Anyone have success with immunotherapy for kidney cancer?

Posted by bel13 @bel13, Feb 11 8:54am

Anyone have success with immunotherapy for RCC

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Profile picture for surbach50 @surbach50

@colleenyoung…yes I will remain on treatment till August, 2026. Dosing for petruda was adjusted due to neuopathy in my toes.

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@surbach50 how was it adjusted? And did it help?

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Went from 85 mg of padcev down to 40: over period of 1.5 years. Yess it helped as the neuropathy has not spread out from its original position in my toes.

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Profile picture for retiredtom @retiredtom

CT and MRI (9/25) showed my cancer had returned and decided to grow on my liver. Because the tumor was in an odd place it was recommended I try Keytruda and Lenvima to see if it would shrink which would make surgery easier. My scans from late January show the tumor went from 4.9 cm to 3.3 cm. Some other issues have developed so surgery is being delayed but I’m still on both meds.

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@retiredtom, that is encouraging that the tumor shrank. Have the other issues been resolved to allow surgery to be scheduled? How are you doing?

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Profile picture for Colleen Young, Connect Director @colleenyoung

@retiredtom, that is encouraging that the tumor shrank. Have the other issues been resolved to allow surgery to be scheduled? How are you doing?

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@colleenyoung is Merck doing anything to change the formulation of keytruda so as to lessen the debilitating side effects in my case?

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Profile picture for Colleen Young, Connect Director @colleenyoung

@retiredtom, that is encouraging that the tumor shrank. Have the other issues been resolved to allow surgery to be scheduled? How are you doing?

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@colleenyoung
I won’t know until my next scans at the end of April. Tomorrow is lab work and my next dose of Keytruda. If everything looks good I’m not sure when they’d schedule surgery. I’m leaving middle of June for a vacation with my kids and their families and I figure I’ll need 6 weeks of recovery. Surgery may have to wait until July. I’m starting to get used to the side effects and they now feel like a part of me.

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Profile picture for Colleen Young, Connect Director @colleenyoung

@jeanne1955, I'm sorry to hear that you're having such a rough time with heart issues and mets to your spine. You sound like you are able to maintain good spirits. I bet your husband and 4 dogs help. They seem to know when a person needs extra attention, support and cuddles.

How is your recovery from the kyphoplasty going? Have they managed to get the blood pressure issue under control?

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@colleenyoung since my last post I have had a CT scan it has shown further spread in my bones. I have restarted keytruda infusions and will restart the laventinab(sp) Monday. Oncologist says because I had only two months of treatment so far before a break, it’s too soon to see much effect. Hopeful we will see improvement after more time. I’d love to hear if others have had good results over longer time.

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Profile picture for mah7925 @mah7925

I’ve suspended Keytruda after my first infusion because of the severe debilitating side effects. Have scans March 11 and then decide on the path forward.

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@mah7925, how did the scans go? What is the next step?

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Nodules were found in my abdomen that weren’t there before. Biopsies on Monday.
Difficult to wrap my head around this.

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Profile picture for mah7925 @mah7925

Nodules were found in my abdomen that weren’t there before. Biopsies on Monday.
Difficult to wrap my head around this.

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@mah7925, how did the biopsy go? What did you find out? Sending strength.

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Profile picture for Colleen Young, Connect Director @colleenyoung

@mah7925, how did the biopsy go? What did you find out? Sending strength.

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@colleenyoung cancer has metastasized. Unclear what to do next. My severe debilitating reaction to keytruda after the first infusion sort of eliminates (I think) that class of drug, although Nivo is being considered with Cabo. I’ll know more soon. My oncologist conferred with my rheumatologist and I’m waiting for the path forward.
It’s like sitting on pins and needles.

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