My husband was diagnoised with Stage 4 NSCLC Squasomous cell about 18 m0nths ago. He had matastises to thumb,spine and both adrenal glands. Sugery and radiotherapy sorted out his spine. He was started on a combination mix of Chemotherapy and Immunotherapy. After 3 cycles chemotherapy was stopped and he just continued with immunotherapy. He was doing brilliantly,thumb tumour disappeared,adrenal glands had no new growth. He was consider to have stable disease.

Then in about April of this year he was found to have serve Neutropenia as a rare side effect to the Immunotherapy. Most people present with a fever etc,he had nothing,he was absolutley fine. Levels returned to normal very quickly. The Oncology team decided to discontinue Immunotherapy and instead he recieved Gemcitabine maintence treatment,(day 1, day 8, day 21) He had 4 cycles of this over 4 months. The last scan discovered his adrenal glands showed progression , his thumb leison showed growth and he had a new leison in his femour head. Obviously the maintenence treatment is not working,but oncology want to continue with it. His adrenal glands have been treated with radiotherapy and next week he is having his femur and thumb irradiated.

My question is,has anyone restarted Immunotherapy after Neutropenia and not had a reoccurence?

There is not a lot of information online as it is a very rare side effect. The few studies I've seen show about a 70% reaccurence rate.

My husband does not see the point of resumming Gemcitbine if its not working.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks

PS. We live in Bulgaria,so the treatment and drugs may differ here.