Keytruda for Non Small Cell Lung Cancer User Reviews

• lin...
• March 21, 2021

"My father is in ICU. He asked me to share this with you. He has had COPD. Recently, he got a spot on his lung but otherwise he was strong, though overweight. After his 3rd Keytruda treatment, everything went wrong. He lost his voice, kept feeling 'particles' in his nose and mouth, didn't sleep for over a week, feet swelled up like footballs, and had awful coughing. The doctor said he had a lung infection and sent him home with antibiotics and Lasix. No effect, he swelled up even more. He stopped going to the bathroom... both. He could barely walk, and we had to lift each leg into our SUV and pull them out one at a time when we got to the hospital. His liver and kidneys are shutting down, he still cannot talk, only whisper. He's dying. He agreed to do this because they said it uses your immune system, and my father has a very strong immune system. He assumed that Keytruda would use his already good immune system to beat the cancer."

• Cow...
• January 31, 2020

"Frustrated beyond words. My husband had his first treatment of Keytruda on a Friday morning at which time his oxygen levels were normal. Within a couple of hours, he had chills and a fever (to be expected), however, I took him to the hospital the next morning because his fever was 101.3 (which I thought was too high). Upon admission, his oxygen was 88, and they were alarmed, and he's been in ever since. He's now on High Flow Oxygen @ 98.9% and 25 Liters. They are denying it's the Keytruda and say it wasn't in his body long enough, which I don't believe at all. They keep saying it's a virus. At one point, his oxygen line broke, and he tanked to 39%. And they didn't put him in ICU (go figure). They still, to this day, don't believe it's the Keytruda, but we are 100% confident it's the drug. I just want them to admit it -- we knew the risks, but we were sold on 'hardly anyone has side effects'. I'm beside myself upset!!! I just want the doctors to be honest."

• so ...
• April 22, 2021

"My heart goes out to all affected by cancer, patients, families, friends, and providers. We are all very different genetically, and there's no 'One Cure'. My husband was diagnosed with Stage IV Lung Cancer the Thursday before Thanksgiving 2019. By Christmas, he had radiation for 15 days followed by an evaluation for chemo. After blood work and consultation, he decided on Keytruda, chemo not an option. Had treatment once a week, then every two weeks, once a month, and now every six weeks. As of now, he has improved in the sense that the cancer is not growing, yes it shrunk a bit but he will never be cancer-free, it has compromised his spine, but he's here now and goes to work every day (UPS) and has never had to take the day off due to complications from the treatment (some nausea). I don't know what tomorrow brings regarding the medication, his cancer, or life but I thought 2019 was the last year he would be with us. Today I am grateful for Keytruda. Best wishes to everyone struggling with cancer."

• Mis...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 1, 2020

"I'm going to be brutally honest here. If you are not ready to give up the fight for life, then STAY AWAY from this drug. My grandpa was walking, talking, cooking meals and within 4 days of treatment was literally LIFELESS!!! I will NEVER tell anyone this is a good and/or safe drug. I would give Keytruda a 0 if I could."

• Anonymous
• October 25, 2019

"1 treatment and 2 weeks later he was gone. Horrible swelling, unable to focus, couldn't eat, couldn't walk, before treatment was doing okay. This took him out really fast, went from functional to non-functional after 1 treatment. Thought this medication would help, instead it only sped up his death."

• MrZ...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 22, 2019

"My Keytruda experience is entirely positive. I only wish and hope it helps others like it helped me. Male, 70. My 5cm inoperable lung tumor discovered about a year ago shrank to smaller than 1 mm in size after 3 Keytruda infusions. No side effects. Never stopped riding my bike to the gym. Only stopped 2 days before the surgery. Lobectomy followed. A few weeks later I was told by the surgeon and my oncologist that I don't have cancer anymore."

• Tex...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 19, 2020

"In the 18 months after my lung tumor was found, I had platinum-based chemo, surgery to remove part of my lung, proton beam radiation, gamma knife surgery, and oral chemo med Iressa. Nothing helped, the cancer spread, and I had mets to brain and bones. Bone mets were so bad that my femur spontaneously fractured. My docs did not initially offer Keytruda because my tumors carried the EGFR mutation. But I did have high PD-L1 (80%), so when nothing else worked, we tried it. After 2 years of treatment every 3 weeks, I had no evidence of disease and remain NED one year after stopping treatment. Side effects were extreme fatigue, headaches, sweats; I still have these. But I am enjoying life and sure that Keytruda saved my life."

