Cancer Research UK main site

Immunotherapy as chemo/radio didn’t work/tongue cancer

bettynardy
Offline

I’m moving to palliative immunotherapy after chemo/radio didn’t work

just found out so a bit of a blur

What can I expect….ive a lot of what I assume swelling due to radio…might that improve…,might anything improvr

Feeling lost and helpless researching as a lot really technical..

Would it be offered as a matter of course?

Its Nivolumab and I’m a 57 year old male 

Thanks in advance for any thoughts/insights and experiences

M

  • Hi again M

    Did you have surgery? Is it that causing the swelling or is it purely from radiotherapy. Radiotherapy swelling and any burns will subside fairly quickly weeks. If it is lymphodema from removal of lymph glands in neck this can take a lot longer many months. Have you already been prescribed Nivolumab? It is not automatically prescribed you need to meet certain criteria and whether you are likely to get any benefit from it. Plus health screening for various virus which can become a risk during treatment. You really need to talk with someone at the hospital who is involved with your treatment who knows your case details. We are just laypersons on this forum plus the qualified nurses.

    Ed

  • Offline in reply to Farmer_Ed

    Hi Ed

    No surgery 2 times 5 days chemo then 30 days radio with 2 of them chemo.im pretty sure the radio has caused lymphodema and the swelling..my appts seem to be rushed and don’t get a chance to discuss in detail

    I have already been prescribed Nivolumab and signed up tho there wasn’t much chat about me fitting any sort of criteria…im a 57 year old male

    Appreciate the need to talk further with hospital and have an appt pre starting immunotherapy with my daughter and consultant on 23rd…so your comments are giving me good pointers for questions….so thanks for that Ed

    M

Speak to a nurse

Quick links

Follow us

Registered with Fundraising Regulator (logo)
Cancer Research UK is a registered charity in England and Wales (1089464), Scotland (SC041666), the Isle of Man (1103) and Jersey (247). A company limited by guarantee. Registered company in England and Wales (4325234) and the Isle of Man (5713F). Registered address: 2 Redman Place, London, E20 1JQ.