Anal Cancer & Prembrolizumab Corinth Trial

Hi -

I was diagnosed on the 14/9 and was due to start chemo & radiotherapy on 18/11 but haven’t yet had my radiotherapy prep yet because instead of having that on Tuesday 29/10 they now want to talk to me about going on this trial. 
I saw a post from someone on here with anal cancer who had this drug about 3 years ago and she posted that it has caused life changing side effects. 
Is anyone on this drug now? - for anal or other types of cancer that wouldn’t mind telling me how it is going. 
I’m worried also that if I agreed to go through the process of getting on this 6 month trial that it would significantly delay the start of my treatment which is supposed to be 28 rounds of radiotherapy over 5.5 weeks and Mitomycin & Capecitabine chemo. I’m stage T2 N2 and don’t want to delay any longer starting my treatment.  Thank you 

  • Hi Calia,

    I can understand this is a difficult decision - hopefully you'll get some more replies to your post here soon, particularly if anyone with similar experience sees it.

    Do of course discuss any questions or concerns you have with your doctor about what to potentially expect.

    Our nurses are also available if you'd like to talk things through. You can reach them on freephone 0808 800 4040 - Monday-Friday, 9-5.

    Wishing you all the best,

    Ben
    Cancer Chat Moderator

  • Hi I’m newly diagnosed and saw the oncologist last week. I’ve been offered this trial. I’m waiting to speak to  a research  nurse. Have you made any decisions about this at all? I’m very undecided. 


  • Hi

    i I decided against it for a number of reasons once I’d had my meeting. Firstly it would have delayed the start of my treatment for a minimum of another month and I was told that when the prembolizumab was added in with chemo & radiotherapy from day 1 there had been some nasty radiotherapy burns. Only 5 people were on the trial & 3 hadn’t been able to complete due to this. I also thought that if my standard treatment is only 5.5 weeks why did I need to put myself though 6 months of extra treatment. Obviously it’s your decision I just didn’t feel it was right for me. I was diagnosed on 13/9 & only start my treatment in the 18/11 so I didn’t want delay it anymore. 
    hope you’re doing ok. I’m finding the waiting to get started the hardest x

  • Hi thank you for replying. I’m finding it difficult getting information. Even the research nurse who called me today was quite vague about the trial. I asked about people currently receiving it and she said she couldn’t discuss it. When I first read about the trial I thought I would take everything on offer but now I’m probably going to turn it down. The side effects of the regular treatment are going to be enough to cope with. 
    I don’t have a planning appointment through yet and just want to get started. Like you I don’t want to delay any more than necessary. 
    Good luck with your treatment!

  • Thank you. Yes there’s very little info out there on it. Once I’d had my radiotherapy planning scan they said it would be 2 weeks then to start treatment. 
    keep in touch let me know how you’re getting on x