I am diagnosed with Stage III aggressive/advance melanoma and doctor wants to start pembrolizumab. I have pre existing ILD and IPF and Palindromic Rheumatism and Raynauds Syndrome (autoimmune conditions), SIADH, and IBS. I am most concerned about the increased risk of pneumonitis when taking pembrolizumab b/c my lung issues put me at significantly higher risk than average for side effects, esp the pneumonitis. I feel I would be spending every waking minute reacting to a cough or shortenss of breath--rushing off for CT scans, being treated with high dose steroids and perhaps being hospitalized. I know the cancer will advance faster without treatment, but I do not want to live my last year or two of life with the constant threat of side effect emergencies.
