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Keytruda Side Effects

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Posted 7/25/2017 3:07 PM (GMT 0)
My husband was in a clinical trial of keytruda. We were very hopeful with the great outcomes we had read. It is important to realize that it is difficult to know just what else can be affected by this drug. The keytruda burned out Charlie's thyroid which was not correctable by discontinuing the keytruda which is what they had hoped. He is now on thyroid meds, no big deal if the keytruda had helped his cancer but it didn't.
It is a great drug that has helped many just be aware of the possible side effects and long term complications.

Post Edited By Moderator (Tudpock18) : 7/25/2017 9:13:02 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 7/25/2017 3:13 PM (GMT 0)
Really sorry to hear that.Take care.
Posted 7/25/2017 6:31 PM (GMT 0)
This must be a big disappointment, I am sorry to hear that. How long did he get Keytruda and how did you determine that it did not help his cancer?

George
Posted 7/26/2017 1:19 PM (GMT 0)
Charlie started having symptoms of increased fatigue, muscle cramps, weakness, flu-like feelings, hoarseness etc (symptoms of hypothyroidism) after about the third round. The symptoms gradually got worse, not knowing if it was the med, the cancer or what was going on, the doctors did lab work and scans. The thyroid levels came back very low and he was started on thyroid meds. His psa was higher than before he started the trial and the bone scan and CT showed disease growth. He did finish the trial, which was about a year and a half ago, and he has since had xofigo and chemo. He is one of the unlucky guys with an aggressive form of pca. He is now in hospice care.
Posted 7/26/2017 8:59 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you for the information. Maybe Dexamethasone 8 mg can make Charlie feel better. A patient who was in a hospice reported that. CBD did help too.

George
Posted 7/27/2017 1:09 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks George, Charlie is taking 8mg of dex and CBD brownies have helped as well.
Posted 7/27/2017 2:06 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for posting this. We are going in for Dave's third Keytruda infusion today. Our doctor had mentioned thyroid as one of the possible serious side effects - he said basically many body systems can be affected. Some people have gotten myasthenia gravis too. Immune therapies are no joke to mess around with.

I think that's why they limit approval to the very specific genetic markers that have shown good results against the cancer in trials. Thank you also very much for being in the trial because if people like you didn't participate, we wouldn't be where we are. So sorry it caused additional problems for you, and that it didn't help.

Did Charlie ever respond at all to the Keytruda? Dave's PSA was down significantly three weeks after his first infusion, and lymph nodes in his neck have shrunk down a lot.

-- Carolyn
Posted 7/27/2017 3:20 PM (GMT 0)
Carolyn, thank you! I will show Charlie your note of appreciation-it will mean a lot to him to know your Dave may very well be saved with this med. That was exactly what Charlie had said about the trial..."might not have helped me but hopefully it will lead to better treatments for other men." The thyroid problem was probably one of the easier to diagnose and treat conditions that could have been a result from being on keytruda. Unfortunately, Charlie never did respond to the keytruda. He then went on to chemo and xofigo. Chin up! please keep us updated on how your husband responds. Praying for only positive results!
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