My experience so far with Keytruda Immunotherapy (cancer treatment)

Hi friends, hope you are well. Please let me know if you have any more questions in the comments.
xo, Amanda
W H E R E T O F I N D M E
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A B O U T M E
Name: Amanda
Live: Seattle, WA
Age: 42
Cancer Diagnosis: March 17, 2017 AND Nov. 17, 2023
Cancer Type: Metastatic Cancer of Unknown Primary (3/17/17) Extraovarian Primary Peritoneal Carcinoma (11/17/23)
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[@stantolliver5062]

Hello from Alabama! Praying for your complete healing and for cancer to never ever return 🙏🏻

[@beverlymccarthy5981]

I have been receiving Keytruda every three weeks since December for Pure Desmoplastic Melanoma which is a rare form of Melanoma. It was found in a lesion on the top of my head. By the time l saw the cancer surgeon 6 weeks later, it had spread to the side of my head near my ear. So immunotherapy was recommended as a first line treatment with surgery in four months. I started Keytruda in December and have had an infusion every three weeks. With the exception of an autoimmune arthritis that happened after my second infusion where both of my thumbs swelled up, l have had no side effects. I was given a nausea medication but have never had to use it. My surgery was done in March and the original Melanoma was dead! By then there were two more metastatic lesions by my ear that were removed and they were very much alive and the margins were so close they were considered to be positive. I will continue immunotherapy through the end of the year as a precaution although my recent PET scan was negative for disease! Good luck to you all!

[@HussainAli-io2ji]

Is there anyone have had infusion reaction with 2nd cycle of keytruda pembrolizumab right 2,3 mins after starting infusion?

[@gopalrangra5886]

I am undergoing immunotherapy taking pembrolizoum and i have no side effects though some arthritis have croped up though thanks yo my daughtter i am being injected nicely thanks to her i had noprobllem in surgery and on going board on takkng keytruda. I have underrgone six cycles and it is spring time for me like thexdeasons in the sun. It is an awesome drug snd time and is grest on being introduced to this drug manyfactured by ms merck co. For me the drug has helped me i to eradicate cancer which creerps indide the body inknowingly and surrptiosly i am cancer free no cancer toxicins the drug is very good, i excercise drink juices a lot , it is a wonder drug hsd some problems during the phase no. problem which had has vanished it has brough life and i have never felt so good have been able yo move about without any weakness i would give an adviced to all people under he drug keytruda to exercise, lalaugh a lot, to be engaged i, i do a lot of songing dancing by way ofexercise and my creaky joints are morec or less o i watch 0m9vies actively am.rngaged in lifer along and watched social.media minimumn side affects. i yhink that the best in life has yet come o eat and drink every thing and have a been so good there may be some hiccups life is a dnow a celebration a dance . I am gratefull for the wonder of wonderv drug to kkeytruda and grstefull to the manufacturers for makin a wonder drug thumps up to the team and the canc 14:32 er csn takexa walk and be damned now also To the cancer cells I had to underr go nephrectomy under the team.of dr gagan gautam , head of urol9gy medanta hospital,and thanks to dr gagan gautam his team and associates and heada of other doctors who pergormed the necessry surgery. The medanta hospital and dr gagan gautamhas done va great job and i am invatiably gratefull team.not.omlybfor the surgry but for his kinness and humbleness on putting patients on.ease wnd giving hope iin.thier hiur of need .for the nephrectomy of kidney iis perfo4med greayly in. Medanta gurugr medanta hodpital,4 gurugam.new dehli

[@thelmabomar2917]

Prayers you’re still cancer free, and a healing for everyone suffering this terrible disease.

[@JohnM1774]

Hi Amanda, Thank God you are in remission. I started on Pembrolizumab in April this year. I have Squamous Cell Carcinoma in the throat. It started in 2005 and I got it when I was a first responder at Ground Zero. I was treated with chemo and radiation and it was cured. In November 2022, I started to spit up blood and it returned. I had a complete laryngectomy at Sloan Kettering. The surgery was done but the doctor could not remove all the cancer. It was an aggressive form nut it also carried the PDL-1 gene so I was prescribed Pembrolizumab. So far I have had 2 PET/CT scans and they were completely clear. I am going tomorrow for my third scan. The only side effect I have had was the fatigue up until the last treatment. I also go every three weeks. I also broke out with that terrible rash and itchiness. I also have experienced some weight loss but that is also a common side effect. I am a 64 old male. Good Luck and Happy Holiday !!!! May 2024 ba a good year to all !!!!!

[@unabergmane4395]

Can I just say that this short hair looks very good on you? Very stylish.

[@nickvasile5354]

I wish you all the blessings and prayers. I'm a immunotherapy patient as well with Keytruda and chemo. God bless and to a speedy recovery. 🙏

[@catmama54]

Prayers it goes well 💕

[@vancekershaw6876]

My prayers and thoughts are for you and I hope you feel better soon

[@Melly4real]

Love your videos Amanda keep going strong❤

[@helloamandawhitworth]

Thank you so much!!

