May 14, 2025 • 18 mins
Teddi calls in from her doctor’s appointment to give us an update on her scans.
Plus, we hear lots of good information from Teddi‘s oncologist.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:02):
Two Teas in a Pod with Teddy Mellencamp and camera Judge.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
Hi, guys, welcome to another episode of Two Teas in
a Pod with myself, Teddy Mellencaan.
Speaker 3 (00:19):
And Tambra Judge. Hey, Teddy, Hey, Hi, Hi.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
I'm calling you from the actual room where I'm getting
my immunotherapy treatment.
Speaker 3 (00:31):
I understand that, I understand you have an update for us.
You just had a scan done.
Speaker 4 (00:38):
I do.
Speaker 2 (00:38):
I have an update, so in exciting news. So last
time they had checked soulely my brain and those tumors
are shrinking. And then today I had the scan and
where they checked my lungs and they are shrinking and
one of them has shrunk so much you can barely
even see it.
Speaker 3 (00:57):
That's great.
Speaker 2 (00:58):
So it's really really good news. I'm definitely so relieved.
I'm also a little bit like, if I sound a
little weird, it's because I'm in the middle of them
in a therapy treatment right now. But what they said
was this is good news. That means my body is
responding to everything. But I do need to live on
(01:22):
immunotherapy for the next two years. So every four weeks
for the next two years, I have to come in
and get that done. So and then every three months
I get another scan and we check to make sure
that everything is where it is. But the part that
I was confused about. I thought that, like, once the
tumors start going away, I'm like, so, does that mean
(01:44):
I'm cancer free? And he's like no, He's like you,
we will let you know when you're in remission. But
at this point, everything's just heading the correct way.
Speaker 3 (01:54):
So immunotherapy ever for two years every four weeks, is
that just controlling it or is it curing it?
Speaker 2 (02:02):
It's both. It's making sure that it's getting smaller and
then let's say that it gets so small that it disappears.
It's making sure that it won't form anywhere else in
my body.
Speaker 3 (02:13):
Okay, so it's.
Speaker 2 (02:14):
So yeah, so something that I've learned today. That's pretty cool.
So the reason they were able to do this treatment
on me, because remember radiation didn't work and the tumors
were getting bigger, and like I was only able to
get certain surgeries is because over at Feeders Clinic, there
is everything in one spot. So because of that, they
(02:38):
can do multiple treatments and figure out what works for
you individually. So I think what ends up happening to
a lot of people. If you know, this is why
I'm so grateful that I live in California. Is they
go to you know, they have to go to all
these different doctors at different locations, where mine is kind
of like a one stop shop. That's great, and yeah,
(03:01):
so's it's really good news.
Speaker 3 (03:04):
Do you have another one in three weeks and then
after that you do every four weeks or from now
on it only every four weeks.
Speaker 2 (03:10):
This is my last one. This is so Also right now,
I'm on three medications when I'm doing the immunotherapy, and
I was very concerned. I mean, granted, this is going
to sound wild, considering I should just be thrilled regardless,
but I was like, on these current medications, I still
feel really sick. Yeah, and especially like after day six,
(03:34):
I get really sick. And he said, well, for this
one that you're doing right now, you'll still be on
the three medications, but then it rotates and you'll be
on two medications and your body starts to become more
immune to it, so you don't get as sick. I
thought it was pretty which I thought was pretty interesting
(03:55):
because I was a little bit worried about having to
live on immune therapy because you know how I am
when I get super emotional on certain days. But I
think that the fact that this is all moving in
a smooth pass forward is is really good news. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (04:12):
I mean, just the fact that your the tumors are
responding to the immunotherapy is just absolutely amazing because there
could have been a chance that they would not have
responded correct correct.
Speaker 2 (04:22):
And then the part that's even more wild. I'm like,
can I do everything? And he's like, what do you mean.
I'm like, somebody invited me to go skydiving tomorrow? Can
I go?
Speaker 3 (04:33):
You're not going? You're not I'm not allowing you to
do that.
Speaker 2 (04:36):
Well, that's not actually what he said. He said, Yes,
of course you can go. No, you can do app
he goes, you can do absolutely anything. And then but
this is the best part. I go, well, can I drive?
