The Colon Club

Hi Plastikos

I started pembrolizumab March 24th of this year. I’m receiving a dose of 2mg per kg of body weight, so my dose has fluctuated as I have lost some weight.

I get my treatments every 3 weeks (I actually have my 13th treatment in the morning). They give me 25 mg of Benadryl and 1000 mg of Tylenol as my pre-meds.

After my first 2 infusions I did experience a fever that lasted about a week each time, but my doctor chalked it up to mean that it was working since that’s usually what happens when our immune system is trying to fight off something.

I should mention that I have not had any type of surgery whatsoever for my cancer other than biopsies that were taken from the colonoscopy and a laparoscopic procedure that found the cancer. I have a large amount of ascites so that may be the contributing factor in my specific side effects.
I’ve noticed that lately after my infusions I feel a bit “off” for a few days. I just don’t have a ton of energy but I am still able to get up and do things. I do experience bouts of nausea, but those come and go.

I do also go in once a week for fluids (a large bag of saline, 4mg of dexamethasone, and 8mg of Zofran). I also have been taking a 1mg pill of dexamethasone on non-fluid days to help with my appetite as I had been steadily losing about 2 pounds a week and the doctor wants to get my weight stabilized since I have lost about 50 pounds since February.
I had disease progression while on chemotherapy, but since I have been on the pembrolizumab I have been considered stable. No new growth or spread.
Hope this helps.

michellecairn wrote:Hi Plastikos

I started pembrolizumab March 24th of this year. I’m receiving a dose of 2mg per kg of body weight, so my dose has fluctuated as I have lost some weight.

I get my treatments every 3 weeks (I actually have my 13th treatment in the morning). They give me 25 mg of Benadryl and 1000 mg of Tylenol as my pre-meds.

After my first 2 infusions I did experience a fever that lasted about a week each time, but my doctor chalked it up to mean that it was working since that’s usually what happens when our immune system is trying to fight off something.

I should mention that I have not had any type of surgery whatsoever for my cancer other than biopsies that were taken from the colonoscopy and a laparoscopic procedure that found the cancer. I have a large amount of ascites so that may be the contributing factor in my specific side effects.
I’ve noticed that lately after my infusions I feel a bit “off” for a few days. I just don’t have a ton of energy but I am still able to get up and do things. I do experience bouts of nausea, but those come and go.

I do also go in once a week for fluids (a large bag of saline, 4mg of dexamethasone, and 8mg of Zofran). I also have been taking a 1mg pill of dexamethasone on non-fluid days to help with my appetite as I had been steadily losing about 2 pounds a week and the doctor wants to get my weight stabilized since I have lost about 50 pounds since February.
I had disease progression while on chemotherapy, but since I have been on the pembrolizumab I have been considered stable. No new growth or spread.
Hope this helps.

It does help Michelle. Thank you. Glad to know there has been no progression on your end.

Hi Michelle,
Just curious if you are still without liver and lung mets too? I'm almost 3 years out from dx and still none but I have scan results on the way so we will see.

michellecairn wrote:Hi Plastikos

I started pembrolizumab March 24th of this year. I’m receiving a dose of 2mg per kg of body weight, so my dose has fluctuated as I have lost some weight.

I get my treatments every 3 weeks (I actually have my 13th treatment in the morning). They give me 25 mg of Benadryl and 1000 mg of Tylenol as my pre-meds.

After my first 2 infusions I did experience a fever that lasted about a week each time, but my doctor chalked it up to mean that it was working since that’s usually what happens when our immune system is trying to fight off something.

I should mention that I have not had any type of surgery whatsoever for my cancer other than biopsies that were taken from the colonoscopy and a laparoscopic procedure that found the cancer. I have a large amount of ascites so that may be the contributing factor in my specific side effects.
I’ve noticed that lately after my infusions I feel a bit “off” for a few days. I just don’t have a ton of energy but I am still able to get up and do things. I do experience bouts of nausea, but those come and go.

I do also go in once a week for fluids (a large bag of saline, 4mg of dexamethasone, and 8mg of Zofran). I also have been taking a 1mg pill of dexamethasone on non-fluid days to help with my appetite as I had been steadily losing about 2 pounds a week and the doctor wants to get my weight stabilized since I have lost about 50 pounds since February.
I had disease progression while on chemotherapy, but since I have been on the pembrolizumab I have been considered stable. No new growth or spread.
Hope this helps.