Switching back to Pembro

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plastikos
Posts: 351
Joined: Wed Jan 14, 2015 6:09 am

Re: Switching back to Pembro

Postby plastikos » Tue Jan 15, 2019 6:00 am

Jack&KatiesMommy wrote:Henry:
I have no specific data but antidotally, my oncologist (the one prescribing the Keytruda) stated that if after 2 years on Keytruda I had any potential cancer evident in my body (via CT scan or via CEA) he suggested, based on past experience that we maintain the course and continue treatment indefinitely. He said since he has been prescribing Keytruda (since its original release in 2011) he has had a number of instances where patients that had inactive tumors or CEAs evidencing cancer but who had been stable for months to years, stopped treatment after the 2 year mark only to have their cancer return and they were unable to get it under control again. Again, no scientific evidence of anything but my oncologist with 7 years of experience with immunotherapy's suggestion to me.
Cynthia


Thank you for this insight Cynthia. I am currently trying to get as many different perspectives as possible. It is a good problem to have I guess and I am blessed to be in a position to even consider stopping treatment and just monitoring. So am I right in understanding that your onc is of the opinion that maintenance is the way to go? I wonder at what dose and if it applies to patients who became NED after 2 years as well.
St. IV Colon CA @ 37, male, Kras wild, MSI-high (2014)
11/2014 Right Hemicolectomy + Liver Resection
12/2014 - 6/2015 FOLFOX + Cetuximab
10/2015 - Recurrence liver
Liver resection 10/2015
FOLFIRI 11/2015 - 5/2016
Recurrence liver, nodes 11/2016
Pembrolizumab started 12/2016 -> pseudoprogression(?) -> biliary obstruction -> biliary stenting
Chemo 4x: most mets inactive and smaller on PET-CT
March 2017 - Back on Pembrolizumab again
Sept 2017 - SIRT - > NED
2019 NED

plastikos
Posts: 351
Joined: Wed Jan 14, 2015 6:09 am

Re: Switching back to Pembro

Postby plastikos » Tue Jan 15, 2019 6:02 am

dauofcamom wrote:This is such great news for you! I am so happy to read this.

It’s been along time since I’ve been on this site but I read occasionally. As with everyone with this diagnosis or a family member who has colon cancer, it’s been a very tough year.

My mom did not respond well to chemo, in fact it almost killed her. Literally. She landed in the hospital for two weeks after her first round and so her oncologist took chemo off the table. Our only hope was to pray that it didn’t come back. Things were great for about four or five months, but the cancer did come back and this time it was in her peritoneum and deemed in operable. She was terminal and was going downhill rapidly.

I flew out to California in October to be with her and my brother and I were making plans for hospice as it didn’t appear she had much more than a few weeks. We had an appointment with her oncologist and because she is MSI high, he put her on immunotherapy (Keytruda). Within two weeks of her first round she was feeling amazing. Her pain was gone and she was putting weight back on. Three months after starting immunotherapy she had a CT scan and it showed that she had a complete response to the immunotherapy as her tumors were completely gone. She has put on 20 pounds and is as energetic and feeling like she did before she ever had cancer. It has been nothing short of a miracle.

Never ever give up.

Amazing story. Happy for your mom. Yes there is always hope!
St. IV Colon CA @ 37, male, Kras wild, MSI-high (2014)
11/2014 Right Hemicolectomy + Liver Resection
12/2014 - 6/2015 FOLFOX + Cetuximab
10/2015 - Recurrence liver
Liver resection 10/2015
FOLFIRI 11/2015 - 5/2016
Recurrence liver, nodes 11/2016
Pembrolizumab started 12/2016 -> pseudoprogression(?) -> biliary obstruction -> biliary stenting
Chemo 4x: most mets inactive and smaller on PET-CT
March 2017 - Back on Pembrolizumab again
Sept 2017 - SIRT - > NED
2019 NED

stu
Posts: 1613
Joined: Sat Aug 17, 2013 5:46 pm

Re: Switching back to Pembro

Postby stu » Thu Jan 17, 2019 3:06 am

Hi ,
Just wanted to let you all know that I have a friend diagnosed with lung cancer and starting krytrunda . I was able to show her this thread and the timelines . Thank you for sharing all of this as emerged from a very dark place .