And he goes, Nope, not for three more weeks because
you had a seizure and you have to wait three
more weeks.
Speaker 3 (04:55):
Yeah, you're not really getting sky dive.
Speaker 2 (04:57):
Hard No, three more months, by the way, three more.
Speaker 3 (05:01):
You're not really gonna skydive, right, No.
Speaker 2 (05:04):
Why would you take me seriously? You think I'm going
to make an effort to go somewhere to go skydiving.
Speaker 3 (05:09):
Okay, I just want to I never know with you,
I just want to make sure.
Speaker 2 (05:14):
Well. I just wanted to make sure that any people
don't give me any flack, like, oh, you're riding horses,
you're on an airplane, you're doing anything.
Speaker 3 (05:22):
You can do whatever you want as long as it's
not skydiving. I tell that to Eddie.
Speaker 2 (05:27):
Said, well, he said, you know, the fact that you're
doing so well shows that you being able to do
so many things has helped your body heal because you're
doing things that you love. Oh that was really cool.
Speaker 3 (05:42):
So why did they how did they determine two years?
Do you know.
Speaker 2 (05:47):
That's I don't know if that's standard protocol. But I said,
what if I want to stop it shorter? And he
like kind of lifted his glasses up and he looked
at me, and he goes, two years is what I
strongly recommend.
Speaker 3 (06:00):
And then after the two years did he say.
Speaker 2 (06:03):
No, No, you go to like tend you're like my dad,
My dad came into town for this. The first thing
is my dad comes into town, I have to go
get my scans where I have to drink that like
disgusting milky stuff that's like makes me radio active or whatever.
And then I go get my scans and I come
out with my Dad's there. We're waiting for the doctor.
(06:24):
The doctor comes in and then I know he has
my results, and then my dad and him are making
small talk. Finally I'm like, hey, gentlemen, any chance we
could do the results first?
Speaker 3 (06:38):
What'd your dad say about the results?
Speaker 2 (06:42):
He goes, so you're cured. I go, Dad, yes, I'm
much better, but I am not cured yet, which AKA
means you still I still got to be the favorite,
and you still got to be the nicest to me
because I'm still fighting.
Speaker 3 (06:56):
So you're gonna milk him, You're gonna mak Yeah.
Speaker 2 (07:01):
Well, thank you such good news, and I just wanted
to call you and kind of give you the update.
And I know that I'm not going to be on
the pod that much for the next couple of weeks,
but then I am back and hopefully in full force
starting on June first. So I just kind of wanted
(07:22):
to give everybody a headset that I'm doing okay, and
I'm really appreciating Cam and to Dolores and everybody and
iHeart for filling in and being able to do so
much with me no matter how I'm feeling, They're able
to figure out ways to work around my schedule. So
I'm really grateful to you guys. But I am hoping
(07:44):
my dream, my goal is along with sky diving, is
being back, being back full time on the pod around
June first. That's amazing.
Speaker 3 (08:00):
Happy, Thanks dabe.
Speaker 2 (08:02):
We did it. Looks like we made it.
Speaker 3 (08:05):
No today was I knew today was so stressful for you.
And we were chatting a little bit this morning and
I'm like, oh, it's going to be great news. It's
great news, and this is great news.
Speaker 2 (08:16):
It's very good news. And now I just have to
keep staying on it and make sure that I and
you know, listen to my body. If there's a day
that I'm not feeling well, I have to remember just
because I'm not doing treatment as often, I'm still in
recovery and I still need to be taking care of myself.
Speaker 3 (08:35):
That's right, all right. So you're doing immunotherapy as we
talk right now? How long does that last?
Speaker 2 (08:57):
Two hours?
Speaker 3 (08:58):
Okay? When you do this moving forward, is it still
the same amount of time and immunotherapy? Is it shorter.
Speaker 2 (09:05):
I think it's going to be shorter because it's two
hours for three different meds, so I think it'll be
one hour because I'm down to two meds, is my guest,
because I have they call it the bags, so I
have two bags right now. I do, but I think
it switches to just one bag.
Speaker 3 (09:24):
Yay.
