Hi, I am post surgery having had a robot assisted right radical nephrectomy. My consultant has offered me Pembro immunotherapy but given the benefits versus the potential side effects I am undecided if this is the right treatment for me. Am I right to be concerned about the side effects?
Hi HugoP
Thanks for getting in touch with the online community.
My name is Sarah one of the Cancer Information Nurses on the Macmillan Support line.
I hope you are recovering well after surgery. It is important to look after yourself as recovery can take time.
I see from your profile you haven’t joined any of our online forums. It can be helpful to talk with others making similar decisions such as through our kidney cancer forum.
Making decisions about treatment is not easy and it can be helpful to talk this through with your treatment team including about drug side effects and risks. Some people have very few side-effects but it will be difficult to know how you may react to immunotherapy.
Your treatment team will explain what side-effects you may experience and will give you a 24-hour number to speak with a chemotherapy nurse for support. Most side effects are managed with other medications and patients can continue with their treatment once they are resolved.
Being diagnosed with cancer and receiving treatment can give you a variety of emotions. It is important to find others to talk this through with whether friends and family, your clinical team, or our support team here at Macmillan.
All the best with your decision and if we can help with anything else, please feel free to reach out for support.
Best wishes,
Sarah
Cancer Information Nurse Specialist
You can also speak with the Macmillan Support Line team of experts. Phone free on 0808 808 0000 (7 days a week, 8am-8pm) or send us an email.
Ref/ JD/SS
