent systemic therapy for melanoma.
Does Opdivo make you tired?
You may have fatigue (lack of energy) while you're taking Opdivo. This is one of the most common side effects of the drug. In clinical studies, 39% to 59% of people who took Opdivo alone had fatigue.
How long can you live with immunotherapy?
In a study led by UCLA investigators, treatment with the immunotherapy drug pembrolizumab helped more than 15 percent of people with advanced non-small cell lung cancer live for at least five years — and 25 percent of patients whose tumor cells had a specific protein lived at least that long.
Can Opdivo cause memory loss?
Some of these reactions can cause confusion and symptoms, including: changes in your behavior or mood. problems with your balance. problems with your memory.
What happens when you stop immunotherapy?
Data suggest that stopping immunotherapy after 1 year of treatment could lead to inferior progression-free survival and overall survival, says Lopes. However, stopping after 2 years does not appear to negatively impact survival.
What are the most common side effects of Opdivo?
The most common side effects of OPDIVO, when used in combination with YERVOY and chemotherapy, include: feeling tired; pain in muscles, bones, and joints; nausea; diarrhea; rash; decreased appetite; constipation; and itching.
Can immunotherapy make you confused?
Patients also may experience neurologic symptoms such as confusion, tremors, or difficulty communicating.
How do I know if immunotherapy is working?
To see if immunotherapy is effective, your physician (an oncology health provider) must be involved. He or she may order blood tests to check for tumor markers, and he or she may also order scans of the tumor periodically to keep track of it.
How long does Opdivo prolong life and what’s its success rate?
Opdivo (nivolumab) is an immunotherapy used to treat a wide variety of cancer types. How long treatment with this monoclonal antibody prolongs or e...
How long does Opdivo take to work and how do you know if it's working?
Results from clinical trial indicate that it can take about 2 months to see a response to treatment with Opdivo, but some patients will respond mor...
How long does Opdivo stay in your system?
Opdivo stays in your system for a very long time, up to 3 to 4 months (100 to 125 days). This is based on the half-life of Opdivo, which is 25 days...
What is the difference between Opdivo and Keytruda?
The key differences between Opdivo (nivolumab) and Keytruda (pembrolizumab) are seen in the dosing frequency, the drugs they are used in combinatio...
How are Opdivo and Yervoy administered?
Opdivo and Yervoy are administered by slow intravenous infusion over at least 30 minutes – this is when a bag containing the medicine is hung from...
Is Opdivo a chemotherapy or immunotherapy drug?
Opdivo is an immunotherapy treatment. It belongs to the class of medicines known as checkpoint inhibitors and works by blocking the PD-1 (programme...
What happens when you stop taking Opdivo for melanoma?
Opdivo (nivolumab) is an immunotherapy used to treat a variety of cancer types, including melanoma. Durable responses to treatment have been observ...
My first two years my tumor remained stable
My lung cancer journey began 3 years and 9 months ago. The first two years I was on traditional chemotherapy. I experienced the typical side effects - nausea, vomiting, total hair loss, etc. It was not a fun time, as you all may already know. For the first two years, my tumors remained "stable."
Starting a new regimen
In January of 2016, I started on Opdivo. I was told the infusions would last a total of about 2 hours and I had to go every two weeks. After two years of chemotherapy, I was extremely skeptical when the nurses said, "Oh it's nothing like chemo. You'll love it."
Developing my new routine
Now, when I woke up, things changed. I felt like I was beginning to get the flu. I had body aches - my hair hurt, my joints hurt. No excruciating pain but just an ache. My stomach was fine. My gastrointestinal system was fine. I just had that achy feeling all over.
Consulting A Dietitian
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What is Opdivo used for?
Opdivo (nivolumab) is an immunotherapy used to treat a wide variety of cancer types. How long treatment with this monoclonal antibody prolongs or extends life depends on the type and stage of cancer it is used to treat and other factors. Continue reading.
How long does it take to get opdivo?
This medicine must be given slowly, and the infusion can take 30 to 90 minutes to complete. Opdivo is usually given once every 2 to 4 weeks. Your other cancer medicines may be given on different schedules. Your doctor will determine how long to treat you with all medicines.
What type of cancer affects the lining of the lungs and chest wall?
pleural mesothelioma (cancer that affects the lining of the lungs and chest wall); kidney cancer; classical Hodgkin lymphoma; cancer of the stomach and esophagus; squamous cell cancer of the esophagus or head and neck; bladder cancer; liver cancer; or. colorectal cancer. Opdivo is often given when the cancer has spread to other parts ...
Is Opdivo safe for you?
To make sure Opdivo is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have: chemotherapy or radiation treatment; a nervous system disorder such as myasthenia gravis or Guillain-Barré syndrome; liver disease; an autoimmune disorder ( lupus, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis ); or.
When is opido given?
Opdivo is often given when the cancer has spread to other parts of the body (metastatic), or cannot be surgically removed, or has come back after prior treatment. Opdivo is sometimes given only if laboratory testing shows specific genetic markers or DNA mutations associated with your cancer.
Does Opdivo cause hives?
Opdivo side effects. Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction to Opdivo ( hives, difficult breathing, swelling in your face or throat) or a severe skin reaction (fever, sore throat, burning eyes, skin pain, red or purple skin rash with blistering and peeling).
Can Opdivo be discontinued?
Your cancer treatments may be delayed or permanently discontinued if you have certain side effects. Common Opdivo side effects may include: nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, loss of appetite, diarrhea, constipation; mouth sores, altered sense of taste; itching, rash, redness or blisters on your hands or feet;
Nausea, vomiting AFTER Opdivo therapy
After about 1 year after the last dose of Opdivo I struggle with almost daily nausea, vomiting and...
Opdivo and Yervoy combination approved for Non-small cell lung cancer
treatment for NSCLC. This gives patients whose cancer does not have a targetable change a new...
A large injection of hope required. Please
This was followed by carboplatin chemotherapy and immunotherapy with the chemo only for the first 4...
Lung cancer stage 4 and treatment
lung cancer and is on the same chemo route as me. I am on Alimta, Carboplatin and Keytruda. I will...
My dad has been place in hospice care at home
trying to recovered from his calcium levels being high. it has been a horrible 5 months but doctors...
marc9338
Not taking Opidivo, but sounds like things are moving in the right direction.
KatieB
I know quite a few patients on immunotherapy- Opdivo and Keytruda- and I would be happy to connect you with them for one on one conversation. I'll also point them in the direction of this post so that some may reply.
KatieB
email me your contact information and I'll connect you. I also asked them to post here too so we should see some replies to this thread hopefully.
crousemelissa
I've been on Opdivo since February and am tolerating it fairly well. (Just some muscle and joint aches and pains and fatigue) As far as neuropathy is concerned, I do have residual neuropathy from the platinum drugs I received 11 years ago. I do not take anything for it.
DonS
I have been on Opdivo for 13 infusions the only side affect is hypothyroidism so I started levothyroxine. I have nueropathy from taxol six plus years ago. I wear compression socks and just started cannabus tincture that seems to help. It is approved for medical use in California Good luck Don
sjwhitlock
Hi JG. I have been Opvido since April. I had scans about 3 months after I started that showed tremendous improvement. It is true that the first scans aren't always easy to interpret but I believe that unless there has been frank progression, people usually stay the course for another 3 months or so.
gdlemaire
I haven't got much more to add to the notes above, please know that there are several people on our group that have had very impressive results on Opdivo/Keytruda - they are 2 very similar immunotherapy drugs. Like Melissa Crouse, my reaction to Opdivo (I was on it for 5 months) is just like hers....