Speaker 2 (09:27):
But I love you, Tom, thank you so much for everything. Yes,
all right, well, and I need all of your updates
soon and hopefully I'm going to be just more and
more with it. And then I'm like, well, can I
stop my you know, medic, my other medications, And he's like, nope,
you've recently had a seizure, so you've got to stay
(09:48):
on the capra and those medications. But at least I'm
not on any narcotics. I'm on non narcotics, and I'm
on no what is the stair? Those are the ones
that made me crazy. So and the paper good news
all the way around.
Speaker 3 (10:04):
Pay no pain.
Speaker 2 (10:06):
The pain is great. I'm actually in here right now.
This is pretty crazy. I'm in here right now with
my doctor. Can you explain a little bit I've talked
just that we're on the podcast doing to teeth In
the pod, I talked a little bit about why it's
so great at the Aangelist clinic, about having everything in
(10:26):
one spot. But is there something you can say in
like two minutes that could explain it probably better than
I did. All you guys are putting you on with
my doctor, who I've made his life probably living hell,
but either way, we're working through it, and he's going
to walk you guys through immuta therapy because a lot
of you don't even know what immuna therapy is because
to my knowledge, it's only been around about ten years.
(10:47):
And I believe my doctor was the founder of immunotherapy. Hah,
give him a little brag there, So I'm on this
for hold on here.
Speaker 4 (10:57):
He is all right, well, that Teddy is an expert
in hyperbole, But what she meant to say is that
I'm one of the initial physicians to run the trials
on this type of immunotherapy she's getting. Immunotherapy has been
known for many years to work to cause the resolution
(11:19):
of tumors from in the olden days when people got
momps or measles. Some tumors resolved Cooley's talks. And Cooley
was a surgeon at Memorial who injected some things near
a tumor. Don Morton, who was a very well known surgeon,
used to give BCG into tumors and create an immune inflammation.
(11:41):
We know that that should happen because just like your
immune system gets rid of viruses and bacteria, it can
get rid of tumors. And what we have designed and
done as a field over the last two decades are
drugs that worked to reignite the immune system, and that's
what's working for Teddy. It's important to know that those
(12:06):
drugs can cause significant and serious side effects, so a
place that has expertise in it is what you should
be looking for. And for a tumor like melanoma, where
it's not the most common tumor, but it's a top
five cancer for young women like Teddy. It takes you know,
(12:29):
it's top two in years of life ofst behind leukemia,
and it is an ongoing issue. What's important to know
is you need to have either on your team or
as your main oncologist, someone who has that expertise. Now,
these drugs are great because we've shown that they can
(12:51):
cross into the brain and control and resolve disease that's
in the brain, which is you know, the benefits that
we're seeing here with Teddy. We've also found that it's durable.
You can teach the immune system and at some point
stop giving this drug. And you know, as I come,
(13:14):
as I come down to see Teddy, I leave the
room of someone who was in a similar position a
decade ago. And this is the benefits of immunotherapy response
and durability beyond what we've seen before with chemotherapy, surgery,
radiation or targeted agents. So to come to a place
(13:37):
where it's not just like a park once place where
all the imaging and the surgeon and the oncologists and
the procedures can be done at the same time, but
to come to a place that has many, many decades
of experience with this tumor is important or any tumor.
(13:58):
So here we've built, you know, a clinic of expertise.
It's someone who does just lung cancers or your female
cancers or uh A cancer, intestinal cancers. But also the
ability to you know, be close to an expert team
of physicians, nurses, staff, And I really think that that
(14:25):
helps not just when things are going well, but if
you run into a side effect or if there's a
need to move into a clinical trial or something like that.
Speaker 2 (14:34):
Remember that doesn't live in California, find the best type
of doctors for them.
Speaker 4 (14:42):
Well, I think you need to first talk to your
doctor and you say, hey, I need a I'd like
a second opinion with someone who spends the majority of
their time focused on my cancer. You know, most oncologists
because of need, Because of need, learn a lot about
(15:05):
everything and don't focus like someone like me on one cancer.
So you can go to your foundations. This is a
nice way to give a plug because it's Melanima Awareness
Month for the Melanima Research Alliance, the Melanima Research Foundation
(15:26):
aim at Melanoma, which is an amazing All of them
are patient advocacy, research and educational places, so a lot there.
Speaker 3 (15:36):
Can I ask you one question, Hi, it's camera. So
two years, how do you determine the two years to
continue immunotherapy every four weeks? And after that two years?
