Immonotherapy

Mmnn
Mmnn Member Posts: 3
edited March 2020 in General Cancer
Due to recurrence, I will be starting immunotherapy, specifically Keytruda. Can anyone sharing their experience with side effects?

Comments

  • GregP_WN
    GregP_WN Member Posts: 742
    The link below will take you to a list of 65 descriptions of keytruda experiences. This will get you started until someone sees this that might have more specific side effect information for you.
    http://bit.ly/3cPFhcK
  • po18guy
    po18guy Member Posts: 329
    edited March 2020
    In early 2009, out of my naivté, I asked my hematologist about the long-term effects of a drug in clinical trial (D'oh!). He simply smiled and replied, "You'll tell us!" Honestly, side effects are like prognosis: they apply to massive groups of people, but to no one in particular. You may have very few and rather mild side effects. Conversely, you may not. As with virtually everything along this crazy journey, only time will tell.
  • LiveWithCancer
    LiveWithCancer Member Posts: 470
    edited March 2020
    I wasn't on Keytruda, but Opdivo, which is quite similar, for 5 or 6 years. One significant side effect was that my thyroid quit working properly pretty early on during my treatment. The other really significant side effect: my tumors quit progressing for 4 years and then only one started growing. I have been off of treatment for nearly a year now and the Opdivo is keeping my tumors stable.

    I felt great while I was getting biweekly and then monthly treatments of Opdivo. I was a bit fatigued on the day I got the treatment and the next day or so, but nothing significant.

    I have gained about 50 unwanted pounds during my cancer journey. Whether the Opdivo has anything to do with that, I do not know.

    Some people develop a rash. I finally did - after years of treatment. It wasn't particularly severe, but my doctor decided that since I had been getting the treatment for so long and because I had asked about stopping treatment a visit or two prior, to see what happened if we stopped treatment altogether. (I've been a guinea pig from day 1 when it comes to immunotherapy - when I started getting it, it only had a number, not a name)

    Anyway, immunotherapy has been a true lifesaver for me. I hope you will have similar results.

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