My wife has stage 4 metastatic melanoma which was diagnosed in January. The illness had spread with main issue being a tumour in her brain. A course of dab tram worked wonderfully well pushing everything back to ‘residual abnormality’ . This lasted until November when we were informed that an MRI scan from October had evidenced that a tumour had returned and a new one appeared. We discovered this whilst my wife was in hospital with an infection which turned out to be pneumonia. She was put on a course of amoxicillin.
initially it was suggested the tumour would be treated with radiotherapy. Subsequently the MDT decided she should immediately be put on a course of immunotherapy- IPi/nivo. The first course was started last week.
this week following a visit to our GP my wife was re admitted to hospital. The pneumonia had not cleared up and had worsened. She was put on antibiotics amoxicillin and clarythromycin. Our oncologist took her off the antibiotics suggesting it may compromise the immunotherapy. I have since checked the internet and seen a number of investigations that confirm this may be the case and significantly compromise the effectiveness oh her immunotherapy. Following a CT scan yesterday which evidenced a severe respiratory infection she has been put back on antibiotics this time doxycycline with the agreement of the oncology team. She is on a dose of 500mg for the next 4 days.
we are very concerned about the potential effect on her immunotherapy but equally that if her infection is not treated than it could worsen
really worried