Keep on pushing those boundaries.
Stu
supporter to my mum who lives a great life despite a difficult diagnosis
stage4 2009 significant spread to liver
2010 colon /liver resection
chemo following recurrence
73% of liver removed
enjoying life treatment free
2016 lung resection
Oct 2017 nice clear scan . Two lung nodules disappeared
Oct 2018. Another clear scan .

Wonderfullymade
Posts: 140
Joined: Tue Jan 12, 2016 4:33 pm

Re: Switching back to Pembro

Postby Wonderfullymade » Fri Jan 18, 2019 8:11 pm

Jack&KatiesMommy wrote:Henry:
I have no specific data but antidotally, my oncologist (the one prescribing the Keytruda) stated that if after 2 years on Keytruda I had any potential cancer evident in my body (via CT scan or via CEA) he suggested, based on past experience that we maintain the course and continue treatment indefinitely. He said since he has been prescribing Keytruda (since its original release in 2011) he has had a number of instances where patients that had inactive tumors or CEAs evidencing cancer but who had been stable for months to years, stopped treatment after the 2 year mark only to have their cancer return and they were unable to get it under control again. Again, no scientific evidence of anything but my oncologist with 7 years of experience with immunotherapy's suggestion to me.
Cynthia


I am editing this after thinking about it. I thought if the drug wasn’t working after 2 years that it wasnt going to work. Kind of confused now...
DX 3/2015 53
Stage IVa CC w/liver met
BRAF/KRAS wild type MSI-High (MLH1, PMS2) not Lynch
Folfox 3 cycles
5/2015 ER for subtotal colectomomy due to perforated colon, ovary removed
Folfuri/Pantiumumab 5 cycles
8/2015 liver resection, gallbladder removed and new LN
10/2015 CT scan new nodes
10/2015 Pembro started CEA 2.2
5/2017 stable lung things, coltis, lymph nodes stable cea 1/2017 1.1
9/2017 NED CEA 1.1 ( stopped Pembro)
2/2019 ER for DVT/ PE
2/2019 clean CT (NED) CEA 1.1

User avatar
Jack&KatiesMommy
Posts: 640
Joined: Wed Dec 21, 2011 1:08 pm
Location: Columbus, OH

Re: Switching back to Pembro

Postby Jack&KatiesMommy » Tue Jan 22, 2019 3:57 pm

Wonderfullymade wrote:
Jack&KatiesMommy wrote:Henry:
I have no specific data but antidotally, my oncologist (the one prescribing the Keytruda) stated that if after 2 years on Keytruda I had any potential cancer evident in my body (via CT scan or via CEA) he suggested, based on past experience that we maintain the course and continue treatment indefinitely. He said since he has been prescribing Keytruda (since its original release in 2011) he has had a number of instances where patients that had inactive tumors or CEAs evidencing cancer but who had been stable for months to years, stopped treatment after the 2 year mark only to have their cancer return and they were unable to get it under control again. Again, no scientific evidence of anything but my oncologist with 7 years of experience with immunotherapy's suggestion to me.
Cynthia


I am editing this after thinking about it. I thought if the drug wasn’t working after 2 years that it wasnt going to work. Kind of confused now...


I think that my oncologist meant if there were masses or nodules that were not growing but could still potentially be cancer...or if a person had a CEA that was over 5.0 but not increasing (even if the Keytruda reduced the number fo tumors or reduced the CEA significantly over the 2 years) that he would not suggest stopping the Keytruda.
Cynthia
Cynthia
Mommy to Jack (8) now (18) and Katie (4) now (14)
(My Most Precious Things)
Dx 8/11 Stage IV CRC (liver mets) CEA 2,600+
9/11 Folfiri 2/12: Failed Liver Resection
5/12 HAI pump/removed primary
4/13 Liver Resection
8/13-12/15 (10) RFAs lungs
5/17: Upper Left Lobe of lung resected.
02/18: 3 new lymph mets lung
05/18: Keytruda (MSS w/Intermediate TMB): NED CEA: 66.4, 39.2, 23.8, 13, 3.5 1.8, 1.0, 2.8 3.9, 5.0, 5.6, 1.5, .8,

plastikos
Posts: 351
Joined: Wed Jan 14, 2015 6:09 am

Re: Switching back to Pembro

Postby plastikos » Mon Feb 11, 2019 10:05 pm

Updating my own thread:

On my 2nd to the last dose of Keytruda as standard dosing (200mg every 3-4 weeks). I saw my oncologist in Singapore (I have 2 for multiple opinions) and he suggested that I stop treatment completely at the 2 year mark since that’s what he does with his other patients in complete remission and so far the responses have been durable. My main onc prefers to have some sort of treatment for a few more years, although he knows there is no data to support it. He is just more conservative which is good because I kind of get a balance in opinions. Tentatively we have decided that after my last dose next month I will receive a standard dose every 3 months for 1-2 years and depending on the scans during that time we might consider discontinuing the drug completely. I was fine with stopping cold turkey but my wife begged me to choose the 3-month dosing option as a compromise for her peace of mind.
St. IV Colon CA @ 37, male, Kras wild, MSI-high (2014)
11/2014 Right Hemicolectomy + Liver Resection
12/2014 - 6/2015 FOLFOX + Cetuximab
10/2015 - Recurrence liver
Liver resection 10/2015
FOLFIRI 11/2015 - 5/2016
Recurrence liver, nodes 11/2016
Pembrolizumab started 12/2016 -> pseudoprogression(?) -> biliary obstruction -> biliary stenting
Chemo 4x: most mets inactive and smaller on PET-CT
March 2017 - Back on Pembrolizumab again
Sept 2017 - SIRT - > NED
2019 NED

User avatar
henry123
Posts: 218
Joined: Sun Oct 08, 2017 3:25 am

Re: Switching back to Pembro

Postby henry123 » Tue Feb 12, 2019 12:30 pm

That seems to be the path that I too will follow.
My family including doctors in the family wants to continue indefinitely whereas oncologist wants to keep options open at 2 year mark.

Let's see how it goes.
46yo M msi-high Lynch +ve
5/16 lap AR 14/21 L nodes +ve
T4N2M1
7/16 Capox 9 cyc
9/16 cea 2
1/17 550
PET CT mets in lung & peri
iri+ avast fail
3/17 10577
4/17 regro fail
5/17 cea 28800
5/17 CT inc in size of mes nodes ,onset of multi nodules in liver
6/17 Opdivo start
7/17 26754
8/17 5623
9/17 497
10/17 52
CT all clear exc a nodule in Lung. liver norm
1/18 3.6
Aspirin start
6/18 1.5 CT clear
12/18 1.1 NED
1/20 NED Opdivo stop
8/23 1.0 All ok

Wonderfullymade
Posts: 140
Joined: Tue Jan 12, 2016 4:33 pm

Re: Switching back to Pembro

Postby Wonderfullymade » Tue Feb 12, 2019 1:42 pm

Cynthia...thanks for clarifying that!
Henry and Plastikos....I get that! I think for my own piece of my a “ booster dose” would have calmed me, but ...I was not offered that option!
I must add ...It is a nice problem to have!
Wonderfullymade
DX 3/2015 53
Stage IVa CC w/liver met
BRAF/KRAS wild type MSI-High (MLH1, PMS2) not Lynch
Folfox 3 cycles
5/2015 ER for subtotal colectomomy due to perforated colon, ovary removed
Folfuri/Pantiumumab 5 cycles
8/2015 liver resection, gallbladder removed and new LN
10/2015 CT scan new nodes
10/2015 Pembro started CEA 2.2
5/2017 stable lung things, coltis, lymph nodes stable cea 1/2017 1.1
9/2017 NED CEA 1.1 ( stopped Pembro)
2/2019 ER for DVT/ PE
2/2019 clean CT (NED) CEA 1.1

FindTheBestHelp
Posts: 92
Joined: Mon Jul 14, 2014 12:13 am

Re: Switching back to Pembro

Postby FindTheBestHelp » Mon Apr 15, 2019 6:17 am

Jack&KatiesMommy wrote:Henry:
I have no specific data but antidotally, my oncologist (the one prescribing the Keytruda) stated that if after 2 years on Keytruda I had any potential cancer evident in my body (via CT scan or via CEA) he suggested, based on past experience that we maintain the course and continue treatment indefinitely. He said since he has been prescribing Keytruda (since its original release in 2011) he has had a number of instances where patients that had inactive tumors or CEAs evidencing cancer but who had been stable for months to years, stopped treatment after the 2 year mark only to have their cancer return and they were unable to get it under control again. Again, no scientific evidence of anything but my oncologist with 7 years of experience with immunotherapy's suggestion to me.
Cynthia


I take it your onc would suggest the same option for you to consider? If so, what would be the interval?