Speaker 4 (15:49):
Everybody is different. Everybody is different, and so that's why
they say, you know, like medicine is an art, we
just have to remember you remember the risks, the benefits
and the data. Ultimately, in the course of these two years,
we may get better data to help us make decisions.
(16:11):
But right now we're continuing, and I have a question.
Speaker 2 (16:14):
I remember at one point I came in and said,
what is the chance of me surviving from melanoma? And
I believe that you said thirty five percent? What would
you say it is?
Speaker 3 (16:27):
Now?
Speaker 2 (16:29):
I'm not going to cry.
Speaker 4 (16:30):
Just well, here's what I said to you. I said
to you that the average survivals have gone from six
months to six years, that the patients with brain metastasies,
the response rates are now fifty percent or greater. And
we're seeing somewhere, you know, five for five year survivals
with patients with brain metastasies somewhere forty to fifty percent.
(16:55):
And it doesn't matter as statistics are for you know,
big populational stuff like education, transportation, sanitation. But we would
work with the therapy that gives you the best chance
of working. And what we know with immunotherapy and melanoma
is if you make it to three years without having
(17:16):
anything grow or come back, you're golden about ninety five
percent of the time. All right, well we'll leave her
at that.
Speaker 2 (17:25):
That's good. Thanks you. All right, so we got to
make it for you. Appreciate it, Thank you so much,
and just for anybody else that wants more information. The
fifteenth annual Los Angeles Melanoma Symposium is Thursday, May twenty second.
If you want to register for it, it's www dot
(17:47):
aimat melanoma dot org and then click on symposium and
you can learn more. Or if it's easier for you
to call, you can just call three one o two
three one one two one two.
Speaker 4 (18:01):
Oh.
Speaker 2 (18:02):
Well, thanks guys for tuning in to another episode of
two Teeth and a Pod. Of course, this one's a
little different than others, but it's got good news.
Speaker 3 (18:09):
Yeah, we got a lot of information, some good news.
So Teddy, I will talk to you after yourmunotherapy. I
hope that you're feeling good after that and we'll talk soon.
Speaker 4 (18:20):
Ye bye, Mabe bye.
Two Teas in a Pod with Teddy Mellencamp and camera Judge.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
Hi, guys, welcome to another episode of Two Teas in
a Pod with myself, Teddy Mellencaan.
Speaker 3 (00:19):
And Tambra Judge. Hey, Teddy, Hey, Hi, Hi.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
I'm calling you from the actual room where I'm getting
my immunotherapy treatment.
Speaker 3 (00:31):
I understand that, I understand you have an update for us.
You just had a scan done.
Speaker 4 (00:38):
I do.
Speaker 2 (00:38):
I have an update, so in exciting news. So last
time they had checked soulely my brain and those tumors
are shrinking. And then today I had the scan and
where they checked my lungs and they are shrinking and
one of them has shrunk so much you can barely
even see it.
Speaker 3 (00:57):
That's great.
Speaker 2 (00:58):
So it's really really good news. I'm definitely so relieved.
I'm also a little bit like, if I sound a
little weird, it's because I'm in the middle of them
in a therapy treatment right now. But what they said
was this is good news. That means my body is
responding to everything. But I do need to live on
(01:22):
immunotherapy for the next two years. So every four weeks
for the next two years, I have to come in
and get that done. So and then every three months
I get another scan and we check to make sure
that everything is where it is. But the part that
I was confused about. I thought that, like, once the
tumors start going away, I'm like, so, does that mean
(01:44):
I'm cancer free? And he's like no, He's like you,
we will let you know when you're in remission. But
at this point, everything's just heading the correct way.
Speaker 3 (01:54):
So immunotherapy ever for two years every four weeks, is
that just controlling it or is it curing it?
Speaker 2 (02:02):
It's both. It's making sure that it's getting smaller and
then let's say that it gets so small that it disappears.
It's making sure that it won't form anywhere else in
my body.
Speaker 3 (02:13):
Okay, so it's.
Speaker 2 (02:14):
So yeah, so something that I've learned today. That's pretty cool.
