Pembrolizumab User Reviews & Ratings (Page 5)

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

For Non Small Cell Lung Cancer "My husband has had seven treatments. The worst 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."

• Sur...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 4, 2023

For Breast Cancer "I was diagnosed with stage 4 triple negative breast cancer and told I had 6 months to live if I did nothing. I refused chemo but was a candidate for Keytruda and agreed to try it. Within 3 months, my cancer disappeared off my CTScan. 14 months later, and I am doing great. I am more tired recently, but that has been the biggest issue. I am going about my day and traveling. Without chemo, I'm really experiencing no serious side effects and look normal. I would not hesitate to recommend Keytruda. It's literally a life saver!"

• His...
• June 19, 2019

For Solid Tumors "My husband has stage 4 sarcoma (Lung Epithelioid Sarcoma, squamous cell carcinoma), a rare aggressive form. Appearing in lymph nodes around the lungs and adrenal gland. A large one between the heart and lung, a large mass located on his adrenal gland. Did chemo for 9 months. Tumors between the heart and lung and adrenal gland shrunk to 1/3 the size it was a year ago, has not touched the others around his lung, but the cancer remains stable. Keytruda is NOT without its side effects, he cannot focus to read much, moody for 2 weeks after treatments, then feels a bit better and it's time for another treatment. Seems like he has about 50% of the side effects listed, it also caused injury to his thyroid gland, and the doctor has increased levothyroxine 3 times in 2 months! Arthritis now in his hip and back. Bruising terribly, weakness, fatigue, headaches, insomnia, but he perseveres and forces himself not to give in. He is still here with us."

• gri...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 5, 2018

"My husband has lung cancer metastasized and is dying before my eyes because of ONE Keytruda infusion. Within 20 minutes, he became dazed, disoriented, could barely walk. This Keytruda attacked his liver, kidneys, heart, and who knows what else. Liver number was 1080, up from a normal 30 - 40. His kidney and heart numbers were equally bad. This drug continues to destroy his body. Now he sits in a dazed condition because of the pain and medication needed to control this pain. I know it works for some, but this Keytruda is stealing my loving husband from me."

• Ros...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 9, 2022

For Renal Cell Carcinoma "Going for my third infusion in a few weeks and a cystoscopy. I get the infusion every six weeks. So far, just minor complaints, weight gain, rash that comes and goes, cough, some diarrhea, muscle pain sometimes, and face a little puffy. Bloodwork has been good so far. Had a TIA a month ago, but the oncologist said it wasn't the Keytruda. I'm going to my primary care this week to see what's going on. Not sure how to rate Keytruda yet, so I'll give it a 5."

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

For Non Small Cell Lung Cancer "I started with a tumor on my lung. It had spread to my lymph nodes in my neck and stomach before it was found. I did 3 cycles of platinum chemo, shrank cancer 40%, then continued to Keytruda, and in the 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."

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

For Head and Neck Cancer "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!!"

• Liz...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 20, 2022

For Squamous Cell Carcinoma "We found out my dad had squamous cell lung cancer stage 4 in June. He tried radiation, which didn't work. Doctors didn't suggest chemo but suggested immunotherapy Keytruda instead. I had really high hopes for immunotherapy after reading and seeing good things about it on ABC News claiming it could be the 'cure.' My family and I definitely had high hopes, and we all thought it would be safer than chemo with fewer side effects. August 24th, 2022, Wed is when they gave Keytruda to him through IV. I saw him the next day, and he seemed fine in the hospital despite his other health problems and his legs being paralyzed from the tumor. Sunday, I called the hospital to check on how he was doing. Nurses said he wasn't doing good, somehow his oxygen was depleting in his body, and he wasn't responding to their oxygen. I rushed to the hospital Aug 28th, Sun, and saw my dad for the last time, held his hand while I watched him breathe his last breath unconscious. He was starved of oxygen because of this..."

