Change to Pembrolizumab Dose and Treatment Frequency

hi Llanigirl.  re the 6 weeks our lovely julie  (justme )was changed over a couple of months ago. she will probably be on some time to answer your question.  TC

Hi , forgive for popping in from my melanoma group, but I have just changed from 3 weekly to six weekly treatment for metastatic melanoma, and had the same questions going through my mind before I changed over. 

I started 3 weekly Pembro in June 2018 but my only side effects have been feeling at half speed for about 4 days after my treatment. My last dose in January was my first 6 weekly one, so not enough perhaps to give sufficient info for you. My oncologists assured me that the double dose has been well tolerated by others and that was the answer I got back from others in the melanoma group when I asked the same question as yourself. I still felt tired perhaps a little more but for the same length of time, but it’s nice to have less visits, less expense, and more time to feel normal between the treatments. 

The double dose for me was for 30 minutes taking the same time as the single dose, the timing isn’t any longer, which was the other thing I asked about. I hope some of this helps and that others in your group respond. 

Hi Llanigirl,

I have also been on Pembrolizumab as a first line treatment for Adenocarcinoma stage 4 for the last 16 months. I have been very fortunate having no side effects apart from a period of itching which was sorted with cream and an anti histamine tablet. I went onto 6 weekly treatment in September last year. The double dose is still given over 30 minutes and everything has gone well, no side effects but as I say I have had none really anyway. 
Hopefully it goes well for you too.

Hi

I’ve been on 6-weekly Pembro for about 4-5 months now I think. I’ve been getting dry-mouth, but that is it side-effect wise, and I didn’t notice any difference when I changed over. It still feels like I’m at the hospital every 2 minutes, but it’s half the number of cannulas so that’s a winner for me!

Best of luck. X