• Toy...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 24, 2019

"My father was diagnosed with NSCLC in July 2018. We were told he was not eligible for chemotherapy and that Keytruda was his best option. My father had his first treatment 1 week later, and 2 weeks after treatment, he presented to the ER with weakness, severe shortness of breath, and restlessness. He was admitted for pericardial effusion. He had his 2nd treatment, and 1 week later he went back to the ER with severe shortness of breath, loss of appetite. At this point, he had lost weight and was admitted for pneumonitis and hypoxemia. My father's health declined so rapidly after taking this medication within a month's time. After his 2nd hospitalization, his quality of life was minimal to none; he was a total assist as he could not do anything for himself. He was placed on hospice 1-2 weeks after his last hospitalization and passed away 1-2 weeks after being placed on hospice. My family and I were given false hope regarding this medication, and it killed my father and stole what time we had left with him."

• bop...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 19, 2018

"After chemo and radiation treatments, I was given six months. My Dr. got me into a Keytruda study. After eleven months of Keytruda treatments, I am considered in remission. I write this because I debated taking Keytruda because of the bad reviews. So sorry for the people that didn't have good results, but Keytruda was a blessing for me."

• My ...
• August 6, 2018

"So last April my mom was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer. Turns out she was a candidate for Keytruda. Her first treatment, she became very ill. Ended up in ICU for low sodium. It was bad. She was very ill and was going to stop the treatments. We and the doctor talked her into continuing, and honestly, she's done amazing with it. The cancer has shrunk. You would never know my mom has cancer. 1.5 years later and still doing everything she did years ago. I'm sorry it hasn't worked for everyone, but it truly is a miracle drug for some. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for the extra time with my mother."

• Nat...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 7, 2019

"Keytruda is a killer. My mother was diagnosed with NSCLC in March and passed away on June 22nd. This so-called miracle drug attacked her healthy organs. There’s not a lot of information on the internet stating the facts, more than 4% of people suffer due to this drug. Please consider all your options, my mom's life was cut short because of false hopes."

• MIs...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 26, 2019

"I believe Keytruda killed my husband. Period. He was diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer/brain cancer in June 2017 and passed away in September 2017. He did not die of the brain cancer, he was still choosing to work, functioning, but days before he died, he had several unusual things happen. He went to the doctor and died that evening from what I believe was heart failure. It was sudden, unexpected. He had two series of Keytruda, three weeks apart. I believe the 'cure is worse than the cause.' Caution to anyone who believes this is a miracle drug. It is not."

• Jer...
• August 13, 2018

"Although it seems some have had a bad experience with this drug, as in some other posts, mine was positive. My father found out he had lung cancer. His brother and father both had it as well, and passed away at 74 (both at the same age). My father has been a heavy smoker since age 15, as they were also. After finding out he had tumors on his lungs, we both felt it was a death sentence. He informed me that he was going to do some treatments with a new drug I had never heard of, and I work for a pharmaceutical company. Keytruda was the name of it. Of course, you have to qualify in terms of health, stage of cancer, and other aspects to be treated. He was a high candidate for this drug as per his doctor. He began treatments immediately upon that confirmation. Within three months, one of his two tumors was gone. The other had shrunk by 50%. Here we are in August, the other tumor is gone as per his scans, as well as his blood being normal. Now, they did not say he was cured, but his treatments have ceased."

• Lys...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 4, 2020

"Keytruda was used for my boyfriend along with pemetrexed and carboplatin. After the third infusion, he developed a bad cough that turned out to be pneumonitis caused by the Keytruda. They persisted in giving him another round of the Keytruda, and the pneumonitis got much worse. He is on oxygen now. A few months after stopping the Keytruda, he developed autoimmune colitis, also attributed to the Keytruda. His cancer spread into the pleural cavity, so it didn't help at all. The risks of this drug were not explained to him before starting. I think this is criminal. He went in with one life-threatening condition and came out with three!"

• Ano...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 13, 2020

"I believe that Keytruda killed my dad. The doctor told him most people don’t have side effects and this drug works great. My dad was feeling good, and after the second treatment, had nonstop coughing and severe shortness of breath. He could no longer breathe, collapsed, and died. The doctor had no explanation or comments. Upon further research, it looks like this drug only works for 20% who use it. I would explore other treatment options before using this drug. It’s marketed as a miracle drug, but they don’t tell you it only works for a small percentage of people, and a side effect may be death."

• Mic...
• May 5, 2020

"I was diagnosed with lung cancer on January 27th. Later, a brain scan revealed seven brain lesions for which I have been treated with Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT). Before January 27th, I experienced arrhythmia fairly regularly, anywhere from every two weeks to at least once a month. After my first infusion, my arrhythmia has occurred daily, lasting anywhere from 4 to 12 hours, which debilitates me, often leaving me very weak. (Last week, my cardiologist gave me a more powerful anti-arrhythmia prescription, but to no effect.) I also experience a persistent dry cough, which sometimes makes talking difficult. There is also shortness of breath. And since my second infusion 2 weeks ago, there is occasional neuropathy in my feet. My daily quality of life seems worse than the disease, although the latter's outcome is assured. So I ask myself, two years of feeling like this daily? No way. And at what point is quality of life to be sacrificed for treatment? Of course, it's an individual assessment. Nevertheless, your thoughts?"