• DWs...
• January 13, 2021

For Urothelial Carcinoma "My husband was diagnosed with bladder cancer 6/20. Tests showed his cancer was Stage 4 with lung mets. He started with a GC combination chemo, but almost halfway through treatment, it was not working. His lung mets had gotten larger. Now he had bone mets on his left hip and pelvis. He was put on Keytruda at the end of 09/20. For the first 7-8 weeks, he improved to 95% full functioning. After the 2nd Keytruda treatment, he began to fail gradually, where he is now at 10% functioning. His 3-month CT scan showed his tumors in his lungs and hip/pelvis were larger, and he now had liver mets. While waiting the standard 3 months to see if Keytruda was working, his condition continued to deteriorate. The appearance of pseudo-remission initially led to false hope and the devastating experience upon the deterioration in his condition. I suppose the only other alternative would have been to not have treatment at all during these past 7 months."

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

For Non Small Cell Lung Cancer "NSCLC. Just plain and simple. Keytruda killed my dad. He went through radiation, and that shrunk the main tumor. We should have stopped there!!! Three treatments of Keytruda, and he took a nosedive: 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 loved one, let them live their life. Don't give them Keytruda!!"

• Pha...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 4, 2023

For Melanoma "My mother was diagnosed with a small area of skin cancer, despite feeling well. She maintained a positive attitude and began taking Keytruda three weeks ago. However, she was later admitted to the hospital due to difficulty holding up her head and fluctuating oxygen levels. After spending two weeks in the hospital, she was unable to eat and required a feeding tube. Sadly, she passed away last night at 10 PM. After reading reviews, it appears that many people have had negative experiences with Keytruda despite only being on the market for a few years. If you or someone you know has experienced organ damage as a result of Keytruda, it is important to seek medical attention and take action as needed."

• Ben...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 21, 2023

For Renal Cell Carcinoma "I have had three infusions of Keytruda and had headaches, and felt lethargic, weak, and tired. My blood reading was very bad after two infusions. After the third infusion, my doctor took me off Keytruda. It caused my thyroid to develop hypothyroidism. I now take 150 micrograms of levothyroxine, and my atopic dermatitis has worsened. I have dry eyes and blurred vision at times too. Thank goodness my therapy was an adjuvant therapy. I have been off Keytruda for four months, but I am still having skin breakouts and peeling. I would only use this drug if you have cancer. I would not use it for adjuvant therapy. It has way too many side effects!"

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

For Non Small Cell Lung Cancer "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 fluid on him. He 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. We weren’t told of the side effects of Keytruda and what it would do to him. Keytruda killed my brother in 30 days!"

• kmh...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 22, 2021

For Urothelial Carcinoma "My father was diagnosed in August 2020 with urothelial cancer. Had left nephrectomy and ureterectomy in September 2020. Wasn't a candidate for traditional chemotherapy due to age and other health issues. Started Keytruda on February 24th. The 2nd treatment was on March 24th. On April 9th, we were in the emergency room with him having large blood clots in his leg. By May 5th, he is worse, not walking, low blood pressure, and severe pain. He was put in hospice and is now gone on May 20th. I will regret forever talking him into trying it."

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

For Non Small Cell Lung Cancer "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."

• Mic...
• May 14, 2020

For Small Cell Lung Cancer "After the first infusion, immediate aggravation of my arrhythmia to the point of having episodes daily unlike ever before. Developed a persistent cough which made speaking difficult. Also, shortness of breath. Mentioned arrhythmia to my oncologist who was not inclined to blame Keytruda for the increased frequency, although arrhythmia is a known side effect. Three weeks later, the second infusion, everything worsened to the point of debilitating weakness. Researching Keytruda, I discovered it is NOT the wonder drug touted by so many. A lot of side effects, failing health, and death. Prior to Keytruda, I experienced myself daily as healthy, although diagnosed with lung cancer and infrequent arrhythmia. Today, my quality of life is so little that I have decided to discontinue treatment. A third infusion might very well kill me. It's just not worth it. While Keytruda does seem to help some, it seems to injure many more, like myself."