So the reason they were able to do this treatment
on me, because remember radiation didn't work and the tumors
were getting bigger, and like I was only able to
get certain surgeries is because over at Feeders Clinic, there
is everything in one spot. So because of that, they
(02:38):
can do multiple treatments and figure out what works for
you individually. So I think what ends up happening to
a lot of people. If you know, this is why
I'm so grateful that I live in California. Is they
go to you know, they have to go to all
these different doctors at different locations, where mine is kind
of like a one stop shop. That's great, and yeah,
(03:01):
so's it's really good news.
Speaker 3 (03:04):
Do you have another one in three weeks and then
after that you do every four weeks or from now
on it only every four weeks.
Speaker 2 (03:10):
This is my last one. This is so Also right now,
I'm on three medications when I'm doing the immunotherapy, and
I was very concerned. I mean, granted, this is going
to sound wild, considering I should just be thrilled regardless,
but I was like, on these current medications, I still
feel really sick. Yeah, and especially like after day six,
(03:34):
I get really sick. And he said, well, for this
one that you're doing right now, you'll still be on
the three medications, but then it rotates and you'll be
on two medications and your body starts to become more
immune to it, so you don't get as sick. I
thought it was pretty which I thought was pretty interesting
(03:55):
because I was a little bit worried about having to
live on immune therapy because you know how I am
when I get super emotional on certain days. But I
think that the fact that this is all moving in
a smooth pass forward is is really good news. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (04:12):
I mean, just the fact that your the tumors are
responding to the immunotherapy is just absolutely amazing because there
could have been a chance that they would not have
responded correct correct.
Speaker 2 (04:22):
And then the part that's even more wild. I'm like,
can I do everything? And he's like, what do you mean.
I'm like, somebody invited me to go skydiving tomorrow? Can
I go?
Speaker 3 (04:33):
You're not going? You're not I'm not allowing you to
do that.
Speaker 2 (04:36):
Well, that's not actually what he said. He said, Yes,
of course you can go. No, you can do app
he goes, you can do absolutely anything. And then but
this is the best part. I go, well, can I drive?
And he goes, Nope, not for three more weeks because
you had a seizure and you have to wait three
more weeks.
Speaker 3 (04:55):
Yeah, you're not really getting sky dive.
Speaker 2 (04:57):
Hard No, three more months, by the way, three more.
Speaker 3 (05:01):
You're not really gonna skydive, right, No.
Speaker 2 (05:04):
Why would you take me seriously? You think I'm going
to make an effort to go somewhere to go skydiving.
Speaker 3 (05:09):
Okay, I just want to I never know with you,
I just want to make sure.
Speaker 2 (05:14):
Well. I just wanted to make sure that any people
don't give me any flack, like, oh, you're riding horses,
you're on an airplane, you're doing anything.
Speaker 3 (05:22):
You can do whatever you want as long as it's
not skydiving. I tell that to Eddie.
Speaker 2 (05:27):
Said, well, he said, you know, the fact that you're
doing so well shows that you being able to do
so many things has helped your body heal because you're
doing things that you love. Oh that was really cool.
Speaker 3 (05:42):
So why did they how did they determine two years?
Do you know.
Speaker 2 (05:47):
That's I don't know if that's standard protocol. But I said,
what if I want to stop it shorter? And he
like kind of lifted his glasses up and he looked
at me, and he goes, two years is what I
strongly recommend.
Speaker 3 (06:00):
And then after the two years did he say.
Speaker 2 (06:03):
No, No, you go to like tend you're like my dad,
My dad came into town for this. The first thing
is my dad comes into town, I have to go
get my scans where I have to drink that like
disgusting milky stuff that's like makes me radio active or whatever.
And then I go get my scans and I come
out with my Dad's there. We're waiting for the doctor.
(06:24):
The doctor comes in and then I know he has
my results, and then my dad and him are making
small talk. Finally I'm like, hey, gentlemen, any chance we
could do the results first?
Speaker 3 (06:38):
What'd your dad say about the results?
Speaker 2 (06:42):
He goes, so you're cured. I go, Dad, yes, I'm
much better, but I am not cured yet, which AKA
means you still I still got to be the favorite,
and you still got to be the nicest to me
because I'm still fighting.
Speaker 3 (06:56):
So you're gonna milk him, You're gonna mak Yeah.
