Pembrolizumab for Non Small Cell Lung Cancer User Reviews (Page 3)

• cabbe...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 24, 2018

Keytruda (pembrolizumab) "My father in law took his first dose of Keytruda and after few days he felt strong pain all over his body. His heart was beating out of control. After we took him to emergency and after all scans and test the doctor confirm that was the side effect from the Keytruda. After one day in the hospital his heart was already so damaged that after less than a day he passed away. This drug took his live. This drug needs to be taken out of use and revaluated."

• Sue
• December 2, 2020

Keytruda (pembrolizumab) "I was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer in August 2018. I also had a small Brian tumor and three lymph nodes “sparked”. The brain tumor was taken care of with radiation. Started chemo and Keytruda in September, 2018. This drug has worked very well for me. The lung tumor size is now down by 80%, the lymph nodes are clear. My oncologist stopped my Keytruda treatments in December. I had very few side effects, mainly my back itches like crazy at times. My last scan showed the tumor had grown a bit. I have resumed keytruda and expect good results again. For me the drug has worked exceptionally well. I wish it worked this well for everyone. I am 71 , live by myself and have a high quality of life."

• GoodSon
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 16, 2018

Keytruda (pembrolizumab) "We were hopeful and optimistic as my mother did not desire chemo or radiation to fight her cancer. Same day she received her first dose her heart began beating out of control. Had no family history of heart problems. Was admitted and died in hospital nine days later. Personally believe this drug took her life away sooner than the cancer would have if untreated. Miserable but quick end."

• Conce...
• April 12, 2019

Keytruda (pembrolizumab) "My husband has stage 4 NSCLC diagnosed in 2016. On March 31, 2018 he was diagnosed with a 5 cm tumor on his right frontal lobe of his brain, which was surgically removed. Dr. started my husband on Keytruda May of 2018. All was going good until Nov 29, 2018 brain scan showed 5 tumors on the dura lining around his brain which is inoperable. He had radiation which did get rid of the tumors for now. Dr. kept him on Keytruda. 6 weeks ago, after his Keytruda treatment, my husband got very weak, short of breath and stayed in bed 95% of the time as he was so exhausted from doing nothing. 3 weeks later he had another treatment of Keytruda and the same thing again, weakness, in bed all the time and short of breath. Today he was feeling much better but had to have his Keytruda again today. I will monitor him to see if this treatment kicks him down again. Does anyone have any advise? His Oncologist states that Keytruda is the only thing keeping him alive right now."

• Nsclc...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 2, 2022

Keytruda (pembrolizumab) "Was told in May 2021 I had stage 4 Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (nsclc). Dr started me on chemo (aggressive) and Keytruda Went with this as I have no other health issues. Chemo was rough through went 5 of 6 treatments dr advised that my drop as blood counts were in his words 'really scary'. Been on Keytruda only every 3 weeks and feel much better than with chemo. All blood work is now good. Since start of treatment main tumor is almost gone and no evidence of cancer anywhere else. I will stay on Keytruda another year and see where I end up then. I have no side effects besides my skin is a bit drier."

• Nana
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 26, 2019

Keytruda (pembrolizumab) "My husband , age 66 with Lung Epithelioid Sarcoma stage 4. Rare form and aggressive. Keytruda caused hypothyroidism, weakness, aches and swelling in arms and legs, tingling and numbness in feet, severe mood changes. Yes, this keytruda has helped him fight this cancer but at a cost to quality of life. It is wonderful to have him here with us after 20 months of battling this cancer, but saddens me to see he cannot fully enjoy life, keytruda also caused eyes to blur and therefore he cannot read books which he has always loved to do! At what cost shall we suffer just to stay alive? Not to discourage others to not take this drug, everyone reacts differently to drugs, many can continue to support their family. But in my husband case, he has the side affects listed on the website."

• baf
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 1, 2019

Keytruda (pembrolizumab) "Husband was diagnosed with stage 4 non small cell lung cancer April 2017 after heart surgery. Was put on it in the beginning and I believe that this is the only thing keeping him alive. Never been sick or weak, no problem except hard to breath at times."