User avatar
henry123
Posts: 218
Joined: Sun Oct 08, 2017 3:25 am

Re: Switching back to Pembro

Postby henry123 » Wed May 01, 2019 11:42 am

As I approach 2 year mark, I took a second opinion from another Medical oncologist . He has strongly recommended continuing with the medicine at current dose. As per him , only thing we are sure of is that we cannot see the disease in CT scans or bloodwork (CEA levels) but we can not be sure if it is gone . :?
It makes sense in some way. I think 5 year mark may be what he has in mind.

Also , I am hearing of cases where body did not respond to immunotherapy second time round . SO this may be a better option.
46yo M msi-high Lynch +ve
5/16 lap AR 14/21 L nodes +ve
T4N2M1
7/16 Capox 9 cyc
9/16 cea 2
1/17 550
PET CT mets in lung & peri
iri+ avast fail
3/17 10577
4/17 regro fail
5/17 cea 28800
5/17 CT inc in size of mes nodes ,onset of multi nodules in liver
6/17 Opdivo start
7/17 26754
8/17 5623
9/17 497
10/17 52
CT all clear exc a nodule in Lung. liver norm
1/18 3.6
Aspirin start
6/18 1.5 CT clear
12/18 1.1 NED
1/20 NED Opdivo stop
8/23 1.0 All ok

User avatar
henry123
Posts: 218
Joined: Sun Oct 08, 2017 3:25 am

Re: Switching back to Pembro

Postby henry123 » Wed May 01, 2019 12:04 pm

plastikos wrote:Hi all. Been gone for a while. Chemo took it's toll. As an update I have finished 4 rounds of chemo after a single dose of Keytruda in early December. Latest PET-CT showed almost all tumors (liver, nodes) have shrunk and are metabolically inactive save for one node (peripancreatic) which still has some activity, although weaker and smaller. I guess this is a good result so I will take it.

I am at the crossroads. My local onc who is my main doctor suggests to continue chemo. My onc in Singapore thinks the response is mainly due to the Pembro and suggests I switch back. I am MSI high. I trust them both and the fact that they have their own biases for the particular treatments they are suggesting is not lost on me. In the end I am choosing to take a risk at trying Pembro again for the better quality of life it offers. Hopefully it will work its magic. Still hoping against hope for a cure.



Plastikos,
In hindsight I would say that your doctor in Singapore was right. What do you think?
Henry
46yo M msi-high Lynch +ve
5/16 lap AR 14/21 L nodes +ve
T4N2M1
7/16 Capox 9 cyc
9/16 cea 2
1/17 550
PET CT mets in lung & peri
iri+ avast fail
3/17 10577
4/17 regro fail
5/17 cea 28800
5/17 CT inc in size of mes nodes ,onset of multi nodules in liver
6/17 Opdivo start
7/17 26754
8/17 5623
9/17 497
10/17 52
CT all clear exc a nodule in Lung. liver norm
1/18 3.6
Aspirin start
6/18 1.5 CT clear
12/18 1.1 NED
1/20 NED Opdivo stop
8/23 1.0 All ok

plastikos
Posts: 351
Joined: Wed Jan 14, 2015 6:09 am

Re: Switching back to Pembro

Postby plastikos » Tue Jun 11, 2019 7:08 am

henry123 wrote:
plastikos wrote:Hi all. Been gone for a while. Chemo took it's toll. As an update I have finished 4 rounds of chemo after a single dose of Keytruda in early December. Latest PET-CT showed almost all tumors (liver, nodes) have shrunk and are metabolically inactive save for one node (peripancreatic) which still has some activity, although weaker and smaller. I guess this is a good result so I will take it.

I am at the crossroads. My local onc who is my main doctor suggests to continue chemo. My onc in Singapore thinks the response is mainly due to the Pembro and suggests I switch back. I am MSI high. I trust them both and the fact that they have their own biases for the particular treatments they are suggesting is not lost on me. In the end I am choosing to take a risk at trying Pembro again for the better quality of life it offers. Hopefully it will work its magic. Still hoping against hope for a cure.



