Good evening,
I would be interested to know if delaying/interrupting the three-weekly cycle of treatment has any adverse effects on the effectiveness of the drug. More specifically, if two consecutive treatments are spaced at four weeks rather than the normal three?
I am just starting my journey with NSCLC and have completed two treatments to date. My third treatment would have taken place on Good Friday so it has been re-scheduled for the following Friday, one week later. A four-week gap.
My fourth treatment will then fall on a date when I will be on holiday. I am required to go for a blood test in the morning two days before my treatment appointment (Wednesday). At the moment I will not return until the Wednesday evening so there is insufficient time for blood test before my normal appointment on a Friday afternoon.
The obvious answer would be to move my treatment to the beginning of the following week (Monday), however I know that the oncology unit is always extremely busy on Mondays, so it is probable that they would prefer a Tuesday appointment. In addition, I work full-time and although it is no problem whatsoever for me to be absent; I'm quite conscientious and would like to have as little absence as possible therefore a Friday appointment is ideal.
I do not know if it is possible to ask specifically if the blood test can be done the day before treatment?
A further option would be to return from holiday one day earlier but because I am going to be doing a lot of travelling I would find it very, very tiring to shorten my trip.
I would appreciate your thoughts.
To digress slightly, so far I have had very minor side effects from the Keytruda. I do feel slightly tired and have a very slight headache when I get home after treatment (but it is a 50-mile round trip for me). Going to bed for an hour or so seems to work. No problems at all on the following two days. On the third day after treatment I do have very, very slight nausea, but this seems to be caused by wind, a good belch or so sorts it out! I do not feel that I need any anti-nausea medication. I hope that I continue to be fortunate with the side effects and that all those in this lung cancer group who are starting with pembrolizumab will be fortunate too.
With kind thoughts to you all,
Artemisa