• Ferma...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 6, 2017

Keytruda (pembrolizumab) "I have had numerous treatments over the past 18 months, now these didn't improve my general health, but that wasn't very bad at any time. I have now had 4 treatments of Keytruda & find that my general health has improved. My energy levels have certainly risen, certainly not as much tiredness as before, like l can walk 3 mile most days without any bother. Previous to starting this treatment l had great discomfort with fluid on my lung, this discomfort has now gone. I never had any side effects from getting Keytruda, me living a very normal life, long may it continue !!"

• Tess...
• November 17, 2017

Keytruda (pembrolizumab) "My father had Keytruda and now he is dead . Stay away from this form of treatment!!!! It does not lengthen your life it shortens it. It also stops all the good in your immunity. Please stay away from this drug!"

• Duz
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 6, 2020

Keytruda (pembrolizumab) "My dad took this drug because they said his chances were good to prolong life. They said his body tested strong. He took one treatment and was joking around that day. He had almost every side effect with 5-7 days. We lost him within 2 months after this. He was so weak and frail. I don’t recommend it. I regret ever going this route."

• Keytr...
• June 18, 2020

Keytruda (pembrolizumab) "I believe keytruda killed my dad. After the second dose he quit eating. He was getting sick no energy. Doctors just kept saying it wasn't that and pushing the drug. He had a tumor that appeared and rapidly grew. Also his best friend was on this for the same and he is now really really sick. This is a horrible horrible drug and should be taken off the market"

• Not...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 16, 2021

Keytruda (pembrolizumab) "My husband has stage 4 metastisized Lung, Kidney and Brain cancer. He started Keytruda in Late May 2021. 3 1/2 months later he is in bad shape. Terrible shoulder pain. Confused. Tired. No appetite is 4 hospital stays. Can't eat solid food. Lost 12 lbs in 5 days! Heart attack. Keytruda is so bad for my loving husband. Please research this deadly drug before you or a loved one is given an infusion. My husband is slipping away from me and his family"

• Lisa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 29, 2023

Keytruda (pembrolizumab) "My brother was diagnosed with non small cell lung cancer in October 2022. He had his port put in on October 12 and they started his first round of chemotherapy and Keytruda on Friday, October 14, 2022. Five days later, Wednesday, October 19, he was admitted to the hospital for a severe lung infection and was put on several antibiotics but the infection got worse. He began to swell so bad that his skin was literally leaking, his kidneys shut down, he was incoherent and couldn’t speak. He had 20 lbs of dHe was on almost full oxygen and full dialysis. He had never had kidney problems before. They did so many procedures trying to figure out what was wrong. He had twenty pounds of fluid on him. We weren’t told of the side effects of Keytruda and what it would do to him. Keytruda killed my brother in 30 days!"

• Madda...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 3, 2021

Keytruda (pembrolizumab) "My dad started Keytruda in March 2021. He had lung cancer. This was pretty much the only option he was given. He died very suddenly 3 months later. One day he started having horrible abdominal pain. Took him to ER where he was admitted to ICU. He had one kidney completely failed and 3 aneurysms. I feel had he not started Keytruda he would still be with us."

• Micha...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 11, 2018

Keytruda (pembrolizumab) "My husband has had seven treatments. The worse side effect has been extreme fatigue although he has continued to work full time. It affected his thyroid, and he is now taking Synthroid. He has been an insulin dependent diabetic for many years, and the Keytruda has apparently affected that also. Working with his endocrinologist to get that under control. He will have a scan done in a couple of weeks. Hopefully it will be good news. We both agree this drug is way better than undergoing chemo."

• Dad
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 17, 2022

Keytruda (pembrolizumab) "NSCLC. Just plain and simple. Keytruda killed my dad. He went thru radiation and that shrunk the main tumor. We should have stopped there!!! 3 treatments of Keytruda and he took a nose dive: No eating, could barely walk, declined quickly. Hospice started. Three days later dead. My dad was 95 but very active for his age. If you have an elderly love one, let them live there life. Don't give them Keytruda!!"