[@safaridreamer5831]

Prayers that you side effects are minimal!! Thanks for the update…👍🤗❤️🙏🤗❤️🙏🤗❤️

[@bobs1356]

I think Fall is a lot of people's season. The colors the mums, the indoor, outdoor decor. That's why we have its good with 4 seasons.

[@PeaceKeyper]

Thank you. I had stage 2c malenoma. First treatment 18 September...

[@cindyhorst8316]

Your hair looks so adorable the way you're styling it

[@helloamandawhitworth]

Thank you so much

[@AuntieBecky85]

Best wishes and thanks for sharing your story. I’m on a different cancer journey but going through 6 cycles of chemo, only completed the 1st one so I’ve got a ways to go.

[@helloamandawhitworth]

Hang in there and sending you lots of love.

[@TheRantingCabbie]

I refer to it as Pembrolizumab and I've only had one round of it so far. I was given this option as a first line of defense instead of chemo. I found the side affects to be very minimal. But one thing I noticed is that within 1 to 2 weeks later, I'm eating like a horse. I'm guessing it triggered my immune system and it's working overtime and needs a lot more energy.

[@yayin43]

I like that you’re sharing. It helps both yourself and viewers. I used to be so ashamed of being diagnosed at a young age, I even told my family not to reveal it to anyone. I felt it’s a stigma. But as time passes while still in treatment, I slowly realized that it’s good to share and happy that people close to you doesn’t judge. They sympathize with you. I feel more freer when I started sharing my journey. And close friends and families who care will always support me like sharing new research on our condition. My younger cousin is undergoing experimental treatment for her stage 4 breast cancer. Our family has a strong history of female cancers especially breast cancer.

[@tutubayoh8323]

Its totally understandable,at first i told my siblings not to tell anyone that i will do it myself when they aske.To be honest i dont feel ashame or stigmatized because cance can happend to anyone even a child,its not a sexual transmitted disease,iam proud sharing my story because its an insiprable one on how God save my life.And one day i can share on yutube podcast to the world can learn from my story.

[@heidi1651]

I never had immunotherapy but it’s interesting learning about. I hope this round goes well for you. 😊

[@helloamandawhitworth]

It is so interesting!

[@gwenevans8687]

Hi Amanda, I was going to ask about Keytruda, and here you are using it.

[@helloamandawhitworth]

Yes I am! Let me know if you have anything specific you'd like to know.

[@HussainAli-io2ji]

Is there anyone have had infusion reaction with 2nd cycle of keytruda pembrolizumab right 2,3 mins after starting infusion?

[@rebeccajohnson2994]

My beloved 91 year old mother has stage 4 metastatic melanoma. She had the wide incision tumor removal and sentinel lymph node biopsy. One of the three lymph nodes showed microscopic disease. Now she has been offered Keytruda Immunotherapy. I'm grateful for your post. This has provided us with information I had been unable to find.

[@helloamandawhitworth]

First, I am so incredibly sorry. This cancer stuff is such a rollercoaster! Keytruda is a wonder drug though and I've heard wonderful things in regards to it working well to fight Melanoma!

[@libertycan6959]

🌸🙏🏼

[@jenjackmarcucci]

❤

[@aidezarate8989]

My husband was taking chemo, then surgery happened then immunotherapy. The immunotherapy ate his bones. They had to stop and now needs shots of iron and although we take suppliments, it's not enough. Wish we had known more of sideeffects to better prepare his body. God bless y'all in your journey. You will make it.

[@mrfixit011]

👍👍

[@debralynn2443]

You look cute with short hair good luck with your therapy.

[@grahambird1570]

I'm on my last of 6 Immunotherapy Treatments for muscle invasive tumors Bladder Cancer, once a week infusion straight into the Bladder and then hold it in for 2.5 - 3 hours. Side affects are tiredness for 2 days following and slight Runny stomach for 2 days and a lot of Urination as water has to be ingested. . . . . Had the cancer for 7 years (Now it's 9 years) and din't know it until blood in the urine then 30 mm Tumor removed a year later another Tumor 17mm removed and now the therapy. Here's hoping !

[@pumpkingirl-ln3eo]

Hi Amanda, Thanks for sharing your immunotherapy treatment day with us, as well as giving an explanation of Keytruda. My sister was placed on a PARP inhibitor after her surgery/chemo (for ovarian stage 3b cancer). I don't think she was offered immunotherapy. Was a PARP inhibitor an option for you? Thanks again ~ Nancy from Northern California

[@kate-ot5lv]

Best wishes to your sister! I too have been on parp inhibitor (Zejula) after surgery/chemo. When I asked my oncologist if immunotherapy is an option for me he said no that it's not effective on gyno-cancers. But then I hear of women with OC doing immunotherapy and wonder why?

[@helloamandawhitworth]

Oh really, that is so interesting. My oncologist said that it's a newer way of treating this type of cancer. There isn't a ton of evidence to back it up but new studies are looking very promising.

