Going Beyond Standard Immunotherapy

Thank you for the kind words. Compared with the horrible side effects I experienced with chemo, Keytruda is a cake walk. I haven’t had Pemetrexed so can’t comment on that. What I have been on is just Keytruda with Zameta added every other treatment to maintain bone strength. I do experienced fatigue, a slight dry cough, shortness of breath and joint pain, no chills or fever, and am told those are some of the normal Keytruda side effects, still nothing of consequence in comparison with the chemo. My oncologist put me on Gabapentin 300mg for joint pain and it has worked well with no added side effects. Hope this helped in some way. My prayers are your Dad continues to get healthy and Never Give Up.

@rkschaef- Medicine is a 2-edged sword. Sometimes it's easy with a clean cut and other times it's messy and doesn't sever completely. A lot of people seem to sail through chemo or immunology and others don't. I hope that your dad can find the right one. Immunology works by triggering your own immune system to fight your disease/cancer, but instead of fighting it it fights your whole body and damages tissues. Even with tests and statistics it's still a whack-a-mole! When will your dad make his decision?

Thank you @dutchw, I am happy that you didn't experience any of the harsher side effects. Thank you for the detail on Gabapentin as well - that is helpful! Thank you also for your prayers for my dad, both he and my family appreciate it!
@merpreb It truly is a whack-a-mole - couldn't have come up with a better reference! I am hoping he can find the right treatment as well, it seems as if it will be one of those "wait and see" type of outcomes for treatment at this point. He will make his decision in the upcoming week, so hoping that whichever he chooses will help in some way. Thank you!

Hi @ta52! I like the others on this post have been diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer. It metastasized to my brain, lymph nodes, liver and bones. After having a molecular profile done we found that my PDL 1 levels were at 90% which made me a good candidate for Keytruda. I have been on it since January 2019. My oncologist said as long as it is working we our going to keep going down that path. All of my scans have been coming back good. I hope it keeps working so I don't have to start chemo. I pray daily that God heals my body and everyone else's that has cancer. Wishing you the very best.

Hola, fue la inmunoterapia la que le ayudo?

Good news, makes me happy to hear success stories. Our prayers are for your continued good health.

Thank you so very much. I love hearing success stories too, it just gives everyone hope. Prayers to you as well. You sound like a firecracker.

Thank you.. I learned something new today. I recently completed a 14 day cycle of radiation for a small spot on my other/good lung. Upon inquiring when I could get a PET scan to see if it worked, I was told not for 4 months because the radiation continues to work for that long after the last treatment. Good news is I go back on the Keytruda 200mg every 3 weeks starting Feb 1. Question. Has anyone had an issue with fluid on the lungs and what was done?? I’m having a problem, getting drained every 3rd day, and can’t seem to get my questions answered. Never give up.

I had a quart drain when first diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer, nodules in kidneys and cells in stomach and left lung that was March 2019. Got inflammation and ended in St Mary’s hospital for 5 days. Never had to have lung drained again. Started on 4 types of chemo every 21 days. Quit 3 chemo’s after 9 months. (was sick throwing up 10 days after every treatment and refused that way of life).. Since than on keytruda every 21 days and so far do good. I’ve passed my death sentence. 🙏🏻🙏🏻 Are doing the trick. Tomorrow I get my COVID vac

Thanks for your quick response. For the past year we have been draining a pint of fluid, 1/2 quart, off one lung every 3rd day. Have a catheter in the right lung. My wife is a retired RN so we drain it at home. I’m not going to let them do a procedure to close the space the fluid is accumulating until they tell me what is causing the fluid. That’s why I was inquiring here. It doesn’t hurt, just inconvenient. I don’t want to stick my nose into anyone’s business but my oncologist informed me more than once, while taking Keytruda/immunotherapy DO NOT take any vaccines. Has your Dr approved?? Stay safe.