Immunotherapy Atezolizumab

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Hi, I am about to embark on immunotherapy treatment Atezolizumab after a picc line fitted. My bladder cancer (2017) has now spread to my pelvic lymph nodes. Chemo and radiotherapy but lymph nodes shrunk and after last scan September are growing again. They won't remove them so recommendation is above immunotherapy treatment. I've looked and can find good positive responses from several years ago. Is there anyone currently on this treatment, or had it more recently can give some advice please. Also I've never had a picc line so don't know how this will limit if in fact it does any activity? 

Any help appreciated 

Thanks

  • Hi . Looks like you have already done a search on the forum and this drug doesn't come up very often in this group, although used more frequently in other groups. Hopefully, someone will come along with some experience. As regards the PICC line, I had one in for several months and carried on pretty much as normal and forgot it was there most of the time. . It is advised no heavy lifting or strenuous activity. Saying that, I once met a coalman at the hospital who carried on working with his line. Not that I am recommending you go round humping bags of coal. I hope all goes well. Best wishes.

    Best wishes to All,   rily.

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  • Thanks for the quick reply. 

  • Hi, my husband had a PICC line for IV antibiotics after sepsis in his [previously badly injured] leg this time last year. He was advised to try to keep the entry site dry as much as possible, and no going swimming. This because damp would increase the risk of germs getting in the insertion site. If this happens they can travel up the outside of the tubing and arrive very close to the heart, because the line breaches all the body's normal defensive barriers. So it is wise to be cautious. The home IV teal always used to inspect the entry site carefully every time they came, any sign of red inflammation would have alerted them.

    Hope that is useful, 

    Denby

  • Thanks Denby. 

    Everything's being organised now so assuming will get more info from hospital re picc. They're thankfully letting me have a week away before I start.