u/FarCandy1898

Hi All,

I had posted a week ago about my stepdad who has stage 4 melanoma and started immunotherapy (opdivo and yerovy) almost 4 weeks ago now.

He was hospitalized last week for a fall and had some complications while in the hospital ( AFIB event).

They were finally able to stabilize him and now he’s in an inpatient rehab to regain his strength. He is SO exhausted and decently confused. Some of the tumors are on his brain dura, scalp, and skull. When they did the MRI at the hospital there was considerable inflammation of the brain, his oncologists (he has two as my parents recently moved) both believe the immunotherapy is working and causing the inflammation. His liver levels were also elevated at the hospital which they noted is common. He also had tumors on his scalp that we could see that are gone.

The oncologists are extremely encouraging and think he has a really good chance of good response since we saw external tumors shrink on his scalp so quickly. I’m almost surprised how positive they seem, given his current state.

Any thoughts on these side effects? And the oncologists response? Anything we should be asking or considering?

I feel so sad for him that he is so confused and fatigued. It’s so hard watching someone you love be not themselves. I want to do anything I can to support him and my mom.

My original post with other details
https://www.reddit.com/r/melahomies/s/iiIEsfjvzw

Hi my stepdad was recently diagnosed with stage 4 melanoma and things have progressed really quickly. He’s 68 and up until a few months ago lived a really healthy, active life. I’ve been reading many of your posts and they’ve given me hope, but things are progressing so quickly, I’m pretty scared. Looking for insight and support.

In March we took him to the ER for a headache. They found a really large mass on his brain dura. They originally believed it was a benign meningioma. After surgery, biopsy proved it to be melanoma.

Originally scans showed one small spot on his spleen. They weren’t even sure it was melanoma but a biopsy revealed it was. They waited a couple weeks on treatment, did repeat scans. It had spread to his liver, spleen had grown, and pancreas.

They started opdivo and yerovy. This was two and a half weeks ago. He has declined severely. He’s been in and out of hospitals.

He’s currently hospitalized in a local hospital awaiting transport to UPENN in Philadelphia. This transfer has been pushed out from Friday. It’s now Monday and we’re still waiting.

He’s so weak. His liver levels are rising. And his sodium is low (though we saw some minor improvements).

I guess I’m just looking for any thoughts, support, and well wishes. Thanks all.