Immunotherapy

Hi BornSuze58 

There have been a few members on immunotherapy so I hope somebody pops in to share their experience. 
I’ll give you a link so at least you can look through past threads here while you wait. 

Here’s a link to all the threads here 

https://community.macmillan.org.uk/search?q=Immunotherapy%20head%20and%20neck%20cancer&tag=#serpq=Immunotherapy%20head%20and%20neck%20cancer&serptag=head%20and%20neck%20cancer

Also the Oracle Cancer trust recently had a webinar on immunotherapy and the recording is here 

youtu.be/nR8tIUEvRXs

Thanks so much!

Hi BornSuze58 

My husband is currently having immunotherapy (Pembrolizumab/Keytruda) for recurrent cancer. He originally had tongue cancer over 11 years ago, which was treated with surgery and radiotherapy. He was clear for 10 years, then developed hypopharyngeal cancer last year. The doctors disagree as to whether it was a recurrence of the original cancer or not, given it took so long to turn up. He couldn't have any more radiotherapy as he had had his lifetime dose in that area; eventually he was offered a hypopharyngectomy to remove the new tumour, which was highly successful in itself. Unfortunately the first post-op scan showed a very small tumour in a lymph node which is so close to the carotid artery that it is not operable. Immunotherapy and chemotherapy are therefore his only treatment options. I explain all this because your circumstances may be different; I believe some patients are offered immunotherapy to try to reduce tumours before surgery.

Husband has had three doses so far. He was due the fourth today, but it is on hold as he has developed mild colitis which they want to control and understand better before proceeding. We hope that treatment will resume because the latest scan has shown that, although the tumour has not shrunk, it also has not grown, and the consultant is still quite hopeful that further treatment will bring a response. 

Other than the colitis the only other side effects my husband has experience are fatigue and also achey joints. The steroids prescribed for the colitis have also sorted out the aching!

It is an amazing treatment but it seems that there is still a lot to learn about it in terms of how to predict where it will be useful and also how people will respond. Our local oncology centre is amazing in terms of how quickly they offer support for patients if they experience side effects, hopefully yours will also be supportive.

I hope the above was useful - try me with any other questions you may have. 

All the best for you both

Alison

Thanks Alison

Let's see what the team decide for him. 

Hi

My husband also as recurring cancer after 8 years being cancer free, can't operate and can't have radiotherapy as he had his life's worth the first time round, he's had 3 treatments of Pembro and we find out next week to see if it's helping and if he will continue to have it, only symptoms so far is fatigued 

Your post gives me hope as although your husbands tumour as not shrunk it hasn't grown either and that's got to be a positive, I'm hoping we have some good news next week 

Good luck to your husband 

X

Hi JenBob , I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you too. I hope you are on here with good news next week xx

Thank you I hope so too x