• egerb...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 13, 2021

Keytruda (pembrolizumab) "My mother in law completed chemo and radiation for stage 4 lung cancer, radiation helped a lot with brain and bone tumors. She did one treatment of keytruda, her lungs became inflamed and she died 10 days later. I believe immunotherapy is the future for cancer treatment after traditional options are used, keytruda is NOT it."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 21, 2021

Keytruda (pembrolizumab) "I started with a tumor on my lung....it had spread to my lymphnodes in neck and stomach before it was found. I did 3 cycles of platinum chemo shrunk cancer 40% then continued to keytruda and last scan it had shrunk another 28%, 68% total in 3 months with both treatments. I've had zero side effects. I'm even back to work part time now."

• JLC
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 19, 2024

Keytruda (pembrolizumab) "My wife has been doing the Keytruda treatment for close to a year now with no serious side effects. It has helped greatly to where chemo can now be stopped. I have read good reviews here and some very scary ones! The problem is everyone reacts differently to all medications and if you went by all the side effects listed on medications, you wouldn't even take them. I so wish all success on this terrible illness and strength in your fight against it!"

• Mikes...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 22, 2018

Keytruda (pembrolizumab) "My brother was diagnosed with stage 4 non small cell lung cancer. After 2 treatments of Keytruda his cancer had spread like wildfire and his health severely declined. He then tried chemo but after just 3 treatments he was too weak and was put in hospice. He passed away just 4 months after being diagnosed."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 9, 2017

Keytruda (pembrolizumab) "Had all of the requirements - PD-L1, 90% effaced, did not have the tumor mutations, 1st line of defense. Bought in to the "wonder" drug hype and it FAIL MISERABLY. Cancer metastasized. Now being treated with chemo and responding but it's too late"

• Kenny
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 13, 2024

Keytruda (pembrolizumab) "My lung cancer traveled to my bowel and I turned stage 4 during an ICU stay. They released me to hospice after my weight was 60 pounds. I had been intubated for a month (2 of those in a coma. 2 trach to vent). My right lung was completely collapsed under an 11cm tumor, I had 8 Mets in my small intestine, also collapsed from no food in a month. I could not sit, stand, or walk. I could not talk till I left the ICU. 6 days after regrouping in hospice, I 'ran away' to get Keytruda. In 4 infusions, I was cancer-free. I was diagnosed 5 years ago tomorrow, I have been cancer-free since December 2019. I took it solo for 17 months. My PDLI was 80%. I had no side effects except getting thyroiditis (not worth complaining about vs death), and I am completely healthy now."

• Color...
• October 24, 2021

Keytruda (pembrolizumab) "I took keytruda successfully for 2 years. My oncologist wanted me to keep taking it since I was doing so well, even though the drug shouldn’t be taken for more than 2 years. At almost exactly the 2 year mark, my body filled with fluid. I gain 30 pounds almost instantly and my skin was itchy and painful. After a sort of brush off from my oncologist that Keytruda was the reason, I saw many doctors until I got to a rheumatologist that figured it all out foe me. I now have Cutaneous scleroderma caused by the keytruda and it is so painful. Now all efforts are to treat the scleroderma and not the cancer."

• David
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 3, 2024

Keytruda (pembrolizumab) "I was diagnosed with stage 4 NSCLC in September 2017. I had a lymph node removed and tested in October 2017. In December 2017, I received my first chemo (Alimta, carboplatin, and Keytruda) and continued receiving it every 3 weeks until March 2018. I was able to continue working daily during the treatment. A PET scan in April 2018 showed no active cancer. I then continued with Keytruda as a maintenance treatment every 3 weeks until August 2018, but at this time I experienced bad diarrhea. I lost almost 60 lbs and ended up in the hospital for a week. I returned to the hospital in November 2018, but was released after three days. I received daily infusions of steroids for 3 more days. In 2021, a lymph node was removed and the results showed it was clear. Today is February 3, 2124, and I feel blessed to be alive and well. Medication effectiveness varies from person to person, but I believe that Keytruda played a big role in keeping my cancer inactive. I also had excellent doctors! In my case, I think I may have been over-medicated with Keytruda due to a lack of data, and I hope that more information is gathered to help decrease the side effects."

• OMG
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 8, 2021

Keytruda (pembrolizumab) "My husband was given keytruda and broke out in severe psoriasis. So, they stopped the treatments all together and within 5 months he passed away. I would never use this drug. I think it's too aggressive."