I was diagnosed with metastatic HNSCC and malignant neoplasm of the lymphoid in April 2020. I had a very small spot on my left interorbital check (caused by solar radiation) that turned out to be squamous cell carcinoma that metastasized to my left cervical and axilla lymph nodes. I had outpatient surgery to remove the spot (tumor) on my face and began chemo/immuno treatment with carboplatin/taxol and 200 mg of keytruda. After 4 infusions (1 every 3 weeks) the CT Scan showed the largest lymph node had shrank in size from 13 mm to 7 mm and all other nodes returned to normal size. My oncologist decided to continue treatment with just Keytruda (200 mg every 3 weeks). After 5 infusions I had another CT Scan which came back NED. All lymph nodes had resolved, no evidence of irregular node activity. Because of the pandemic, my oncologist switched me to Keytruda @ 400 mg once every 6 weeks. Over the past 2 years I have had 16 infusions, the last one on August 31, 2022. The 3 CT Scans w/ contrast and 2 Pet Scans I had during that period all came back NED. Because I have not experienced any side effects, my Dr wants me to have 2 more Keytruda infusions. With the advances in treatment a metastatic HNSCC diagnosis is not as dire as it once was.

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