Speaker 2 (07:01):
Well, thank you such good news, and I just wanted
to call you and kind of give you the update.
And I know that I'm not going to be on
the pod that much for the next couple of weeks,
but then I am back and hopefully in full force
starting on June first. So I just kind of wanted
(07:22):
to give everybody a headset that I'm doing okay, and
I'm really appreciating Cam and to Dolores and everybody and
iHeart for filling in and being able to do so
much with me no matter how I'm feeling, They're able
to figure out ways to work around my schedule. So
I'm really grateful to you guys. But I am hoping
(07:44):
my dream, my goal is along with sky diving, is
being back, being back full time on the pod around
June first. That's amazing.
Speaker 3 (08:00):
Happy, Thanks dabe.
Speaker 2 (08:02):
We did it. Looks like we made it.
Speaker 3 (08:05):
No today was I knew today was so stressful for you.
And we were chatting a little bit this morning and
I'm like, oh, it's going to be great news. It's
great news, and this is great news.
Speaker 2 (08:16):
It's very good news. And now I just have to
keep staying on it and make sure that I and
you know, listen to my body. If there's a day
that I'm not feeling well, I have to remember just
because I'm not doing treatment as often, I'm still in
recovery and I still need to be taking care of myself.
Speaker 3 (08:35):
That's right, all right. So you're doing immunotherapy as we
talk right now? How long does that last?
Speaker 2 (08:57):
Two hours?
Speaker 3 (08:58):
Okay? When you do this moving forward, is it still
the same amount of time and immunotherapy? Is it shorter.
Speaker 2 (09:05):
I think it's going to be shorter because it's two
hours for three different meds, so I think it'll be
one hour because I'm down to two meds, is my guest,
because I have they call it the bags, so I
have two bags right now. I do, but I think
it switches to just one bag.
Speaker 3 (09:24):
Yay.
Speaker 2 (09:27):
But I love you, Tom, thank you so much for everything. Yes,
all right, well, and I need all of your updates
soon and hopefully I'm going to be just more and
more with it. And then I'm like, well, can I
stop my you know, medic, my other medications, And he's like, nope,
you've recently had a seizure, so you've got to stay
(09:48):
on the capra and those medications. But at least I'm
not on any narcotics. I'm on non narcotics, and I'm
on no what is the stair? Those are the ones
that made me crazy. So and the paper good news
all the way around.
Speaker 3 (10:04):
Pay no pain.
Speaker 2 (10:06):
The pain is great. I'm actually in here right now.
This is pretty crazy. I'm in here right now with
my doctor. Can you explain a little bit I've talked
just that we're on the podcast doing to teeth In
the pod, I talked a little bit about why it's
so great at the Aangelist clinic, about having everything in
(10:26):
one spot. But is there something you can say in
like two minutes that could explain it probably better than
I did. All you guys are putting you on with
my doctor, who I've made his life probably living hell,
but either way, we're working through it, and he's going
to walk you guys through immuta therapy because a lot
of you don't even know what immuna therapy is because
to my knowledge, it's only been around about ten years.
(10:47):
And I believe my doctor was the founder of immunotherapy. Hah,
give him a little brag there, So I'm on this
for hold on here.
Speaker 4 (10:57):
He is all right, well, that Teddy is an expert
in hyperbole, But what she meant to say is that
I'm one of the initial physicians to run the trials
on this type of immunotherapy she's getting. Immunotherapy has been
known for many years to work to cause the resolution
(11:19):
of tumors from in the olden days when people got
momps or measles. Some tumors resolved Cooley's talks. And Cooley
was a surgeon at Memorial who injected some things near
a tumor. Don Morton, who was a very well known surgeon,
used to give BCG into tumors and create an immune inflammation.
(11:41):
We know that that should happen because just like your
immune system gets rid of viruses and bacteria, it can
get rid of tumors. And what we have designed and
done as a field over the last two decades are
drugs that worked to reignite the immune system, and that's
what's working for Teddy. It's important to know that those
(12:06):
drugs can cause significant and serious side effects, so a
place that has expertise in it is what you should
be looking for. And for a tumor like melanoma, where
it's not the most common tumor, but it's a top
five cancer for young women like Teddy. It takes you know,
(12:29):
it's top two in years of life ofst behind leukemia,
and it is an ongoing issue. What's important to know
is you need to have either on your team or
as your main oncologist, someone who has that expertise. Now,
these drugs are great because we've shown that they can
(12:51):
cross into the brain and control and resolve disease that's
in the brain, which is you know, the benefits that
we're seeing here with Teddy. We've also found that it's durable.
