UPDATE: Managed to successfully make it through ALL 9 cycles of immunotherapy with Keytruda 400mg every 6 weeks. Ended up with a variety of side effects; some didn't appear until later into the treatment, while appeared early and became more intense over time. Thankfully, nothing became so overwhelming that I had to stop treatment.

Side effects that still exist include tingling/numbness in fingers and stiffness in finger/hands (which keep me out of work as a dentist), fatigue, joint pain - especially in my knees and to a lesser extent my left shoulder, bone pain - left hip, diarrhea (around cycle 5 or 6), nausea (cycle 7-9), and a bit of rain fog all along where I can't recall information as quickly as I used to. I also have the weird sensation of feeling like I have a wad of gum stuck to the bottom of my right foot, but of course there is nothing there.

While my pain levels are at 7/8 at times (most of the time it's 4/5), I refused to use any narcotics and stuck with two extra-strength Tylenol 3 times per day. I also use Lomotil to help with the diarrhea and Zofran for the nausea. It's definitely not a picnic, but the additional 7% this adds to my survival rate is truly worth the discomfort and inconvenience of having the Keytruda infusions.

My goal is someday to feel like I did before my diagnosis and treatment, but if I have to live with these side effects for the rest of my life, I will. Better than the alternative ...