After Keytruda, what's next?

My iPad and cell phone are a big help and my husband has been wonderful, married to him 59 years yesterday. We had a nice visit to a San Diego park where we watched sail boats and took a nice walk logging 1 1/2 miles on my Fitbit. I’ve read it’s even more important to keep my lungs strong now. My tumor is .43 of an inch at diagnosis so that’s my least problem. Since this has spread to the pleura, I’ve needed to be drained of fluid 4 times. My Onc feels that will dry up with my chemo. I am grateful for the strides medicine have made for nsclc in recent years as they will buy me a little more time hopefully.

Welcome Janna. I’m sorry that you are starting this journey with stage 4a non-small cell lung cancer. Allow me to introduce you to @richcolleen @loula @liz8716 @meka @lls8000 and others who are fellow journeymen and women.

Good for you with keeping up your physical activity on the elliptical as you’re able. During the first week when you feel some side effects, what brings you comfort? How do you stay social?

Hello, at age 78 just beginning this journey with stage 4a adenocarcinoma NSCLC. T1N1M1 to pleura. Never smoker bio marker testing now being done, meanwhile just finished 1st chemo of Keytruda, Alimta and Carboplatin which is to be done every 3 weeks for four rounds at start up. Minor weakness after first week, second week getting stronger. I’m trying to take things one day at a time, this week my goal is to use my elliptical at least 5 minutes every day. Reaching out as I’m a social person wishing us all a good week.

I called Doctor office this morning and the nurse called me back advised I will go Monday for a talk about my Taxotere & Cyramza she said that this type chemo is less hard on the body compared to Taxol & Carbo, I also asked about the ct scan, did they also take a look at the liver and she said that came back with no trace she said when I first started chemo my right lung had a 6.7 cm mass and my liver showed two different places one was small and other was bigger can not remember size but ct scan showed small one undetectable and bigger one shrunk down to a 2 cm well this last ct she said it showed no trace kinda of confused about this the tech that did my ct scan said oh were doing a scan on your lung and I was like and the liver also oh he did not know about that. Okay so at dr office he showed me the scan of my lung and yes I could see where it had grown last scan it had shrunk down to a 2 and now it is at 2.7 sense last scan but he did not show any ct scan of liver just said it said no trace. so I am having them print off my ct results to pick up Monday when I go and talk to the lady about my chemo treatment. He then told me the Keytruda is not working so we have to try another approach said they will draw more blood do a Garden 360 and to start this new chemo treatment next Wednesday. I heard that Insurance company's do not like to keep people Keytruda to long due to cost anyone else heard that sorry this is so long but we have to keep up with what is going on even if we trust our team, We have to stay strong and read everything to keep us involved in our own bodies. I am not one to sit and let someone tell me what is going on and not ask alot of questions ! Then to ice the cake of this whole situation my cataracts in my left eye are acting up which I had surgery done 3 yrs ago have to watch this also so it does not detach

Thanks for letting me know, and you also stay positive and strong please keep us informed of what is happening. and I will keep you in my prayers.

Hi Loula, Sounds as though you are following a similar path to me, but at least your tumors are shrinking, so stay positive and remain as active as you are able. Don't give up hope, as the oncologists have a number of options still.
I have tumors in both lungs and central lymph nodes, and a MAC infection too. I was put on Keytruda, Alimta and Carboplatin in December , but my tumors were still growing so I was switched to Ramucirumab and Docetaxel in June, on which I found the side effects more uncomfortable, and most of my hair fell out the first week! That did nothing for me either so I was taken off last month and switched to the Big 3 for MAC. Don't be disheartened by my story-CT and PET scans do not show tumors and MAC any different, so the doctors do not know, but one or the other is spreading and cannot be treated at the same time, hence the switch for me for a month or two to see what happens.
Keep smiling, praying and be positive.

Trust that they will try something that works. Ask for Prayers you got mine!

Loula, that is tough news to take in. I believe @manorbier has had treatment with Taxotere (docetaxel) and Cyramza (ramucirumab).
Sending you a gentle virtual embrace.

Hello to everyone, went to the oncologist today had my 3 month ct scan done day before , results came back keytruda is not working for me my lung rumor has grown in size 2.5 so no more keytruda I had more blood work taken I think for biomarker testing will take some time to come back in the meantime they are to start Cryamza and Taxotere. I asked him about my liver and he said no change there which I will be asking about that again I would like to see some pictures of that. I was so upset with the news I just let it go. you get so nervous hearing treatment is not working that nothing else sinks in. needless to say I am staying strong and will get through this with the grace of god. has anyone taken Taxotere and Cyramza ? I had taken Carbo and Taxol and it seemed to shrink my tumors was over that treatment in April with staying on the Keytruda. here we go again stay with me folks!

Hello Elizabeth and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I wish that Keytruda was given for longer periods of time. There have been, and are still, many trials with Keytruda. Over 80% of patients show a 5-year cancer-free period after Keytruda has been stopped.
https://www.pmlive.com/pharma_news/keytruda_doubles_five-year_survival_rate_in_nsclc_1351160
https://northtexascancercenteratwise.com/useful-articles/metastatic-lung-cancer-stop-immunotherapy/