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Started immunotherapy maintenance: What side effects can I expect?

Posted by Tom Anderson @ta52, Jan 26, 2021

Just had my first immunotherapy maintenance session late yesterday afternoon with Keytruda and Alimta only. Also had an injection of Zofram for anti-nausea. So far, no side effects. What have been some other experiences with side effects after maintenance? I had minimal side effects after the first four regular infusions so is maintenance even less harsh?

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texasmimi | @texasmimi | Mar 15, 2022
In reply to @lisakuehl "What type of cancer are you dealing with? My husband was on maintenance Alimta following a..." + (show)
@lisakuehl

What type of cancer are you dealing with? My husband was on maintenance Alimta following a protocol of carboplatin/Alimta. By then end of the fourth cycle of combo meds, he was so run down that he was not able to recover. The maintenance Alimta did not prevent the spread of his pleural mesothelioma. His local oncologist told me, after my husband had died, that a recurrence of cancer is common following a treatment course. And his mesothelioma did come roaring back, into his only remaining healthy lung, within just a few short weeks. I don't recall any other of his cancer care team at Mayo saying that the cancer could be worse following treatment, Why don't doctors tell you these details before hand? I know that treatment can cure or aid many, but it can also accelerate death in many. If I had a do-over, I would have never agreed to putting him through any treatment at all. He was far worse off because of it and I cannot ever take that back.

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I’m sorry for your loss. Loss of our mates is such a horrible experience and I’m now facing that reality. In our circumstance my husband was already near death when his diagnosis was made in late January. We had no clue due to his otherwise extremely good health. Mesothelioma is cruel. Since his cancer is so pervasive, in both lungs and metastatic, we will grab at what we can and Mayo has been so very compassionate and thorough in our case. May you not hold yourself responsible. We all act with the best medical advice and due to a persons genetic and health differences it must be very difficult to predict outcome. We are almost two months past the ER/hospitalization where his diagnosis was made. Mayo has made that possible for us. Without it he would not have survived the 10liters of fluid pulled from his pleural effusion.

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