Preparing for immunotherapy

Hi RunnerChick, so sorry to read that your husband has been given the incurable prognosis. My husband was given the incurable diagnosis 2 and a half years ago now. He had 6 months aggressive chemo, immediate growth on ending chemo followed by immunotherapy ( nivolumab) for 9 months. He was able to have immunotherapy for 2 years dependant on no growth and toxicology. However after 9 months he developed a less than 1% rare life changing side effect and due to this it was stopped. However miraculously he has remained stable since its withdrawal last DEC. He has exceeded expectations and the doom and gloom picture painted to us 2 and a half years ago. Immunotherapy worked wonders on his tumours and the general side effects were much easier to deal with than the side effects from chemo. Basically immunotherapy has given him more time and a good quality of life time despite the life changing rare side effect. He had been given a prognosis of 3 months on starting the immunotherapy that was over a year and a half ago, he wouldn't be here without it. Your specialist nurse will be able to go through the side effects and obviously like any treatments some people respond better than others. I wish your husband the best possible outcome to his treatment. Good luck and take care x

Thank you for your reply. This is reassuring to hear and I hope my husband responds as positively as yours! So happy to hear things have settled for you and you both have a good quality of life, you have made me more optimistic that it will not be all doom and gloom but I am also realistic to the fact that we just won’t know till it happens. He will solely be on immunotherapy drugs (ipilimumab and Nivolumab) for a 3 x 4 cycles and then we hope maintenance for two years if it all works. The unknown is the worst part and all I can think to do is to try and prepare myself for what we could face. Things like should I buy a new bed or get his a good arm chair have all crossed my mind. Should I protect his daughter (she’s 24) or do I involve her in everything... Too many thoughts, things to to try and organise... But again, you have been so helpful and offered me the hope I needed! Thank you, I wish you and your husband all the best x