I am currently on Keytruda once every 3 weeks also. I started August 13th. I found the day I receive it and the next day I feel fantastic but on day three and four I'm fatigued and this does last from 3 to 5 days. But other than that I have had really nothing else. Good luck to you hope it's going well.
Hello sglaza,
Thank you. I am glad you are on the other side of surgery and chemotherapy. I am scheduled for 4 rounds. I would rather go only 3 also, but maybe my stage 2B had something to do w/ that. ??
Lucky you in beautiful Arizona at the Mayo clinic. I got standard handouts, but was not encouraged to journal or record, but I did. I was so overwhelmed with all the meds, the diet, the side effects. I'm not used to such detailed self-care management and it was more work than I thought it would be. It also felt good to record my emotional state to vent and scream quietly. (My spouse tells me that I am not a person who gives up control easily.)
The first 3 days were manageable w/ anti emetics, esp. a low dose of olanzapine at night; I flipped zofran and compezine ev 3 hrs if I was aware of my stomach. Thought I made it homefree and "done" until day 4 through 6 when Mother Nature showed no mercy. I was in constant breakthrough and recovery mode stomach wise & got exhausted. I'm going to talk with the NP tomorrow about those days. Supposedly, patients quickly forget days 4 -6, an oncologist informed me on You Tube, so recordkeeping pays off to manage things better.
Yes, the diet, quantities, hydration, and rest you noted were spot on. Initially, I asked my oncologist what I could eat while on chemo and she said, "Anything you want." Well, that is not true which perplexes me. One night I ate beans and that was mistake. No one told me to use Miralax but I did that luckily. People can end up in the ER for that I read. Yes, listen to my body. We navigate the best we can, I get it.
Yes the symptoms that may become long term do concern me. I want to live my next years with a quality of life, not deaf, blind or frustrated, and so on. My NP is very young, has been doing this for just a few yrs. I'm guessing. When I asked him about the long-term effects of hearing loss and vision loss that he knew about, he said he had "seen none." I told him that if he continues in oncology for the next 30 years, he will probably see some ex patients with it.
Thank you for taking the time to respond and giving me encouragement. Made my day. It is a journey, yes.
Again, I am glad you are on the other side and may you have a joyful holiday season that is coming up. --Bb
Hello @burdyblue. Yes I found it confusing when my oncologist said the same to me. Eat what ever I want that I can tolerate when I was on chemo. SG was spot on, I agree. A friend reminded me to eat and drink not for enjoyment but for survival when going through the down days of chemo. Keep up the fight and hard as it is, stay positive. Think of pleasantries and revisit happy moments. God is with you.
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I am currently on Keytruda once every 3 weeks also. I started August 13th. I found the day I receive it and the next day I feel fantastic but on day three and four I'm fatigued and this does last from 3 to 5 days. But other than that I have had really nothing else. Good luck to you hope it's going well.
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1 ReactionWill take the second Keytruda treatment today. So far, side effects have been minor itching, some fatigue. I too am on the 3 week cycle of treatment.
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2 ReactionsHello @burdyblue. Yes I found it confusing when my oncologist said the same to me. Eat what ever I want that I can tolerate when I was on chemo. SG was spot on, I agree. A friend reminded me to eat and drink not for enjoyment but for survival when going through the down days of chemo. Keep up the fight and hard as it is, stay positive. Think of pleasantries and revisit happy moments. God is with you.