Back for Round 2 of IL-2

Today at 3 pm, Mark starts round 2 of Interleukin-2. His central line catheter has been placed, and we're just waiting for the fun to start! 😬 

We've been trying to remember what happened when, so we've condensed our TimeLine so we can see the summary better. 

Melanoma had been removed from his back in 1990 and one from his shoulder in 2000. 

2012 

Feb 28 PET results: "...avid metastatic disease in the lungs, the right ventricle of the heart, liver, omentum, paraspinal muscles, and soft tissues of the right hip and both thighs." (Life expectancy, we learned later, was about 3 months.) 

Mar 24 – Zelboraf started, a medication used to shrink tumors. Although not a cure, it acts quickly if the patient is responsive and has the BRAF mutation. Average 5-8 months and typically only shrinks tumors.

 Apr 24 -- Heart went into A-Flutter because of the shrinking tumor in his heart. 

 Aug 6 – Results of echocardiogram showed the large tumor in the heart was GONE! 

 Sep 9 – Both PET and MRI indicated no evidence of cancerous tumors! 

 Sep 14 – Catheter Ablation was successful in correcting Mark’s heartbeat. 

 2013 

 Jan 22 – Stopped Zelboraf due to negative side effects. 

 Jan 30 – Results of PET showed no tumors. Jul 1 – No indication of any tumor activity. 

 2014 

 Mar 31 – PET results showed one large tumor in the left adrenal gland and seven small tumors throughout the body in soft tissue. 

 Apr 9 – Started new meds – Mekinist and Tafinlar (BRAF and MEC inhibitors combined). No potential for cure, but minimal side-effects for quality of life. Like Zelboraf, but with fewer side effects. 

 Aug 28 – PET report - all of the tumors were gone!!!

 Dec 8 – PET results were clear again! Went off all medications. 

2015 

Apr 25 – PET results: Two small tumors - one in the thigh's soft tissue and the other on the left adrenal in the abdomen. Started the same medications again, Tafinlar and Mekinist. 

June 30 – PET showed NO TUMORS!

2016 

Aug 22 – PET results showed one large (fist-size) tumor in the adrenal gland. This was the first time there had been tumor activity while on medications, indicating more aggressive cancer. 

Sep 16 – Tumor in the left adrenal gland removed surgically. stopped medications 

Dec 9 – PET results showed around 20 tumors from the face to the shins, some in soft tissue and others in the bone. None in critical organs. 

Dec 14 – MRI indicated no tumor activity in the brain. 

Dec 28 – Happy 65th Birthday! Pain medications such as Oxycodone help relieve pain in the hip and abdomen caused by tumors pressing on nerves in bones in the hip and spine.

Dec 30 – The first treatment of radiation caused initial increased pain and nausea. More followed. 

2017 

Jan 6 – 1st infusion of Ketruda, administered every three weeks. This immunotherapy drug has the potential to be durable - meaning that this isn't just a stall drug. 

Dec 22 – PET showed– No evidence of cancer! Dec 26 – 17th and LAST infusion of Ketruda. 

2018 

Dec 1-15 – Mild pain in the lower abdomen – left side. 

Dec 17 – MRI/CT shows no cancer activity, but a PET would be more conclusive. 

2019 

Mar 18 – CT scan indicated multiple tumors in the liver, some an inch in diameter. Another tumor on the pancreas was causing pain. 

Mar 21 – Intense Pain! Tafinlar and Mekinist started to shrink the tumors quickly. 

Sep 30  PET scan results indicated that all tumors had resolved. Of course, there are likely cancerous cells present as Tafinlar & Mekinist do not eradicate cancer but are excellent at prolonging life. Also, Mark started the first combined immunotherapy infusion of Nivolumab (Opdivo) and Ipilimumab (Yervoy). 

Oct 28– MRI showed an Enlarged Pituitary Gland, which resulted in Adrenal Insufficiency. His body will no longer produce cortisol, so hydrocortisone will be required for the rest of his life. Prednisone was used for several months, starting with a large dose and tapering down slowly. 

Nov 2 - 29 – In and out of the hospital and cancer clinic—the immune system attacked the digestive system and the Pituitary Gland. Mark was in the top 3-5% for the most severe reaction to the double immunotherapy. He will not be able to use Yervoy again. 

2020 

Feb 12 – PET exposed a tumor in the left adrenal gland and a small one in the liver. 

Feb. 21 – Mekinist and Tafinlar resumed 

May 18 – PET revealed NO active tumors. 

Aug 17 – PET revealed NO active tumors. Adrenal Insufficiency continued to be monitored with hydrocortisone. 

Dec 16 -- PET results -- a golf-sized tumor in the liver. 

2021 

Jan 18-23 – Providence Portland Hospital for the first infusion of Interleukin-2

Feb 8-13 – Providence Portland Hospital for the second infusion of Interleukin-2