Pembrolizumab for Head and Neck Cancer User Reviews

• Broke...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 7, 2020

Keytruda (pembrolizumab) "After my husband lived through 3 separate squamous cell mouth cancers, the 4th recurred. Was advised by drs 5 weeks twice a day Proton therapy and once every 3 wks Keytruda. Two weeks after receiving Keytruda, his beautiful (non-smoking) lungs were chemically burned from Keytruda. They treated him with high dose of steroids and said he would have to be on them at least, if not more, for 1 year. it was explained steroids at this dosage carried high side effects such as badly damaging kidneys and other organs. My husband chose death. Told me if I ever get diagnosed with cancer, just let it take me. Said it’s not worth the treatment, which is what really finishes you off. Ironically, 2 weeks later a friend also died from Keytruda after badly damaging his lungs too. You don’t realize you are the test subject for these drug companies. Beware of this drug!"

• Anonymous
• August 24, 2017

Keytruda (pembrolizumab) "I personally do not advise keytruda to anyone. I had a love one walk into the oncologist to receive this treatment and three weeks later she was wheeled back into the oncologists office, unable to walk her body was falling apart thanks to this atrocious treatment. Five weeks have gone by and she is currently laying in a hospital bed in the middle of her living room unresponsive and is thought to pass away within the next three days. Please keep loved ones away from it."

• Artemis...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 13, 2018

Keytruda (pembrolizumab) "I've been on Keytruda for eleven months now. So far the growth has slowed to where we can call it "arrested". At least it has bought me another year of life. The side-effects are manageable, for me at least, so I guess I'm one of the "lucky" (I don't feel lucky having cancer to begin with) ones from reading the other reviews."

• Tom...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 10, 2023

Keytruda (pembrolizumab) "My wife suffered from head/neck cancer. She was strong and had been through multiple lines of treatment for 6 years. After the third Keytruda cycle treatment, everything began to go downhill. She didn't sleep or eat well at all and lost 27 lbs. Her liver and kidneys started shutting down and she died within 2 weeks after suffering from tumor lysis syndrome. No, I cannot recommend this drug. You will just be another lab experiment."

• john
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 2, 2018

Keytruda (pembrolizumab) "4 injections so far on Keytruda as a first line HNSCC treatment. No side effects. Approximately 70% reduction already in my left side face swelling which is due to swollen lymph nodes that have been swollen for years. 3 month MRI due Oct 8th 2018, so too early to say anything about tumor response. Diagnosed 6 years ago but did no treatment until Keytruda as I did not want to do radiation in the oral cavity and was offered nothing else. I have found many sources indicating the patient must have an undamaged microbiome for the treatment to work effectively. Patients on previous platinum based chemotherapies will have a weak microbiome. Action should be taken to restore the microbiome prior to starting immunotherapy. John"

• BigRi...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 25, 2021

Keytruda (pembrolizumab) "After meeting with a surgeon who is the best who advised me he could do the surgery. Yup removal of my tongue, facial nerve damage with lifetime pain, feeding tube, and not being able to speak. I decided “No Thanks” I like my Tacos and being able To tell people I love them. My oncologist suggested Keytruda and immunotherapy. It saved my life and my tongue!!"

• Emily...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 12, 2017

Keytruda (pembrolizumab) "My good friend started Keytruda in the beginning of the year after all other treatments failed for his adrenal cancer. He looked terrible and lost over 30 pounds and he looked like he has a month or two to live. Keytruda and shrunk his two tumors dramatically and thanks to Merck my friend is still alive."

• Head...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 7, 2021

Keytruda (pembrolizumab) "My husband received 1 dose of Keytruda July 21, 2021 and had horrible side effects. He could not get dose in August. My husband died August 23,2021. Ended up on Oxygen within 1 week of getting dose and then sleeping in a hospital bed. This drug helps 15% of people the other 85% get worse and die."

• Crumb...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 13, 2023

"I was prescribed pembrolizumab after cancerous nodules were popping up on my neck weeks after a surgery for head and neck cancer. My tumor scored 100, so my doctor was confident I would have a good response. The nodules were either gone or much smaller before my second dose. I had one day of fatigue. In the summer, my arms itched, but I had no rash. Claritin helped. Now that the weather is cool, I have no itching and no other issues. I was going every 3 weeks, now I’m every 6."

• Double...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 7, 2019

Keytruda (pembrolizumab) "I have been on Keytruda for almost 3 yrs. It was just approved by the FDA a month before I got on it. Cancer had metastasized to my spine and hips. No cancer now but arthritis. No side affects."

• Shali...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 13, 2018

Keytruda (pembrolizumab) "After taking keytruda from Aug to May 2018 I was in ICU for a week. It gave me type 2 diabetes & Thyroid disease. I had 1 disease. Now I have 3. Thanks Keytruda."

• Rebel
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 10, 2018

Keytruda (pembrolizumab) "Only had 1 infusion and it was 4 days ago. So not much to report as of yet, but I actually think I'm feeling better. The pain in my stomach and back is less than it has been"