Postponed/skipped immunotherapy session - how risky?

Hi Bajax,

Relax - it shouldn't be a problem. I was also on Keytruda every 3 weeks and I had a few sessions postponed, sometimes by one week (to dodge Christmas) and a couple of times altogether during Covid. The tale told by the scans said that the occasional break in treatment made no difference. Not surprising if you think about it, it takes a while for any infusion drug to dissipate completely from the bloodstream.

Here's hoping you continue to do well.

kind regards,
Steve

Cheers Steve, I was indeed hoping for something like that, and in fairness the doc said as much too, but I am a belt-and-braces kind of guy . I'd better get back to drinking copious amounts of water to ensure my kidneys are flushed and ready for the next turn in two weeks time

Hiya. Mum is nearly 2 years in of her treatment ,  it was delayed many times because of kidney and liver levels and once levels are bk to normal resume treatment ,  some people have immunotherapy every 6 weeks , some every 21 days . You wilL be ok.  Do you know why the levels went up have u been taking any pain killers or sleeping tablets . As This is what effected  my mum, sleeping tablets so she does not have them now,  wishing u well ,  Nicole x

Thanks for this Nicole. It might be painkillers, I sometimes take them to help with recovering from a broken femur since six months ago (it neve rains but it pours, eh?). I will make sure to abstain as much as I can. Thanks again.

I kno you’re worrying about the delay in treatment especially if this is the first time this has happened;  but once your bk on it you be fine . This happened to my mum a few times and the first time I was so scared they were gunna stop the treatment ,   But they didn’t and they continued once her levels were fine , and then it happend   again , it was the sleeping tablets . So she won’t take them a couple  weeks leading up to the blood tests ,  wow broken femur not nice at all hope u are recovering from that,  if I can help in any way , please message me,  on the 6th april it be 2 years my mum was diagnosed and in June will be 2 years of her treatment : which was chemo and immunotherapy , now she just on immunotherapy, xx

Hi Bejax

Are you having immunotherapy treatment on the NHS?

The reason I ask is, if you have more than 3 skipped treatments they won't let you go back on immunotherapy.  (although maybe it only applies to lung cancer?) Other cancers at stage 4 seem to get lots of options as well as operations. 

 But dont get me started on that lol

I'm guessing they only have so much money to treat people and don't see the point in treating people who's blood tests are constantly awry.

Nearly every month I had something wrong with my blood tests which resulted in delayed or postponed treatments.  

This latest month, my blood test was fine and I was down to a very low level of prednisolone, so thought Great! All systems Go! Immunotherapy here we come!

Obly to be told "you can't go back on it because you have missed 3 months'

I sometimes wonder whether the oncologists are pressurised by other people in the mot (or whatever thyre called) meetings to not waste money.

My oncologist wanrs the best for me, but verybody's under  extreme pressure To keep costs low,  im sure.

It's shocking really.  I onow I can't be cured but I really want to kick the can as far down the road, for as long as possible.

im not just an xray on a screen, im a person.

 I hear sal these stories of how people with Stage 4 lung cancer are exceeding their sell by dates.

I'm sure some of then must be private.  Sadly I can't afford to go private.

I agreecthat some medications can mess with blood test results 

I wish I could edit my typos!

Sorry to hear that, Harebelle. I am on the NHS like you, so I hope this problem does not repeat too many times  .