Has anyone taken Keytruda after tumor removal?

Communities›Triple-negative Breast Cancer›Has anyone taken Keytruda after tumor removal?

MS

Community Member

2 years ago

Did anyone take Keytruda only after tumor was removed in surgery? I was misdiagnosed as Er+, Pr -, Her2 - and after my DMX its TNBC. I know standard protocol is chemo and Keytruda before surgery and continue after surgery, but it seems Keytruda only works when there is an active tumor. One cancer center is suggesting do the Keynote 522 trial even though I have no active tumor. 1 year of Keytruda with Taxol and Carboplatin then AC. Other cancer center said they would not recommend Keytruda only after surgery as it’s not proven to be beneficial after the tumor is removed. They said AC dose dense for 3 months and then Taxol and Carboplatin for 3 months. Has anyone gone through a similar situation? My concern is now that the tumor is removed I won’t know if chemo is actually working or not?

3 comments

Comment

Accepted Answer

This is such a challenging situation to navigate, especially with different medical teams providing different recommendations. Many patients in this community have faced similar decisions about adjuvant treatment timing and protocols after unexpected pathology results. The uncertainty about treatment effectiveness without measurable disease is a common concern that resonates with others who've been in comparable situations. Consider reaching out to get additional perspectives from community members who may have experienced similar treatment decisions - their insights could be valuable as you work with your medical team to determine the best path forward.

3+ patients found this helpful

HE

Community Member

6 months ago

I have TNBC stage 3. I started chemotherapy in July and finished right before thanksgiving. I was given Keytruda during each chemo. I had my left breast taken off before Christmas and began keytruda in January. I have a Keytruda infusion every three weeks and will continue until end of July. I also have lab work done on my blood before each treatment.

HE

Community Member

6 months ago

It is my understanding that the Keytruda boosts my immune system to fight against any rogue cancer cells.

1

CA

Community Member

2 months ago

This is such a challenging situation to navigate, especially with different medical teams providing different recommendations. Many patients in this community have faced similar decisions about adjuvant treatment timing and protocols after unexpected pathology results. The uncertainty about treatment effectiveness without measurable disease is a common concern that resonates with others who've been in comparable situations. Consider reaching out to get additional perspectives from community members who may have experienced similar treatment decisions - their insights could be valuable as you work with your medical team to determine the best path forward.

Has anyone taken Keytruda after tumor removal?

Related Questions