Pembrolizumab experience please

I am on it for two years now saved my life 2s

I have on this for two years have Stage 4 

Saved and extended my life 

Im glad, thank you for replying

have you had any side effects at all? the oncologist has given a long list and mum went in to anaphylaxis from her chemo so we just want to know all we can 

Hi,

Firstly, your Mum's doctors will not be in the business of doing more harm than good. They will be working to at least extend life and at best achieve cure. That's their job, it's what they do. Question them by all means but only to better understand what's going on.

Now: Pembrolizumab/Keytruda... check my profile, I had stage 4 and I was on that for 5 years courtesy of health insurance and a consultant from the "if it ain't broke" school. With hindsight I think the first 2 years were all that were really needed, my scans showed stable scar tissue after that. After 5 years I got another tumour but that was assessed Stage 1 so I had more surgery.

If you look up Merck's website there a dizzying array of side effects listed. They're included to forestall legal action in case anyone gets one of them. Nobody gets all of them, most get a small subset, a few get none. Those that are got vary in intensity from one person to the next - suck it and see, there's no knowing in advance it's pot luck. I was philosophical about them, at least I'm alive to feel this bad. Actually I didn't feel all that bad at all.

To get the biggest bang-for-buck out of immunotherapy the immune system has to be in best shape. That basically means healthy diet weighted towards protein and regular exercise. Any exercise will do, as long as it is regular, so it's best made something enjoyable: start slow and easy then build up.

Hoping your Mum does really well on her treatment,
kind regards
Steve

Thanks for replying Steve and im very grateful for all the detail, im glad it worked so well for you. Mums doctors have indeed done harm more than once though since diagnosis, which is why we are so skeptical, for example, about a year ago she was started on durvalumab and had an awful reaction, 2 weeks later she was due the second round and i knew something was off so withdrew consent and insisted a doctor looked at her bloods etc first...long story short, lung full of pulmonary emboli and durva would have likely killed her, so i hope you will see why im sceptical, we have received a one size fits all type of care and it has been sadly lacking many times.She is unable to come off steroids and definitely in no way able to exersise which is why i wonder if its the right thing for her, but then its the only option, its a tough call. I thank you so much for your reply, i think, although it affects everyone differently, gathering other peoples experiences is very helpful.

Fatigue and occasional sickness but easy problem under control,small price to pay

I’ve been on it since July, 3 weekly. So far I haven’t had any bad side effects, just a little bit nauseous at times. 

Glad to hear, two years stage 4 cancer,but hasn't moved, I'm so lucky so blessed

Jensan said:

moved