Anyone have immunotherapy after treatments?

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I haven’t read much about immunotherapy, my husband had radiation and chemo and six months after they said he would benefit from this. The dr said there’s always micro cancer cells you can’t see with scans, anyone else heard of that?

  • Hi Chris. I see you posted a similar question a couple of weeks  ago. You’ve seen the oncologist since. Did they explain? 
    I think it simply means that if there is a recurrence there are cancer cells that can’t be seen on a scan because they aren’t consolidated into a single tumour large enough to be seen. 

    Dani 

    Base of tongue cancer. T2N0M0 6 weeks Radiotherapy finished January 2019

    I wrote a blog about my cancer. just click on the link below 

    https://todaymycoffeetasteslikechristmasincostarica.com 

    Macmillan Support Line - 0808 808 00 00, 7 days a week between 8am-8pm

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  • We go to oncologist next week, I kind of wanted to know from people on here a head of time. 

  • Sorry I didn’t mean to read so abrupt.  Micro cancer cells are just metastases that have escaped the original tumour. The smaller the cancer the better immunotherapy helps the body fight .

    Good luck for next week. I hope your husband’s biomarkers are good. 

    Dani 

    Base of tongue cancer. T2N0M0 6 weeks Radiotherapy finished January 2019

    I wrote a blog about my cancer. just click on the link below 

    https://todaymycoffeetasteslikechristmasincostarica.com 

    Macmillan Support Line - 0808 808 00 00, 7 days a week between 8am-8pm

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  • Thanks, the dr did say his bio markers were good. I wondered if everyone that has cancer has those micro cells. I thought once they got his cancerous lymph nodes he’d be  done.

  • wondered if everyone that has cancer has those micro cells.

    According to my research 20% of patients. And these micro cells are in the lymph nodes. 
    You can’t take all the lymph nodes so maybe they think some might have been missed. 
    Ask his oncologist exactly why they are offering immunotherapy 
    Let me know how you get on. 

    Dani 

    Base of tongue cancer. T2N0M0 6 weeks Radiotherapy finished January 2019

    I wrote a blog about my cancer. just click on the link below 

    https://todaymycoffeetasteslikechristmasincostarica.com 

    Macmillan Support Line - 0808 808 00 00, 7 days a week between 8am-8pm

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  • My husband finally had his first immunotherapy, the dr said they do this a lot more after treatments to make sure they get all the small cells that can’t be seen. So it was my husband’s choice to go a head and have it, once every three weeks.

  • dr said they do this a lot more after treatments to make sure they get all the small cells that can’t be seen.

    Great that he can take advantage of it. I must say I’ve never heard of prophylactic immunotherapy after treatment finishes but treatment protocols are evolving all the time. 
    Will he have the immunotherapy for two years? 

    Dani 

    Base of tongue cancer. T2N0M0 6 weeks Radiotherapy finished January 2019

    I wrote a blog about my cancer. just click on the link below 

    https://todaymycoffeetasteslikechristmasincostarica.com 

    Macmillan Support Line - 0808 808 00 00, 7 days a week between 8am-8pm

    Community Champion badge
  • They said up to one year, so hope it goes well.