Immunotherapy before surgery is the new treatment plan

The surgeon in Kelowna concluded that the growth on my neck/ shoulder was likely a recurrence of melanoma. She has referred me to a surgeon who can remove all the lymph nodes from the right side of my neck.

The treatment plan has changed entirely and I’ve had to resign my goal of returning to work before short term disability runs out.

Yesterday,  I had my first doses of immunotherapy.  Opdivo and Yervoy are the patented names and they are supposedly quite effective on advanced melanoma, which is apparently my new diagnosis. Gamechangers for patient outcomes.

Just 24 hours onward from my first doses, I feel less swollen in that region and can see the borders of the tumors much more clearly.  A small secondary lymph node lump has also reduced I’m size and is no longer perceptible. This may be psychosomatic, because my GP oncologist said not to expect it to shrink quickly,  but I feel well without side effects and I’m looking forward to mid September when I will receive my third PET scan.

That scan will inform the surgeon on what to remove and how aggressive to be surgically.  Hopefully,  I will receive this surgery before the end of September,  and a return to work can be planned for October.

The treatments happen in cycles now, much like chemotherapy.  The wonderful thing about this is thar I can finally plan a vacation around these cycles and not entirely waste this mini retirement break I’ve been given.

To be honest, these last 5 months have felt like a vacation minus the worry that I was getting lost in an overburdened system and being left to die.

I will be reaching out to a travel agency to see what recommendations they have for an early September vacation. I’m thinking Italy 🇮🇹 would be exceptional and a bucket list checking opportunity.

I love my home and I’ve had a great time this summer doing many novel things like floating down the Slocan River, visiting Fletcher Falls, Kaslo, Arrow Lakes, and hiking Dove Hill among other adventures. It’s been beautiful and memorable, but I’m also ready to see the world and get out of this bubble before a return to work.

For the next 20 days, I will be completely sober and medication free. I want any side effects that I feel to be fully attributed to the immunotherapy medications.

I hope the hardest part about taking them will only be the IVs, which are never easy to start for me. I am going to start doing bicep curls daily and will walk to my next appointment on August 30th to improve the chances of first try success.

I’m in good spirits , feel like progress is finally happening,  and I have no reason to believe that I won’t get better and live to a normal life expectancy… it’s all you can ask for.