Keytruda and Itching: What Users Say

• 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."

• KY ...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 11, 2024

For Breast Cancer "Currently having Keytruda treatments after finishing chemo and radiation. Had Keytruda in conjunction with chemo for 5 months. Now have Keytruda infusions every three weeks for at least a year. Have noticed I have severe itching after the last few treatments as well as frequent diarrhea. Will be addressing this with my oncologist at the upcoming appointment."

• Col...
• October 24, 2021

For Non Small Cell Lung Cancer "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 gained 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 for 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."

• Bos...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• July 28, 2024

For Non Small Cell Lung Cancer "The mouth ulcerations are awful. I just had a tooth break off because of the recession of my gums. I expect my teeth to fall out. It’s very disheartening. I also have uncontrollable female itching. The steroid ointment helps, but nothing cures it. I need something to cure my mouth so my teeth won’t fall out, and the gum condition is awful. No one seems to know how to help me."

• Bos...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• July 28, 2024

For Non Small Cell Lung Cancer "The mouth ulcerations are awful. I just had a tooth break off because of the recession of my gums. I expect my teeth to fall out. It’s very disheartening. I also have uncontrollable female itching. The steroid ointment helps, but nothing cures it. I need something to cure my mouth so my teeth won’t fall out, and the gum condition is awful. No one seems to know how to help me."

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

For Non Small Cell Lung Cancer "In one year, my lung cancer tumors are gone. I still have another year on Keytruda for the complete treatment. After each treatment, for 3-4 days I have some itching, which I apply Cortizone-10. Doing this for 2-3 days resolves the itching until the next treatment. After about 4 months of treatment, I began gaining weight. I have adjusted my diet, checking the calories I am eating, etc., but still continue gaining weight. Have not discussed this with my doctor yet but plan to very soon. The weight gain is beginning to affect my daily activities. I do not plan to stop the treatments as I know the Keytruda is eliminating the cancer."

• Edn...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 25, 2021

For Melanoma "I had stage IV melanoma, went on Keytruda for over two years as it kept shrinking. It worked really well compared to the drugs that I have had since. I had no bad side effects, and I would say it was a great drug and wish I could go back on it! I had to go for treatment every three weeks, it was for only 30 minutes. Great drug. No itching nor rash as well."

• Ste...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 20, 2024

For Colorectal Cancer "Very successful. 8 months of infusion every 3 weeks. Few side effects. Initially experienced coldness in body. Now experiencing profuse sweating when calm. Scaly, itchy skin on palms of hands and bottom of feet. Treatment ended mid-January 2024"

• JDS...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 10, 2024

For Urothelial Carcinoma "My maculopapular skin rash and itching symptoms increased to the point of being quite bothersome when the dose was increased from 200 mg q.3 weeks to 400 mg q.6 weeks. I am using 10 mg of Aller-Tec bid to control my itching and either 1% or 2.5% cortisone ointment for my rash. My hoarseness and dry cough increased as well. My paresthesia of my fingers is constant on both doses. I nap every afternoon for 1.5 hrs because of fatigue. I take Colace bid for bowel regularity. My upcoming MRI will shed some light as to how long Keytruda will be continued."

• Ano...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 31, 2025

For Squamous Cell Carcinoma "Keytruda has been the easiest and, apparently, a very effective tool in the treatment kit. I was originally diagnosed as Stage 4 one year ago and began receiving infusions along with chemotherapy. Chemo ended in July 2024 (8 months ago), and I have been receiving Keytruda since then. PET and CT scans last July showed a significant reduction in the tumors, and more recent CT scans (February) found no tumors while the PET showed a couple of spots that are 'likely' to be anomalies. Another round of scans is scheduled for next month/May. I have not had noticeable side effects other than occasional itchy arms. I have had alopecia areata in the past and am now experiencing a severe outbreak. As it's an autoimmune condition, no one seems to understand if the cause was stress from the last 6 months or heightened immunity from Keytruda."

• Vau...
• August 1, 2024

For Melanoma "Everything has been good except a lot of skin itching."