Chemotherapy after immunotherapy any experiences?

Hi Hope83 welcome back. I noted that you hadn't had any responses as yet so my reply will bump it to the top in the thread. I Hope that others will be along soon to offer up some information and advice for you. Best wishes for now.

Hi, my husband has just had his third chemo dose. He was on immunotherapy for nearly a year and after initially showing some improvement, we were then told that the cancer had grown and therefore there was no point continuing with immunotherapy- hence the move to chemo. Like you, we were shocked, as my husband seemed so well physically, and we’d been encouraged by previous reduction in growth….

So far, he is tolerating the chemo reasonably well. He feels pretty rough for the first week after treatment- nausea, stomach pain and fatigue- but then picks up again. He has his next scan on 17th, so we won’t know until early January whether the chemo is doing anything.

Wishing you and your Dad all the best,

Julia

Hi Julia 

thanks for reaching out. I’m very sorry to read about your husband. It sounds like your husband had good response for a good length of time so I feel the devastation of hearing the immunotherapy treatment has stopped working. With my dad he had 2 months of immunotherapy but it’s spread a little into his stomach they told him it’s not responding at all to treatment. Back in May/June he was told he was stage 2-3. What stage was your husband when he started immunotherapy? My dad is dreading starting chemo. This disease for my dad has moved so fast. 
Hoping the scan goes ok for you both and you get some positive news. Did your husband have steroids with his chemo, my dad was told it will help side effects nausea etc, though I read your husband did have nausea. 

hugs 

Liz 

Hi Hope38

my mum was diagnosed back in Dec 23. She had immunotherapy but then moved on to chemo. When she was diagnosed she was at the equivalent of stage 4. The scan after 3 rounds showed the chemo had shrunk the cancer a little. After another 3 rounds it was holding her cancer at bay but after the final 3 it had grown back. The side effects of the chemo got gradually worse but definitely live-able with - a mixture of diorrhea (how do you spell that??) and constipation and exhaustion plus she lost her taste and appetite. The steroids she had at the same time though gave her a lift for up to a week afterwards. She’s not allowed any more chemo now though - 9 is the max for whatever she was on.