You can teach the immune system and at some point
stop giving this drug. And you know, as I come,
(13:14):
as I come down to see Teddy, I leave the
room of someone who was in a similar position a
decade ago. And this is the benefits of immunotherapy response
and durability beyond what we've seen before with chemotherapy, surgery,
radiation or targeted agents. So to come to a place
(13:37):
where it's not just like a park once place where
all the imaging and the surgeon and the oncologists and
the procedures can be done at the same time, but
to come to a place that has many, many decades
of experience with this tumor is important or any tumor.
(13:58):
So here we've built, you know, a clinic of expertise.
It's someone who does just lung cancers or your female
cancers or uh A cancer, intestinal cancers. But also the
ability to you know, be close to an expert team
of physicians, nurses, staff, And I really think that that
(14:25):
helps not just when things are going well, but if
you run into a side effect or if there's a
need to move into a clinical trial or something like that.
Speaker 2 (14:34):
Remember that doesn't live in California, find the best type
of doctors for them.
Speaker 4 (14:42):
Well, I think you need to first talk to your
doctor and you say, hey, I need a I'd like
a second opinion with someone who spends the majority of
their time focused on my cancer. You know, most oncologists
because of need, Because of need, learn a lot about
(15:05):
everything and don't focus like someone like me on one cancer.
So you can go to your foundations. This is a
nice way to give a plug because it's Melanima Awareness
Month for the Melanima Research Alliance, the Melanima Research Foundation
(15:26):
aim at Melanoma, which is an amazing All of them
are patient advocacy, research and educational places, so a lot there.
Speaker 3 (15:36):
Can I ask you one question, Hi, it's camera. So
two years, how do you determine the two years to
continue immunotherapy every four weeks? And after that two years?
Speaker 4 (15:49):
Everybody is different. Everybody is different, and so that's why
they say, you know, like medicine is an art, we
just have to remember you remember the risks, the benefits
and the data. Ultimately, in the course of these two years,
we may get better data to help us make decisions.
(16:11):
But right now we're continuing, and I have a question.
Speaker 2 (16:14):
I remember at one point I came in and said,
what is the chance of me surviving from melanoma? And
I believe that you said thirty five percent? What would
you say it is?
Speaker 3 (16:27):
Now?
Speaker 2 (16:29):
I'm not going to cry.
Speaker 4 (16:30):
Just well, here's what I said to you. I said
to you that the average survivals have gone from six
months to six years, that the patients with brain metastasies,
the response rates are now fifty percent or greater. And
we're seeing somewhere, you know, five for five year survivals
with patients with brain metastasies somewhere forty to fifty percent.
(16:55):
And it doesn't matter as statistics are for you know,
big populational stuff like education, transportation, sanitation. But we would
work with the therapy that gives you the best chance
of working. And what we know with immunotherapy and melanoma
is if you make it to three years without having
(17:16):
anything grow or come back, you're golden about ninety five
percent of the time. All right, well we'll leave her
at that.
Speaker 2 (17:25):
That's good. Thanks you. All right, so we got to
make it for you. Appreciate it, Thank you so much,
and just for anybody else that wants more information. The
fifteenth annual Los Angeles Melanoma Symposium is Thursday, May twenty second.
If you want to register for it, it's www dot
(17:47):
aimat melanoma dot org and then click on symposium and
you can learn more. Or if it's easier for you
to call, you can just call three one o two
three one one two one two.
Speaker 4 (18:01):
Oh.
Speaker 2 (18:02):
Well, thanks guys for tuning in to another episode of
two Teeth and a Pod. Of course, this one's a
little different than others, but it's got good news.
Speaker 3 (18:09):
Yeah, we got a lot of information, some good news.
So Teddy, I will talk to you after yourmunotherapy. I
hope that you're feeling good after that and we'll talk soon.
Speaker 4 (18:20):
Ye bye, Mabe bye.
Hosts And Creators
Teddi Mellencamp
Tamra Judge
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