My husband is Stage 4, MSI-High, and has been on Keytruda (pembrolizumab) for several months now. Generally, it’s going well, much better than chemo side effects would likely be. Main issue is fatigue and occasional mild rash. Curious about others’ experiences with immunotherapy (Keytruda, Opdivo, etc.) - what side effects did you encounter? Anything unexpected pop up later? How severe were they?
Karen, glad the Keytruda is working well overall. Immunotherapy side effects are generally different from chemo – they stem from the immune system being activated and potentially attacking healthy tissues (immune-related adverse events or irAEs). Common ones include fatigue, rash, itching, diarrhea/colitis, pneumonitis (lung inflammation), hepatitis (liver), endocrinopathies (thyroid, adrenal issues). Most are mild/moderate but some can be severe. Monitoring thyroid function, liver enzymes, etc., is standard. Did they check his thyroid levels? Fatigue can sometimes be linked to hypothyroidism.
Thanks William. Yes, they check his bloodwork regularly, including thyroid (TSH). It’s been normal so far, but good reminder to keep monitoring. The list of potential ‘itis’ issues is daunting, but good to be aware of.