Any experience with Keytruda?

Posted by scottmcf1431 @scottmcf1431, Dec 13, 2025

I am 62 yo and have recently completed treatment for throat cancer (OPSCC). Recent PET scan shows that my throat cancer is gone but I have a single small metastasis on the outside of segment 5 of my liver. I want them to cut it out now, but the doctors are telling me that I need to complete 6 months of Keytruda prior to be insiders for surgery. Does anyone have any experience with this?

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Hello, Please get a second opinion before you start. everyone has a different reaction to treatment. 😉

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Profile picture for cskippy @cskippy

Hello, Please get a second opinion before you start. everyone has a different reaction to treatment. 😉

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@cskippy I am getting my 5th injection on Monday. All good so far!

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Profile picture for scottmcf1431 @scottmcf1431

@rosback I am so sorry to hear of your experiences with Keytruda. In my case, I am now on my 6th injection of the drug with no side effects (so far). Recent scan showed no liver involvement, just the 3 retroperitoneal lymph nodes that have grown a bit since the previous scan. Oncologist believes( and I hope!) that this is the Keytruda working, as things often get worse early in treatment before getting better. Next scan in August but feeling great.

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@scottmcf1431 You are one of the lucky ones who is hopefully seeing benefit from Keytruda without the nasty side effects. My husband became hypothyroid on Keytruda for his bladder cancer, but daily thyroid replacement therapy is an easy fix. Unfortunately it didn't stop the cancer. I have had a great response to a similar drug Libtayo for my metastatic SCC from ear origin. I understand that skin origin like mine responds better to this form of PDL1 inhibitor than Keytruda. Keep up the hope that Keytruda is successfully redirecting your immune system to stop this cancer. So glad that you are tolerating it so well.

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Is that requirement due to your insurance company? Or is it standard of care from the Dr ?

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Profile picture for sf2026 @sf2026

Is that requirement due to your insurance company? Or is it standard of care from the Dr ?

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@sf2026 The drug is covered by our Provincial healthcare in Canada. The treatment would be the Oncology Team’s choice. In the end they removed the tumour first and then started the Keytruda.

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78 yrs old. Cavernous Sinus squamous cell carcinoma. Craniotomy July 2019. 8 Chemo 35 radiation, almost 4 years of Keytruda every six weeks. No serious side effects, no change in cancer since my operation.

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