• Pen...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 7, 2020

"I honestly believe this medicine ended my mother's life. It was horrible, she had two doses and passed away 2 months after taking this medicine. She was so sick from this medicine. Then a friend of our family, who was doing great on chemo, was put on Keytruda, and they passed away 2 weeks later. This is a horrible medicine, and I wish I had not placed my trust in the doctors who recommended it. I am heartbroken."

• Anonymous
• August 17, 2020

"My mother had 2 rounds of radiation for stage 4 lung cancer. Then the doctor said just to be sure it doesn't come back, let's put you on KEYTRUDA. She immediately started having fluid on her lungs. They gave her 3 more Keytruda infusions until she developed pneumonitis. The doctor let her leave his office with a blood oxygen level of 91. Prescribed prednisone, 60 mg. After 3 days, she had to be put on oxygen, which she needed until she died. She went from being totally independent to totally dependent within 2 weeks. She had so much fluid on her legs that the blisters popped open and her skin deteriorated. She needed bandages on both legs that needed changing every day, sometimes twice a day. She got weaker and weaker. She went from walking by herself to needing a walker and after 2 months a wheelchair, and 3 weeks later couldn't even get out of bed. She died 2 weeks later. This is a fatal drug with horrible, horrible side effects. Do not take this drug unless you're ready to die. Rating - 0."

• bir...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 24, 2019

"My friend has had 36 treatments and has not had any side effects. Her treatments are every 21 days, she is now cancer-free and plans on staying on the treatment for the rest of her life. Her COPD is still bad, but she is glad to be cancer-free."

• Ang...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 24, 2019

"My uncle was diagnosed with lung cancer in Jan. 2019. His doctor prescribed Keytruda. His liver and kidney are failing after the second treatment. Don’t understand why the doctors don’t explain to you about the risks of getting this treatment. Very upsetting watching his health deteriorate so badly because of Keytruda."

• She...
• September 19, 2019

"My mother took 2 doses of Keytruda, then she became unable to walk very soon after and started having extreme confusion. She started writing movie characters on papers hundreds of times a day and cannot remember anything. She barely is in reality at all. At the moment, she is in the hospital waiting to go to a geriatric psych facility because she is not safe to be left alone. My mother was totally sane and doing well before 2 doses of Keytruda!!! She has literally gone crazy. Doctors do not want to hear it, and I'm frustrated. It is so sad to watch this drug we thought was to help her and destroyed her. I'm mad as anything. The doctors do not tell you about the horrible adverse effects it can have."

• Nei...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 23, 2023

"I was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer metastasized to the brain and given one month to live. Chemo was not an option, and I had radio knife surgery for a brain tumor as it was not operable. I was then put on Keytruda every 6 weeks for 2 years and have been off for over one year. Tumors have shrunk or been stable. I also have COPD/emphysema that has stayed at a mild/moderate stage for the last 5 years. I had very few side effects and exercise daily, walking many miles at a time at a 3-mile-an-hour pace. Most people don't think I am sick, I don't feel sick and am very grateful to be alive. I am 83 years old. I am sorry Keytruda has not worked out for some of you."

• Hei...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 5, 2018

"To all of you who are taking care of your loved ones! I am a nurse who took care of my father with stage 4 lung cancer! He took this drug, and this drug made his life much shorter than even not getting treatment. Shame on these pharmaceutical companies who make money at any cost. This drug can cause serious heart issues, and your patient will die due to cardiac arrest rather than actual cancer. The drug DOES NOT work at all. Shame on these companies who fool patients with these ads on TV. This drug MUST be taken off the market."

• PAD...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 25, 2023

"Keytruda is a miracle drug! My husband was diagnosed with stage 4, inoperable, NSCLC on 7/6/2020. With a large mass in the central area of his left lung, it had spread throughout the left side of his body: near the thyroid, multiple lymph nodes, abdominal muscles, and thigh muscle. Plus a mass on the right side of his skull. He underwent 4 cycles of chemo and Keytruda every 3 weeks. The first 3 treatments were torture, then he got better. By December 2020, the cancer had cleared, with the exception of one spot on his thyroid. After 12 radiation treatments in Jan 2021, the April PET scan showed the cancer had cleared and every scan since has been clear. He's had Keytruda every 3 weeks, missing a few months with respiratory issues post-COVID when doctors had to be sure his problems weren't from Keytruda. He was okayed to continue and his 55th treatment was on 11/15/23. He is doing amazing! No complications, he is very active and thankful to be alive! We are grateful for the success he has had! Thank You!"

• Lar...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• June 23, 2023

"I was given Keytruda along with a chemo cocktail and had no problems. Now, I’ve been taking Keytruda alone for 10 months with no side effects except for fatigue. My lungs are 99% clear of cancer cells, and the cancer hasn’t spread to other areas."