Lighter Side Of Cancer Blog

Opdivo ( nivolumab) is an immunotherapy cancer treatment that stimulates the patient’s immune system to fight their cancer. As an immune checkpoint inhibitor, Opdivo activates the immune system from being dormant and blocks cancer causing proteins from developing. This treatment is currently approved for the treatment of several cancers, including lung, melanoma, kidney, head and neck, various bladder cancers, liver cancer, colon cancer and Hodgkin Lymphoma. In this video, medical oncologist Dr. Stephen Lemon explains how Opdivo works, as well as what types of side effects it may cause.

With newer and better cancer treatments, people with stage 4 cancer (metastatic cancer) are now living longer, and better. In fact, many of these patients embrace their cancer journeys with a pro-active attitude. In this video, oncologist Dr. Stephen Lemon describes what stage 4 cancer is and touches upon some of the recent treatments that are continuing to enable many people with this disease to live longer and thrive.

Ibrance (palbociclib) is an FDA approved hormone based treatment for metastatic breast cancer. This cancer drug treats patients who are post menopausal and whose advanced cancer tests positive for an estrogen receptor (ER) as well as tests negative for the HER2 protein. Oncologist Dr. Stephen Lemon talks about how Ibrance works, as well as covers some of the side effects it may cause.

Imbruvica (Ibrutinib) is an FDA approved targeted therapy treatment for some forms of blood and lymph node cancers, including mantle cell lymphoma and lymphocytic leukemia. Dr. Stephen Lemon, a medical oncologist, talks about how this treatment works, including what types of side effects it may cause patients during treatment.

As an FDA approved targeted therapy, Xgeva helps prevent bone metastases, such as bone fractures and bone pain that are associated with certain types of advanced cancers like breast cancer. Oncologist Dr. Stephen Lemon explains how this treatment works, as well as highlights what types of side effects patients may experience during this treatment.

Perjeta (Pertuzumab) is an FDA approved cancer treatment for advanced types of cancers like HER2 positive breast cancer. In this video, medical oncologist Dr. Stephen Lemon explains how this treatment work, as well as what types of side effects patients may experience.