Pembrolizumab and Loss Of Appetite: What Users Say

• Anonymous
• October 25, 2019

For Non Small Cell Lung Cancer "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."

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

For Non Small Cell Lung Cancer "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."

• Sid...
• October 18, 2018

For Non Small Cell Lung Cancer "Diagnosed with extensive Stage IV NSCLC with numerous mets to the liver and adrenal glands. After four infusions with Keytruda, all liver mets are gone and adrenal mets greatly reduced in size. Used as first-line treatment. Very grateful. No major side effects. Feeling run down with low appetite attributed to the remaining cancer and aftereffects of radiation to hip bone met."

• Sha...
• July 29, 2019

For Small Cell Lung Cancer "My husband was diagnosed with small cell lung cancer in May. He did not want chemo or radiation, so his doctor suggested Keytruda. After the first week, he became weak, had a rash on his back, experienced muscle soreness, and had swollen feet. At the next doctor visit three weeks later, he told the doctor about the side effects, but the doctor didn't think it was the Keytruda, but an injection he had also received to build up his bone marrow. The doctor convinced him to continue with Keytruda. After that infusion, he had severe muscle soreness. He couldn't walk, had no appetite, and was completely bedridden. We decided then that was the last dose of Keytruda he would have. It has now been approximately six weeks post-treatment, and the Keytruda is out of his system. He is starting to feel good again, back to golfing and having some quality of life. I know now if he had continued the Keytruda, I felt that he would have died after the third infusion. He will now be with me a few more months or years with some quality of life and dignity."

• Sti...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 28, 2019

For Non Small Cell Lung Cancer "My husband's small cell lung cancer spread to the brain. Dr. recommended Keytruda, has had 5 treatments, 1 every 3 weeks. Dr. says scans and blood work look good, however, he has lost a lot of weight, no energy, can't eat, also short of breath. He is thinking of stopping treatment because of side effects. Was praying this would work, however, I don't think it is."

• Not...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 16, 2021

For Non Small Cell Lung Cancer "My husband has stage 4 metastasized lung, kidney, and brain cancer. He started Keytruda in late May 2021. 3 1/2 months later he is in bad shape. Terrible shoulder pain. Confused. Tired. No appetite. Four hospital stays. Can't eat solid food. Lost 12 lbs in 5 days! Heart attack. Keytruda is so bad for my loving husband. Please research this deadly drug before you or a loved one is given an infusion. My husband is slipping away from me and his family."

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

For Head and Neck Cancer "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."

• Chr...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 4, 2025

For Breast Cancer "Side effects: unrelenting itching, increased nerve pain such as carpal and cubital tunnel pain, fasciculations, paresthesias, random sharp nerve pain strikes like I am being stabbed with an ice pick, joint pain, worsening of back and hip pain, arms feel heavy, leg and ankle swelling, abdominal pain, headaches, nausea, mouth sores, loss of appetite, shortness of breath, extreme fatigue, hair loss, increase in tinnitus. I have CRPS, and it has definitely caused an exacerbation of pain in that area! I don’t know if it’s working. I’ve been on it every 3 weeks for 1 year. I only have 1/2 to 1 day of feeling semi-OK within the 3-week cycle, and that is the day before the next infusion! I hope it’s working, but don’t know if it is. I think it’s worth a try if you can stand the side effects, but regardless, if you have an aggressive cancer diagnosis, you’ll do anything necessary or recommended in an effort to keep it from coming back!"

• 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."

• 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."

