Hello Dulon

From my experience with immunotherapy Cemiplimab for cutaneous squamous cell cancer which is metastatic stage 4 in bones spine and lung. It is far better tolerated than chemotherapy and far less brutal than radiotherapy. The list of serious symptoms occur rarely and if the immune system runs out of control it can be calmed down with steroids. Patients are closely monitored with frequent blood tests, scans and contact with an oncology nurse and a 24 hour contact number. The treatment for me is palliative there are no further options. I am at the end of 2 years treatment which has improved my life from being very poorly with a short lifespan to living healthily some of the tumours have shrunk the rest have been stable. Im told that there is an enduring effect after treatment stops my body having been trained to attack the cancer cells. My side effects have been fatigue and an itchy skin rash both of which are manageable. While Nivolumab is a different drug there are around 40 different immunotherapy drugs in this class which appear to have similar side effects. While I understand your wife has been through a lot and may wish no further treatment. I would certainly reconsider giving it a try even for just a few cycles, she can always stop treatment at any time, she has nothing to lose but possibly a lot to gain. I too was reluctant to start treatment but having read others experiences on this forum and being urged to at least give it a try, I am glad I did now.

Ed

Hello Dulon

From my experience with immunotherapy Cemiplimab for cutaneous squamous cell cancer which is metastatic stage 4 in bones spine and lung. It is far better tolerated than chemotherapy and far less brutal than radiotherapy. The list of serious symptoms occur rarely and if the immune system runs out of control it can be calmed down with steroids. Patients are closely monitored with frequent blood tests, scans and contact with an oncology nurse and a 24 hour contact number. The treatment for me is palliative there are no further options. I am at the end of 2 years treatment which has improved my life from being very poorly with a short lifespan to living healthily some of the tumours have shrunk the rest have been stable. Im told that there is an enduring effect after treatment stops my body having been trained to attack the cancer cells. My side effects have been fatigue and an itchy skin rash both of which are manageable. While Nivolumab is a different drug there are around 40 different immunotherapy drugs in this class which appear to have similar side effects. While I understand your wife has been through a lot and may wish no further treatment. I would certainly reconsider giving it a try even for just a few cycles, she can always stop treatment at any time, she has nothing to lose but possibly a lot to gain. I too was reluctant to start treatment but having read others experiences on this forum and being urged to at least give it a try, I am glad I did now.

Ed