Going Beyond Standard Immunotherapy

Colleen, my husbands name was Rich, keytruda has kept tumor in check. Never disappeared but shrunk. Nodules in kidneys disappear last scan Dec 18. More cells in both lungs this last scan but very small. When I was on 3 other types of chemo was sick 10 days out of the 21 days. So quite last October and doing fairly well even with the pandemic. My biggest problem is I’m oxycodone which means NO driving. Used to coming and going whenever I wanted to since husband died 4 years ago. Cancer came 1 1/2 years ago. Must say the Lords been good to me.

Please call me Merry!

Mine is for recurrent endometrial cancer.

It was Merry, not me Miriam.... but I am hoping. I like the questions and info about the drug. I am interested in the treatment for Endometrial cancer.

Sorry for your loss Colleen. I’m sure Chemo works for some people but like you the side effects weren’t worth it to me. I was prescribed oxycodone once but didn’t like the side effects so just use Tylenol. Are you very short of breath? I’m having a heck of a time breathing with even moderate exercise, Dr says it’s because I also have COPD but I wasn’t that short of breath prior to the lung cancer.

@dutchw- One of the side effects of lung cancer is shortness of breath! Did you have any lesions in your lung? If so, how were they removed? Or are they still there?

Thanks Merry, that explains a lot. I’m not sure what you mean by lesions. I had a large tumor in my right lung the thoracic surgeon said was to large for removal, she wouldn’t do any surgery. I had the 3 rounds of chemo, went on immunotherapy/Keytruda, No, it’s not there anymore, completely gone as well as in the lymph nodes, spine and head. As I mentioned in my original post, I am also using an alternative protocol that may not be appropriate to name on this sight.

Good morning @dutchw- A region in an organ or tissue which has suffered damage through injury or disease, such as a wound, ulcer, abscess, or tumor is a lesion. I should have asked if you had had any tumors. My apologies.

That's just incredible that Keytruda worked this well for you.

Good morning Merry. Okay, got it.. At my age I learn one new thing every day and forget five. Keytruda is a blessing, especially with other medical issues I have, Giant Cell Arteritis, that could have negated immunotherapy completely. My rheumatologist and oncologist worked so well together, they are awesome and they are the reason I am here today. I have yet to tell them of the alternative treatment I am using with Keytruda but once I do I will post it on here if that is not prohibited.

@dutchw I am so happy to hear Keytruda has worked for you with an amazing result! I hope you can still continue this treatment and that you continue to see improvement every day. I was wondering in your experience if at first or at any time you had any side effects with it? My dad was diagnosed with stage 4 NSCLC adenocarcinoma in June and went from Carboplatin + Keytruda + Pemetrexed, where he experienced minimal side effects, to now Keytruda + Pemetrexed. He has always been healthy in a diet rich in vegetables and a non smoker his whole life. But the first few treatments of just Keytruda + Pemetrexed have made him lethargic, rounds of fevers, chills, increased coughing and swollen joints which is hard because he is used to being at minimum moderately active. He’s now considering another chemo (Docetaxl) instead of Keytruda based on the side effects but worried maybe he is stopping Keytruda too soon. If relevant, with the bio marker test he tested at 30% for it which was why Keytruda was recommended by his oncologist.