• Mum...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 11, 2023

For Breast Cancer "I am currently on dose #13, receiving a dose every 3 weeks with a plan for 1 year of treatment. Fatigue and lower body joint pain from the first dose come and go. After the 10th dose, I developed soreness in the mouth with decreased appetite. That has improved, but I still have tender gums and upper palate. These side effects are not enough for me to stop. I had improved scans after 6 months and will repeat them every 3 months. I am benefiting from this treatment."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 24, 2022

For Melanoma, Metastatic "Keytruda definitely sped up my mom to the end of her life. My mom was diagnosed with metastatic melanoma in July of 2019. She had her first treatment of Keytruda on Aug 15, 2019. Almost immediately after the first treatment, she became very ill, couldn’t eat, couldn’t walk, barely had enough energy to talk, all to be expected. She also stopped producing red blood cells and spent the last month of her life in the hospital having blood transfusions every other day, and very quickly all her organs failed. Every single side effect they mention, she had, every single one! She passed a month after she started Keytruda."

• Ajc...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 29, 2022

For Solid Tumors "My dad has brain tumors and has had a few brain surgeries for removal, and recently tumor cells got in his cerebral and spinal fluid, causing tumors on his spine. The doctor recommended Keytruda as the only option. After the first treatment, he became extremely weak and has swollen legs and feet, plus loss of appetite and fatigue. By the second treatment, 3 weeks later, he became paralyzed in both legs and lost all bladder and bowel control. The tumor is now larger, but the doctor said it could be caused by Keytruda attaching and causing inflammation. We just decided to stop treatment and focus on quality of life. Hopeful he can fight and gain back what he lost from this terrible drug."

• Kik...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 22, 2025

For Breast Cancer "Not really happy about the many side effects I am experiencing! Daily headaches, extreme fatigue, mild shortness of breath, rapid heartbeat, sweating, feeling cold, nerve pain, bone, muscle, and joint pain, decreased appetite, abdominal pain that is always present and gets worse every time I eat, mucus in stools, nausea unrelated to eating, tingling and random stabbing nerve pain. I have 3 more treatments, and I’m finished unless the TNBC comes back. My oncologist has given me the choice to stop the Keytruda infusions if I can’t tolerate the side effects, but I’m afraid that the cancer will come back! The pathology report from my mastectomy showed a complete response to the chemotherapy and no positive sentinel or other lymph nodes, so at present, I am cancer-free. I want to stay that way, so I’ll keep doing the infusions unless my oncologist says they have to be stopped. I can’t describe if it worked or if it was the other chemotherapy drugs that worked. Despite side effects, I’ll continue."

• Agg...
• November 11, 2024

"I’ve now had 4 infusion treatments with Keytruda. The last CT showed that the bone lesions were stable. I’m hoping that the next bone scan will show that there has been healing in the impacted areas. I’m not having any unexpected adverse reactions to the drug. My CMP results are all within normal range, and my CBC continues to improve. One of my lesions was on the top of my skull (I was headed to a bit of a point), but now I can barely feel any difference in that area. While I did have several rounds of radiation therapy to all of the other lesions, I had no treatments in that area. My team chose Keytruda because genetic testing showed that I have a very high MSI, and other mutations, as does my HR+ cancer. My level of pain is tolerable, my appetite has somewhat decreased, and for a few days after infusion I do feel a bit more fatigued."

• Ano...
• April 30, 2025

For Breast Cancer "I have stage 4 metastatic HR+ cancer to my spine, skull, sternum, left pelvic iliac crest, and left femur. Started Keytruda alone in August of 2024. Latest CT and bone scan shows (April 25) no new lesions and some improvement in the current ones. Mostly I am extremely tired for a few days after infusion (250/3 week intervals), have muscle weakness, increased back pain, and loss of appetite. I know when the 3 weeks is almost up because I start getting a bit of an appetite back. Obviously I have no port because of the treatment interval, infusion sites are limited to my left arm and, in a pinch, my lower right arm - right modified radical mastectomy with some resulting lymphedema - as luck would have it, all the “good” sites are on my right side. Luckily, it’s never taken more than 2 sticks to get an IV established."

• Gra...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 17, 2024

"I have an infusion every 3 weeks. 2nd or 3rd day following infusion, I have nausea and no appetite. Nausea seems to be increasing. First scan showed stability. Too soon to make an accurate judgment."