[@zrusso8731]

I'm going through vaginal cancer treatment right now . I'm doing chemo, radiation and Keytruda immunotherapy. I'm on my second dose. My prayers to all of us going through this 🙏

[@JoeBilliot]

I'm getting treatment keytruda all so my hair starting to fall off nothing else so I had cancer on my kidney right one ever 6 weeks for 1 year

[@LowRC85]

just started keytruda and padcev yesterday

[@HussainAli-io2ji]

Is there anyone have had infusion reaction with 2nd cycle of keytruda pembrolizumab right 2,3 mins after starting infusion?

[@LowRC85]

@@HussainAli-io2ji no immediate side effects for me, but an hou or so after i start getting heartburn and itching

[@28jewelsboogie]

Love your hair and you look great! Sheik pixie!! Keytruda is interesting( Is it a PARP inhibitor?) All the best Amanda, so good to see this in my thread🩵👼🏻🩵

[@judygifford4975]

how did you get rid of the rash

[@Johnsouthshore]

My wife's experience with Keytruda was not favorable. She had a reaction that caused her brain to swell. The doctors called it encephalitis. It caused her to have delusions and hallucinations. The treatment was steroids & that shot her blood sugar up over 800. She is now on insulin & the blood sugar is under control. She also got a bad rash. Treatment now stopped because of her reactions.

[@StockyDude]

Did she have diabetes at the time or was this all from the drug alone?

[@zeezeebo]

@@StockyDude steroids raises blood sugar even if not diabetic

[@Johnsouthshore]

@@StockyDude she was a type 2 diabetic.. but not a diabetic

[@ARefinedMe]

I’m one of the “lucky” ones that Keytruda caused to develop Adrenal Insufficiency. I now need to take replacement steroids for the rest of my life, wear a medical ID bracelet, and carry an emergency injection everywhere I go. I guess that no adrenal function is a better outcome than cancer returning. I just wish I would’ve known the signs to watch for so I could’ve avoided that ambulance ride and 4 days in the hospital. It also caused other autoimmune issues to flare and even though it’s been two months since my last Keytruda infusion, I am still dealing with that.

[@lf7065]

So sorry to hear that. May I ask, what were your symptoms? I just had my 2nd Keytruda infusion.

[@ARefinedMe]

@@lf7065my symptoms for Adrenal Insufficiency were lightheaded, dizzy, high heart rate, low blood pressure (extremely low), a bit of nausea, and EXTREME fatigue. I would get up, bring my daughter to school, come home and sleep until it was time to pick her up, come home and sleep until my husband woke me up to eat something for dinner, and then sleep until it was time to go to bed. 18-20 hours a day. When I had my crisis, I had a feeling like my vibration was out of sync, like an all-over tingling sensation. Then I fainted. My husband called an ambulance and I spent 4 days in the hospital. I now need to take daily replacement steroids, wear a medical alert bracelet, and carry an emergency injection everywhere I go.

[@bobs1356]

Does this keep the cancer from returning? I see they do a commercial on TV.

[@helloamandawhitworth]

That is the hope!

[@godschild3640]

@@helloamandawhitworth how big is 07x0.6 CM .. because that is my biggest one .. I have stage four lung cancer Adenocarcinoma … I would like to know what looks what object looks like that a peanut egg, etc. and I would also would like to know if you could answer this. Could I die from cancer even if it did not move anywhere else could just kill me 🥶

[@HussainAli-io2ji]

Is there anyone have had infusion reaction with 2nd cycle of keytruda pembrolizumab right 2,3 mins after starting infusion?

[@helloamandawhitworth]

I didn't have it right away but I did develop a really bad rash after my solo cycle #2. It went away within a few days though and hasn't returned.

[@HussainAli-io2ji]

@@helloamandawhitworth so hows your health after receiving this treatment? How many more cycles more would you need

[@ARefinedMe]

I got a rash about a half hour after my third Keytruda infusion. After my fifth infusion, I developed Adrenal Insufficiency which they say I will have for the rest of my life.

[@bobs1356]

Shirley here, I thought that that was a pill form guess I was wrong.

[@helloamandawhitworth]

No, it's an infusion through my port

[@shirlburris-fg8eq]

The manufacturer of keytruda was sued for lying about clinical trials. Not enough study was done.

[@raquelwatson6990]

I have pain in my pelvis so bad I walk thru life bent over. I have 3 more

[@helloamandawhitworth]

You really must go see a doctor about this.

[@tamesmorful]

Me too!! Its terrible!!!

[@soniastuart7438]

So do you lose your hair with imotherapy

[@helloamandawhitworth]

You do not. At least with what I’m on

[@rafaelamavilashiga7818]

Hi Amanda! Do you know what is the dosage they use for you? Is it by weight or is fixed?

[@helloamandawhitworth]

Hi there! Gosh, that's a great question. I should! But I don't. I do know it's fixed. I'll take a look next time I'm at treatment!

[@matildakrenke3982]

Someone said its harmful to people when your on this do you need to stay away from people can you hurt anyone while taking this

[@helloamandawhitworth]

I’ve never heard this before

[@HollywoodBob39]

You may be misinformed. I believe it's chemo drugs (basically, poison) where you should avoid others for a day or two after.

[@HildaBolivar]

Or reach out to a trusted source maybe line 🤪

[@HildaBolivar]

❤