keytruda

peggyO
peggyO Member Posts: 1
edited December 2020 in General Cancer
how long before it takes effect? I was given my first dose a week ago and am wondering if I am too far gone.

Any info would be helpful

Comments

  • GregP_WN
    GregP_WN Member Posts: 742
    edited June 2020
    I can't answer that completely for you, but I will be starting keytruda next Tuesday. How are you feeling since you have had the dose? Any side effects? From what I understand, it takes a little while for the keytruda to get fired up and start doing its job. How long, I don't know, but it makes sense that it would take a little while for it to get established and let your immune system start doing its job against your cancer cells. Please make updates and let us know how you do with it. I will post next week after I have my first treatment.
  • LiveWithCancer
    LiveWithCancer Member Posts: 470
    edited June 2020
    It isn't the same for everyone. I got Opdivo when it was my last hope. My first oncologist had thought i would live 4 mos and i had already surpassed that but the tumors were on the move.

    The Opdivo stabilized them by the next scan. And kept them stable (except 1) for the next 6 years. I had a new spot show up on my last scan so it may have quit working now, but i have been off of treatment for over a year.

    I hope you will have a similar or better result.
  • Kylerem
    Kylerem Member Posts: 16
    edited December 2020
    Hi-I was on a optivo and yervoy-also immunotherapy like keytruda. I was told that immunotherapy takes a few months to kick in as the drugs are teaching your immune system to fight the cancer. It did take a few months for my CA125 to go down and even longer for the CT to show positive results. Good luck. It was hard to be patient as I was used to the immediate effect of chemo
  • Carol-Charlie
    Carol-Charlie Member Posts: 1
    edited December 2020
    I had Stage IV Ovarian Cancer.... 39 pound tumor...... My Gynecologic, Oncologist, Surgeon removed it and scraped all the cancer he could see and tossed it out..... When he woke me after surgery, he told me the above, I immediately began to plan what I'd wear in the coffin..... then I told God how terrified I was.... My fear left immediately.... I then asked God to take my hand and lead me to where He wanted me to be. I asked the doctor, as he was leaving how long I had.... he replied "Six Months"..... As six weeks checkup, and Cat Scan..... My perfect doctor was jumping up and down looking at it and screaming... CAROL... I GOT IT ALL... I GOT IT ALL. We did almost 19 months of hard chemo..... and I'm still here 14 years going on 15.... With God supplying a great surgeon.... all things are possible.... and sometimes it surprises the surgeon. Glad you found us.

  • kalindria
    kalindria Member Posts: 15
    edited June 2020
    You can't always tell when a drug is working. A friend started chemo a few months ago and said she felt even worse and didn't think chemo was working. Then her doctor measured her CA125 tumor markers and they had gone down dramatically. Clearly the chemo drugs were working. She had no clue. Just keep in mind that our bodies aren't the only barometer by which to measure the efficacy of treatments.

    Wishing you good news soon on this treatment.
  • GregPWN
    GregPWN Member Posts: 11
    edited June 2020
    Thanks everyone for your feedback on how long it takes for the immunotherapy to work. I have wondered the same, and this is part of what makes this website so great. There are lots of people that are thinking about the same question that someone else asks, so when you answer a question you are helping many people, not just the original poster.

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