keytruda side effects

[Bdale]

hello community,

I've had 4 Pembrolizumab infusions now, every 6 weeks. Scans last week showed a reduction in the size of the tumors. However, I am getting bumps that itch all over my body. Has anyone experienced this,and how long did it last?

[Tall_Allen]

It sounds like an autoimmune reaction. What does your oncologist say?

[Bdale in reply to Tall_Allen]

My Oncologist thinks it's an autoimmune reaction which is one of the side effects of Prembrolizumab. I asked him if others had this and how long it lasts, waiting for the answer. He did prescibe a topical steriod ointment which is helping a lot.

[GAdrummer in reply to Bdale]

That is good news and bad news. Welcome to the club. You will need to watch out for signs of other autoimmune side effects in addition. So far, my husband has developed three, two within four months of starting immunotherapy and one four months after stopping a two year course of treatment. The latter he hid from the doctors and it resulted in an18 day stint in hospitals followed by two months at home recovery (on going).

[rsgdmd in reply to GAdrummer]

What were the side effects?

[GAdrummer in reply to rsgdmd]

adrenal insufficiency, hypothyroidism, then ulcerative colitis

[CWT53]

I had keytruda infusions, every third week for 5 months then every fourth for four. I was seriously fatigued and had joint discomfort as well as seriously messed up bowels. A biopsy during a regularly scheduled colonoscopy showed lymphatic colitis. Gastroenterologist said it wasn’t caused by keytruda, but seems much better now that I have stopped the infusions, I have more energy and much less joint discomfort.