Want to learn more about Immunotherapy for lung cancer

Posted by stramont @stramont, Nov 5, 2023

I would be grateful for any input about immunotherapy for lung cancer, side effects and signs of progress.

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I was diagnosed with melanoma in my lungs in 2020. It was in the smallest lobe and was it was removed. My oncologist recommended immunotherapy.
I was treated with nivolumab for 4 months until I could no longer tolerate the after effects of joint and muscle pain, weakness, tiredness and inability to even think clearly. I had CT scans every 6 months, all clear until October of 2022. PET scan in November showed that it metastasized with a 3.1 centimeter on my heart. It was too risky to remove by surgery so I started a combination of nivolumab/relatlimab treatment in January 2023. CT scan in May was encouraging in that the growth had shrunk to 2.6, but new spots were found on the lungs. I continued treatment until September when an MRI found it had spread further in the lungs. Therapy has been stopped and my oncologist has given me less than 6 months to live. I went through the first 6 months of the therapy with the side effects as before, trying fentanyl, morphine, medical marijuana, etc. to get relief until I had good results with a pain patch prescribed by my pain doctor. Having been through this, I wish now that I had not done the immunotherapy. Statistics show that only about 10% experience the reaction that I had and I was one of the unlucky.
Good luck to you and I pray for good results.

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@rudy26

She has the Braf mutation. She is on trametinib and dabrafenib.

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Those are targeted therapy drugs. So she has been having targeted therapy not immunotherapy, correct?

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@rebmar

I was diagnosed with melanoma in my lungs in 2020. It was in the smallest lobe and was it was removed. My oncologist recommended immunotherapy.
I was treated with nivolumab for 4 months until I could no longer tolerate the after effects of joint and muscle pain, weakness, tiredness and inability to even think clearly. I had CT scans every 6 months, all clear until October of 2022. PET scan in November showed that it metastasized with a 3.1 centimeter on my heart. It was too risky to remove by surgery so I started a combination of nivolumab/relatlimab treatment in January 2023. CT scan in May was encouraging in that the growth had shrunk to 2.6, but new spots were found on the lungs. I continued treatment until September when an MRI found it had spread further in the lungs. Therapy has been stopped and my oncologist has given me less than 6 months to live. I went through the first 6 months of the therapy with the side effects as before, trying fentanyl, morphine, medical marijuana, etc. to get relief until I had good results with a pain patch prescribed by my pain doctor. Having been through this, I wish now that I had not done the immunotherapy. Statistics show that only about 10% experience the reaction that I had and I was one of the unlucky.
Good luck to you and I pray for good results.

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I’m so sorry to hear all that you have endured - you’re so brave! New treatments are being developed all the time. Please don’t give up the fight. I will pray for your strength. God bless!

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I was on Imfizi which did not work well for me, it cause my cancer to spread. I am now on Keytruda and have had clear scans for a year now. Very minimal side affects, mostly fatigue. Also I have a very low PDL 3%

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Ablation and Immunotherapy cured my stage 3a lung cancer. However, I was told "No THC" during and for a year after immunotherapy because it blunts the curing effects of treatment.

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@mrnootz

Ablation and Immunotherapy cured my stage 3a lung cancer. However, I was told "No THC" during and for a year after immunotherapy because it blunts the curing effects of treatment.

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What is “THC?”

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@jennkrumz

I was on Imfizi which did not work well for me, it cause my cancer to spread. I am now on Keytruda and have had clear scans for a year now. Very minimal side affects, mostly fatigue. Also I have a very low PDL 3%

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Thank you for telling me that. I’m will be getting Keytruda when they schedule me. The delays in the scheduling are frustrating! Your results are wonderful., though, so I’m very encouraged!

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@stramont

Thank you for telling me that. I’m will be getting Keytruda when they schedule me. The delays in the scheduling are frustrating! Your results are wonderful., though, so I’m very encouraged!

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Im wishing you the very best with your treatments when you start!

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@stramont

What is “THC?”

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Marijuana, I was told to stay away from pot during and for a year afterwards.

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@stramont

What is “THC?”

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Sounds good!where exactly was the cancer located at your 3A stage???

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