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My husband was diagnosed with non small cell lung cancer over a year ago. He had platinum therapy; it spread to his bones; Keytruda & Taxol to give the Keytruda a boost. Per his oncologist here and at Duke, the Keytruda was not working so they took him off of everything & for 6 weeks had no treatments while they decided what to do next. I disagree with taking him off of the Keytruda. He had no new lesions with it and one small spot on his liver 4 months ago. He has had 3 radioisotope therapies; had scans on 4/15 and now has multiple lesions on his liver, a new lesion & has 1 lesion in his spine and one in his pelvic bone that needs pin point radiation. The radiologist said that the liver is not as big as a concern as the other 2 lesions as 8mm is 1/3 inch. He said he can continue the radioisotopes with radiation as it has helped some with his pain. I disagreed with taking him off of everything before his current treatments. We were told by his doctor at Duke that the Keytruda was working and that it was hardening the bones and slowing the growth of the tumors. He had not been on it for a year when they took him off of it. Could he go back on the Keytruda while another treatment option is checked on? They have mentioned clinical trials, but I do not want him to be taken completely off of everything while waiting. I am not a doctor, but common sense tells me that the Keytruda could at least keep it at bay while waiting and he had no side effects and it does boost the immune system. Would Opdivo+ Yervoy be an option? A clinical trial may take a while and I do not want to give it a chance to grow even more while we wait. It is so hard to see him with this terrible disease and I know others are dealing with it too.
Replies to "My husband was diagnosed with non small cell lung cancer over a year ago. He had..."
@carebears91, I moved your questions to this existing discussion called:
- After Keytruda, what's next? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/keytruda-1/
I did this so you can connect with fellow members who have non small-cell lung cancer and had to consider treatment options other thay Keytruda like @lls8000 @richcolleen @jannad @liz8716 @bentrivercarla @schmeeckle64 and @2onlow8
I encourage you to ask your questions to your oncologist and share your thoughts about not changing medications, especially Keytruda. Your oncologist can consider you and your husband's preferences and also explain the mechanisms of action if this is not they way Keytruda works.
You may appreciate reading @merpreb's post about questions to ask the oncologist here: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/comment/273866/
There may be other options for your husband. I always say, keep asking questions until you understand the "why" and are comfortable moving forward.
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I posted but no one responded: My husband has had platinum chemo; Keytruda with Taxol; Currently Radioisotopes: His oncologists took him off of Keytruda, said it was not stopping the progression. I feel that common sense should prevail. He tolerated it well, he was suppose to be on a 2 year plan. He was taken off of everything for 6 weeks & during that time he had a new lesion, has to have pinpoint radiation for 2 lesions and has multiple lesions on his liver. I am very concerned about the liver, but his radiologist said that the 8mm lesion is 1/3 inch and the other lesions in his bones are more concerning. I feel he should go back on Keytruda and have something done about his liver before it gets worse. Have an appointment with an oncologist on 5/9. Applied for 1 clinical trial, but did not get in. I do not want him taken off of his current treatments until something else is put in place. I do not believe that the Keytruda was not working at all as it was progressing but there were no new lesions and immunotherapy assists the immune system which he needs right now. Radiologist said he can do radioisotopes and radiation at the same time as he said it was not stopping the progression either, but it can be used for pain and I told him it was helping his pain.