Pembrolizumab (keytruda) Has anyone any experience of this please
FormerMember
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Hi has anyone received Pembrulizumab (keytruda) Immunotherapy treatment and if so how did it go..were there side effects..how long did it take to start working (if at all). Any feedback would be great thanks.
I have just received my 8th treatment of Pembrolizumab. I have to say that it has worked miracles for me. From being unable to walk more than 10 metres without oxygen, I am back on the tennis court (albeit gentle workout sessions). The side effects for me have been terrible sweats during the day and at night but worse at night, slight loss of feeling in fingertips & skin all crinkly and old looking, itchy skin (mainly on my legs), fatigue. My memory is worse than it's ever been but not sure if that is due to the meds or not!
I had my first scan after 4 treatments and I knew the medication was working because I felt so much better. Please see my profile for further details. I would say I felt it started working after the 1st session. Am due my second scan next week although I do get an X-ray before every treatment. Since the last scan, the X-rays have shown a little bit of a further reduction and since then, no change so will be very interested to see the results of the next scan. Everything crossed, of course!
I wish you all the best. Please don't hesitate to get in touch if you have any further questions - or even if you just want to vent sometime.
Just to say it’s teally encouraging to read your post Lainey. I’m recently diagnosed with NSCLC stage 3B and having my first Pembrolizumab immunotherapy treatment in 3 days time. My lung collapsed because the tumour blocked the bronchial airway, I was lucky to survive that then had cryotherapy to reduce the tumour albeit temporarily which really helped but now very wheezy / short of breathe again. I’m lucky to be getting immunotherapy (PDL1 high count) but a bit scared as I’ve read that initially the treatment can swell the tumour and hope it doesn’t cause a collapse again. But so far I’ve been lucky. It’s great to read of the benefit for you. Many thanks.
Hi Jane.. Hope the treatment went as well as can be expected.. Fingers crossed for you & sending big positive vibes. My tumours reduced significantly within the first 3 Pembro treatments and no evidence that they grew initially.
So far, my side-effects have been few.. my skin ailments I treat with Magnesium body cream & any deeper cracks (mainly on my hands) I treat with hemp hand lotion and it really works to moisturise and allay further cracking.
If you have the chance / time / inclination - drop me a line & let me know how you get on with the Immunotherapy
Apologies if you’ve received already a reply from me - am struggling a little with how the site works. I had my first Pembrolizumab infusion last Thursday and touch wood no side effects though still getting short of breath and tired. Hopefully it’s shrinking the tumours. Does feel good to have started the treatment. Can I ask you after how many sessions did you have a CT scan to check on any impact on your tumours? Thanks!
Hi Jane F , I’m starting my first Keytruda infusion in the next 3 weeks and was wondering how yours is affecting you. I had my last chemo in jan 2017 but the tumours have only just come back. I’m hopeful as this seems to be a successful drug.
Hi JR19 nice to hear from you. I’ve had my 3rd immunotherapy treatment now (once every 3 weeks) and was very pleased to hear that the CT scan ahead of t showed that the treatment has had a “beneficial effect” - they couldn’t seem to quantify the reduction in the cancer but I hope to find out more at my next visit on 30/8. I was diagnosed with adenocarcinoma stage 3B/4 in last Aprik after serious lung collapse because tumour blocking my R bronchus / airway. Was lucky to make itheough that night then had cryotherapy which reduced it, the. 5 days of radiotherapy the gap then this immunotherapy. I think we are lucky to be getting it, only OK’d under NHS relatively quite recently. What’s your diagnosis? HoW much chemo did you have?
Ive felt very tired and lost some weight (diarrhoea) but I don’t think that’s as a result of the immunotherapy as began before it started. The infusion only takes half an hour and touch wood has been completely without ill effect. The man next to me last time had had 10 treatments and been told his cancer had shrunk by 70%!
wish you the best for your treatment I’d be very interested to hear how it goes.
i am really pleased to hear anything whatsoever about the Keytruda as I have followed its progress since May 2016 and now am about to start it myself in the next 3 weeks or so. I was diagnosed back in February 2015, operated on in that May and given the all clear. Refused the offer of chemo as I heard so many horror stories and was ok until about 15 months later when the cancer came back in my lymph nodes. In January last year I completed 4 cycles of VNP chemo and the main tumours had shrunk by 60%, since then I have had no treatment but today found out that several nodes were growing again, hence the fact that I have been lucky enough to be prescribed the Keytruda. I am feeling very positive and that is the reason I want to hear as much as possible about Keytruda.
