2 years of Opdivo treatment have passed and most traces of metastatic Melanoma activity have been removed. This is great progress so we discussed with the oncologist how to proceed. He mentioned the option to continue the treatment with 2 weeks interval or to increase the interval to 4 weeks and wait for the next scan to decide on how to proceed after that.
The benefit of the latter is that it might alleviate the continuing shoulder pain caused by inflammation and related nerve and muscle cramps. This is recorded to be a possible side effect, so I am happy that some action is now taken to get that under control.
The other benefit is that I can start having a bit of a life without having to go for treatment every other week, and reserve the weekend afterwards for possible side effects. Having a change in treatment is also is a tangible sign of progress, which makes a lot of my family and friends happy.
Truth being said, the progress is so slow and the shoulder pain has lasted for so long that mentally it’s hard to be cheerful and turn a page. After 2 weeks of summer holidays I have come to realize however, that if I don’t accept this change as a milestone what will?
I therefore decided to start planning hikes and day trips on Saturdays, and my daughter is looking forward to join. This change in spending my weekends is a clear break from treatment centered planning. (I.e. only go if I have no treatment and spare energy)
These trips with my daughter or with friends will generate a new lust for life!
