Coming to the end of my 2 year immunotherapy treatment for stage 4 lung cancer. What would be my next best medical option to improve survival? I know we are all different but any pointers would be much appreciated. Love health and strength to all.
I'm due to start immunotherapy in the next 3 weeks or so, all things being equal. I've been told that if all goes well, at the end of 2 years I'll be offered chemotherapy.
I would love to know how you coped with your treatment, if you feel able to share.
I had left upper lobectomy at the end of March this year, staged 3a. T1 N2 M0. Unfortunately it has already spread extensively in the lymph system and bones, hence Pembrolizumab instead of the chemo I was expecting.
I was getting over the thoracotomy but then started to struggle with breathlessness and pains in various places. I've been given steroids and my goodness - what a difference!
I have heard a bit about oxygen therapy and that some people get a lot of benefit from that, so perhaps that's something to explore.
I do hope all continues well for you and that the immunotherapy has put the beasty back in its box.
You will, of course, need to discuss your options with your doctor(s).
As far as I know, those options (in no particular order) are:
a) Continue with pembrolizumab, paying for it privately. That costs approx £7k a dose, with no specified end date. (Not realistic for most, only included here for completeness.) Otherwise, wait and see what happens with your tumours: b) There's a good chance that they will remain stable (I've already posted on long-term outcomes after this treatment stops if you search my previous posts) with survival improving with how suitable you tested for immunotherapy. Long term (>=5years) survival rates are only just starting to get published, but so far they're looking good. Here's another paper in the subject: Google for "annals of oncology" pembrolizumab outcomes to get "Outcomes to first-line pembrolizumab in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer and very high PD-L1 expression". c) If the cancer resists immunotherapy and starts to come back (you should expect to get regular scans ongoing) what's left should be small enough to be suitable for radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy. d) Your consultant might argue your case with the NHS for resumption of immunotherapy if that has been shown to be successful for you. Whether that would be accepted by NHS might not be guaranteed though.
I'm in the same boat as you, but so far my health insurance is still paying out...
