Immunotherapy and hyperthyroidism

[Ina3]

Hi everyone,

Wanted to find out if anyone has experienced hyperthyroidism as an side effect for chemo or immunotherapy , Keytruda specifically.

What happens during this time? Shall we stop immunotherapy and treat for that or my dad can continue chemo/immuno and treat for hyperthyroidism too?

Thanks

Ina

[Vchumney]

Happened to me on Optiva similar immunetherapy this past summer .My doctors says it's never going to be the same.l take the synthetic everyday now. Best wishes

[Feelingblessed2013]

I have had hypothyroid for years, take a tiny pill every morning. I also had chemo. Your dad should be able to continue immunotherapy and take thyroid medicine.

[lakesregion]

I have been on levothyroxine since I started Keytruda in August 2017 started out .25 mcg, bumped up to .50 shortly after.

[Ina3 in reply to lakesregion]

Thank you for your response. So, you never stopped Keytruda and continued it with levothyroxine? Did u do chemo too?

Thanks

Ina

[ynkefan08753]

Definitely don’t stop immunotherapy because of a thyroid issue. That can be easily treated and will likely go away when the therapy is done. Unfortunately I got the opposite effect during my clinical trial. Gained about 20Lbs that will not go away no matter how much I exercise and eat right 🙄. Good luck!

[Ollie13 in reply to ynkefan08753]

Hi I'm on keytruda and I am also piling on the weight. But my daughters said " mum we would rather have a cuddly mum with no cancer than a skinny mum with cancer " bless them as it does appear Keytruda is working for me. So much as i dislike this extra weight its a small price to pay for good results.

[ynkefan08753 in reply to Ollie13]

I hear ya and I agree...but now that I’m cancer free...I’d really like to get back to my normal weight. My doctors won’t even talk to me about it. They said I was too thin before and I’m now at a “healthy” weight. Well I eat very healthy and I exercise and I don’t want to be “skinny” anymore...I’m 49 for goodness sake...I just don’t want to be in a double digit size lol. I’m 5’8 and have never been larger than a size 6. I’ll be ok with an 8 but I’m very unhappy in a 10. Doesn’t seem like much to them or most people but you have to be comfortable in your own skin and I’m currently not so...I’ll keep exercising and we will see what happens. I’m happy the keytruda is working for you and I wish you continued success and good health 😊😊😊

[lakesregion]

Never stopped keytruda. Finished chemo prior to starting keytruda. Prayers