• Sun...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 30, 2020

For Melanoma "I started Keytruda in Feb 2020 for stage 3 aggressive melanoma. Almost immediately, my moods were awful. Swinging like a kid hitting puberty. The doc said it wasn't a side effect. This continued. The fatigue increased. I felt miserable. By late August, I couldn't get off the couch without moaning in pain and couldn't even get into bed. No appetite. Nausea. No energy. I knew I was dehydrated. I declined my next treatment and got fluids. I went to the next appointment to tell the doc I was quitting. Finally, they did labs. My cortisol was >0.1. Another lab test result had ridiculously low levels as well. I should've been in the hospital. Now I'm on steroids, was waiting to see an endocrinologist, and hoping there's no permanent damage. Keytruda almost finished me off."

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

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

• Anonymous
• April 7, 2021

For Gastric Cancer "Keytruda is what ended my father's life. We were told nothing but wonderful things about immunotherapy and how it would be less taxing on the body than chemotherapy. He died less than 30 days after his first infusion. He was diagnosed with stage 4 stomach cancer on October 17, 2020. He underwent chemo treatments, and they switched him to immunotherapy/Keytruda in December. He endured a steep decline shortly after and died weeks later. Please, if you are considering Keytruda, do your due diligence and research the very probable side effects. I wish we had. We trusted his oncologist 110% and really thought this would help him. Do not make the same mistake we did."

• Mic...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 15, 2019

For Small Cell Lung Cancer "My mom died a few days after her treatment of this medicine. Her liver shut down and then her other organs. I would not recommend this until you thoroughly understand the side effects and what it does."

• Gar...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 6, 2023

For Non Small Cell Lung Cancer "Stage four non-small cell lung cancer. April 26, 2019 - mass with biopsy of a lymph node showing adenocarcinoma of lung origin. June 2019, after having recently been started on Keytruda immunotherapy. And I am using it now."

• Blu...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 10, 2022

For Renal Cell Carcinoma "My mom was diagnosed with kidney cancer that spread to her lungs. My mom was talking, walking, aside from the cancer, nothing physically was wrong with her. When she had her first treatment of Keytruda, she started experiencing coughing up blood, severe diarrhea, it got so bad to the point she ended up in ICU, unable to walk or talk, and eventually she ended up passing away. This drug does not help, it only speeds up the death process."

• HBN...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 11, 2022

For Melanoma "My grandmother was diagnosed with nodular melanoma (without metastasis). Her oncologist suggested trying Keytruda. She died after two doses! Before starting immunotherapy, she was fine and very active. Side effects: weakness, muscle pain, weight loss, fatigue, dropping eyelids, dysphagia, breathing difficulty, severe diarrhea. I would not recommend this drug based on our experience!"

• Goo...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 28, 2019

For Melanoma, Metastatic "Feb 2019, I have metastatic melanoma wrapped around 2 nerves at the top of my spine. Inoperable. With the pain in my neck and shoulder blade, I thought it was caused by the doctor pulling me around after open-heart surgery in August 2018. Lucky I have a great GP who sent me to a neurosurgeon after scans. Started on immunotherapy in May. Have had my 11th Keytruda treatment. Side effects have been different each time. Thyroid is under control with medication now. Have been through droopy eyelids, husky voice, runny nose, aching bones, itchy skin, etc., all of which have cleared up in time then come back occasionally except itchy skin. Both my PET scans tell me I’m in remission. I just feel very lucky I am able to have this Keytruda treatment for however long it takes. Hoping it will prolong my life. Only problem I’m having is the damage it has done to a bone in my spine which is very painful, and medication helps."

• Lau...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 7, 2024

For Bladder Cancer "Diagnosed last July with stage 4 metastatic bladder cancer (to liver and lymph nodes). Started with Keytruda and Padcev three-week rounds for 8 weeks, then Keytruda only at first every three weeks and now every six weeks. I was in extreme pain and not able to eat before I started treatments, after just two treatments, the pain was gone and I had begun eating again. I had some hair loss and rashes while on Padcev, but have not had any side effects since being only on Keytruda. I now go to treatments every six weeks and hope to enjoy many more pain-free and healthy days in this world thanks to these two drugs. I just wish Keytruda was less expensive or I could take it at home."