Keytruda Recurrance and my Dad

[Honeybadger34]

My dad was dxd with stage 4 nsclc in January. He had 95% markers and was given keytruda starting mid January. His first PET showed remission, but the second PET he just got was mixed. It said there was some slow increase. His dr is out of town so the PA read the results and she had no idea and was just like "maybe call him next week." I don't think he could tolerate chemo, he is older. In January Dr. Lee said if the cancer comes back at all it's really bad and would give him a year at best. So naturally I'm freaking out. His next appointment is not until July 7th. So I would like to hear if anyone had reccurence with keytruda and any other information that might help. Thanks.

[Denzie Moderator Volunteer]

PET scans are not used to read progress because they reflect metabolic activity in an area and cannot show fine detail. CTs are used to give specific information on size and shape. Is it possible he misstated the type of scan?

His doctor needs to read the results and compare the two, not the PA. A friend of mine was kicked off a trial because they thought she had progression. Her scan had been read by a doctor who had not followed her regular. Her doctor liked at it and fought successfully to get her back on the trial.

A reading like that can produce two separate opinions depending on the doctor reading it or the slide that they are looking at, even the scans being done on different machines can appear slightly different.

I hope this brings some comfort. When the doctor is back in the office ask him to reread and call.

[Honeybadger34 in reply to Denzie]

Thank you!

[bobby7mc]

My wife was diagnosed stage 4 in Jan this year .. prognosis was horrible .. She is on Keytruda.. Results have been of biblical proportions.. Thank You Jesus..

[Jewilliams in reply to bobby7mc]

So glad to hear good results