Plastikos,
In hindsight I would say that your doctor in Singapore was right. What do you think?
Henry


Hi Henry. Sorry. Just logged in after a long time. Been busy with work. A blessing. Yes I guess he was right after all.
St. IV Colon CA @ 37, male, Kras wild, MSI-high (2014)
11/2014 Right Hemicolectomy + Liver Resection
12/2014 - 6/2015 FOLFOX + Cetuximab
10/2015 - Recurrence liver
Liver resection 10/2015
FOLFIRI 11/2015 - 5/2016
Recurrence liver, nodes 11/2016
Pembrolizumab started 12/2016 -> pseudoprogression(?) -> biliary obstruction -> biliary stenting
Chemo 4x: most mets inactive and smaller on PET-CT
March 2017 - Back on Pembrolizumab again
Sept 2017 - SIRT - > NED
2019 NED

User avatar
henry123
Posts: 218
Joined: Sun Oct 08, 2017 3:25 am

Re: Switching back to Pembro

Postby henry123 » Thu Jun 13, 2019 3:29 am

Ok.
My oncologist after much discussions have decided to continue with 6-week infusions of Nivolumab for foreseeable future . I was hoping that the medicine would be stopped at this stage but I guess the doctor knows the best. Also infusion at 6 week interval is not that bad as long as the disease is controlled.
They feel that there may be some dormant tumor cells that may get activated if the medicine is discontinued.
Immune system is currently destroying whatever active tumor cells are there but the dormant ones can mutate and cause trouble later on.
As per him, the tumors are constantly mutating and trying to find a way to fight the immunotherapies as well as fool the immune system.
there was also some discussion in which he indicated that some mutations respond better to keytruda and others to nivolumab and in some cases they have used both the medicines one after the other . a couple of new immuno therapies have emerged but the toxicity levels are giving a lot of trouble.
46yo M msi-high Lynch +ve
5/16 lap AR 14/21 L nodes +ve
T4N2M1
7/16 Capox 9 cyc
9/16 cea 2
1/17 550
PET CT mets in lung & peri
iri+ avast fail
3/17 10577
4/17 regro fail
5/17 cea 28800
5/17 CT inc in size of mes nodes ,onset of multi nodules in liver
6/17 Opdivo start
7/17 26754
8/17 5623
9/17 497
10/17 52
CT all clear exc a nodule in Lung. liver norm
1/18 3.6
Aspirin start
6/18 1.5 CT clear
12/18 1.1 NED
1/20 NED Opdivo stop
8/23 1.0 All ok

User avatar
henry123
Posts: 218
Joined: Sun Oct 08, 2017 3:25 am

Re: Switching back to Pembro

Postby henry123 » Mon Jul 29, 2019 2:53 pm

Updates , folks.
What's going on at your end.
Tests. Continuing or stopped medication.
46yo M msi-high Lynch +ve
5/16 lap AR 14/21 L nodes +ve
T4N2M1
7/16 Capox 9 cyc
9/16 cea 2
1/17 550
PET CT mets in lung & peri
iri+ avast fail
3/17 10577
4/17 regro fail
5/17 cea 28800
5/17 CT inc in size of mes nodes ,onset of multi nodules in liver
6/17 Opdivo start
7/17 26754
8/17 5623
9/17 497
10/17 52
CT all clear exc a nodule in Lung. liver norm
1/18 3.6
Aspirin start
6/18 1.5 CT clear
12/18 1.1 NED
1/20 NED Opdivo stop
8/23 1.0 All ok

User avatar
Jack&KatiesMommy
Posts: 640
Joined: Wed Dec 21, 2011 1:08 pm
Location: Columbus, OH

Re: Switching back to Pembro

Postby Jack&KatiesMommy » Tue Jul 30, 2019 3:08 pm

Still on Keytruda...month 15 for me.

Cynthia
Cynthia
Mommy to Jack (8) now (18) and Katie (4) now (14)
(My Most Precious Things)
Dx 8/11 Stage IV CRC (liver mets) CEA 2,600+
9/11 Folfiri 2/12: Failed Liver Resection
5/12 HAI pump/removed primary
4/13 Liver Resection
8/13-12/15 (10) RFAs lungs
5/17: Upper Left Lobe of lung resected.
02/18: 3 new lymph mets lung
05/18: Keytruda (MSS w/Intermediate TMB): NED CEA: 66.4, 39.2, 23.8, 13, 3.5 1.8, 1.0, 2.8 3.9, 5.0, 5.6, 1.5, .8,


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