Keytruda

[Ina3]

Hi, i have been reading the reviews on KEYTRUDA and some of the stories are scary. People say that it made their lives worse or shortened the life. It is hard to say whether it trully works , i see very mixed reviews and scared. My dad has lung cancer IV stage but his symptoms are not that bad now. If he starts the treatment with KEYTRUDA , i dont want his situation to deteriorate. Is there any other immunotherapy medicine that is better? Can anyone share experience please. Thanks.

[janiceowens1957]

My husband was on Opdivo after his chemo and radiation failed and he remained stable on the Opdivo for a year. Then a year later from one scan to the next (3 months) he had developed cancer near the collar bone, 3 in the stomach and another midway of the lungs. The year he was on Opdivo he did really well though but of course he had to stop that. I am not familiar with Keytruda. I have sent a prayer up for your dad. It is hard to make decisions when there are so many to make. I was afraid of the Opdivo for David too because it has terrible side effects but he wanted to try it and he tolerated it well as far as sickness he didn't have any. I hope if he chooses the Keytruda he does well on it. Please keep us updated.

[Denzie Moderator Volunteer]

He’s being offered Keytruda because it does the best job shrinking the Cancer and promoting progression free survival than any of the alternatives. Jimmy Carter is going strong 3+ years after being diagnosed with melanoma that mets to his brain. Hes been on Keytruda. He’s still working on building houses for Habitat for Humanity.

Every treatment has side effects. This one has fewer side effects than most.

[Ina3 in reply to Denzie]

I wanted to ask you how long it takes for Keytruda to start working? My dad just did PET and doctors told that there are new metastasis. He only did Keytruda twice and doing a third one in two days. My question is would two times Keytruda be enough to say whether it worked or did not work? It costs so much and wondering how much more chance we should give. Thanks

[Denzie Moderator Volunteer in reply to Ina3]

They wait at least 4 weeks to decide if it’s working or not. They learned early in this treatment modality that there can be false progression. What happens is that the T-cells swarm the lesion making it artificially larger. Knowing this they monitor for it.

[Ina3 in reply to Denzie]

Thank you. Will doctors easily notice it when it is false progression? In my dad’s case doctors said that the original tumor is almost gone but there are new lesion showed up. Because of that She decided to change the previous chemo Carboplatin with Temetrexed. She never mentioned that it could be false progression. I really appreciate your responses since my dad is back in my country and I want to make sure what doctors say it is valid.

[Denzie Moderator Volunteer in reply to Ina3]

Your doctor is following protocols that are well established for patients in your dad’s condition and stage. If there was false progression I’m thinking they could tell.

[lakesregion]

Keytruda has helped me since I started it in August 2017. I couldn't do chemo anymore, glad Keytruda available. Hope it keeps working! Side effects minimal, 8 years🙏

[Teen225]

I have nsclc with mets to the lymph nodes and brain and Keytruda or Pembrolizumab as it’s also known has been my miracle. I have been having it for 18 months with only a few side effects which given the alternative are minimal. I have never heard anything negative about it. Wishing your Dad every success with it. Take care x

[Ina3 in reply to Teen225]

Thank you everyone for your replies and kind wishes. It gave me a lot of hope.

The doctor is planning to give Keytruda together with the chemo karboplatin+ pemetrexet. Did your treatment plan was similar? I wonder if we should ask the doctor to drop the chemo and try only Keytruda first. Thanks

[Denzie Moderator Volunteer in reply to Ina3]

That treatment triplet was recently approved as first line treatment because it had an unprecedented successful response in clinical trial. I’ll try to find the article for you.

[Denzie Moderator Volunteer in reply to Ina3]

Found it faster than I thought. It improved survival rates 51%. Most chemos average 15-20%.

ascopost.com/issues/may-10-...

[Ina3 in reply to Denzie]

Thank you very much.

[MarianK in reply to Ina3]

My husband was on the exact same drugs for three months then three months of just Keytruda. His scan at three months was good but they wanted to do just one more round with just the Keytruda. He has been stable now for six months and feeling great. He had relatively few side effects other than weakness and fatigue.

I think Keytruda May be really changing things and outcomes are better than previous drugs. At least I hope that’s true for you and eversome else on it.

[Ahruaware]

My husband just had his second dose of Keytruda - stage IV lung cancer - no real side effects at all . Praying that it works. After a upper right lobectomy and associated lymph node removal in April, he started chemo in June. After his second dose, he had 2 perforations on his small intestine - mets that was unknown - the chemo worked but left 2 perforations that were undiagnosed for 2 days, so he went into septic shock- 10 weeks of hospitalization and beating all odds of survival (still gaining his strength back but no lasting side effects from the sepsis) we're back to treating the cancer which has spread more. Our local oncologist recommended Keytruda, but we went to MD Anderson for a second opinion which they agreed with the treatment plan. The morning of his appointment there was the morning the announcement of the Nobel Peace prize winner immunology researcher from MD Anderson, Dr. Allison, was made. The place was abuzz with excitement. We took that as an omen.

[MarianK]

My husband also has stage 4;nsc and did three months of Keytruda with two chemo drugs and then 3 months of just the Keytruda. He then had a pet scan which showed no active cancer. After 3 more months with no treatments he had a ct scan which showed no changes. He will have another scan in January at which time it will be six months without any treatments. His oncologist doesn’t tell him very much and my husband is of the attitude that ignorance is bliss. I have access to his online chart and from what I’ve read it appears he still has several masses but hopefully they remain inactive and he can continue to stay treatment free. He feels fine, has gained back the weight he lost prior to being diagnosed and although he still has fluid causing a partially collapsed lung, he doesn’t feel any shortness of breath.

Every person has different results but his experience with Keytruda has been great with very few side effects. Hopefully your husband will also do well with it. Good luck and god bless you both.

[Ollie13]

I have lung cancer stage 111b which has spread to my lymph nodes in chest and coller bones I have had my 1st treatment of Keytruda only I am feeling very positive have no side effects yet but i have only read great things of this drug. So I hope it goes well for your dad ina3.

[Ollie13]

Hi Ina3 you have to remember everyone will react differently to any drug they take. Be it an asprin to Keytruda. I have stage 111b lung cancer and Keytruda has been offered to me. I have just about done my first cycle and to date no side effects. I hope this carries on with future treatments.

[Ina3]

Thank you everyone for sharing your stories. My Dad is starting immunotherapy in one week and praying that it will work.

Want to find out if in your case Keytruda was done together with Pemetrexet or by itself?