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Keytruda “Live Feed”
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Keytruda “Live Feed”

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  • Post
    • October 10, 2017 at 10:49 pm
    TexMelanomex
    Participant

      So, I thought I would do something a little different. I realized that there are so many unkowns to all of us as we go through treatment and it might be helpful to some to shine a little light on one of the unknowns, at least as I experience it. So, I will be logging my first Pembro (Keytruda) infusion so that people might know a little more about what to expect.

      1700: Taken back into my infusion room at MDA, much better than I anticipated since I thought I would be sitting in a chair amongst several chairs and IV trees. Adjustable bed, TV with on demand movies, warm blankets, pretty swank!

      1705: Saline drip started while awaiting pharmacy delivery of Keytruda.

      1715: Keytruda arrives and let the healing begin!!

      1720: Nothing noticeable, no weird tastes, burning, or sensations. Nothing noticeably different from the Saline drip.

      1730: My hair turned neon green and I have x-ray vision now! Ok, not true. Still nothing noticeable.

      1735: Room service cruised by and gave me a sandwich and chips with drink…now this is more like it. Turkey on wheat, Jack Reacher 2 playing, and WiFi signal quite strong.

      1745: About to wrap this up and hoping room service will make one more pass 🙂 Still nothing in terms of reactions or really anything, at all.

      1805: Well that concludes installment one of the "Live Feed". If any of you are worried about Keytruda infusions, I can tell you based on what I just experienced, the infusion itself is very, very, unremarkable and I pray that the results are quite the opposite!  I will post later about the PV-10 injection…whole different animal that was!

       

      Tex

       

       

    Viewing 4 reply threads
    • Replies
        • October 11, 2017 at 12:25 am
        MichelleRHG
        Participant
          Well, if a good attitude has anything to do with healing then you’ve got this melanoma beat!
          • October 11, 2017 at 12:29 am
          brendon
          Participant

            Thanks for sharing this Tex, a great idea. I had a Keytruda infusion today too – my 4th. I call it my 'healing juice'. Up here in Seattle I have a similarly unremarkable experience with the infusion. Two differences in the procedure 1) no saline drip while waiting for the pharmacy delivery, and 2) no room service food (although they do offer to get snacks/water).

              • October 11, 2017 at 1:19 am
              TexMelanomex
              Participant

                Brendon,

                "Healing Juice", I dig it! I'm glad you are handling it well! I'd love to compare notes and we take this journey. 

                Tex

                 

              • October 11, 2017 at 3:03 am
              MovingOn
              Participant

                I’m definitely interested in how the PV-10 injects go? Do they use any imaging to make sure they are in the lesion (or maybe they just need to get close). I’m going to be getting T-VEC injections soon and so your experience will be great to hear.

                  • October 11, 2017 at 5:22 am
                  TexMelanomex
                  Participant

                    I'll post a detailed description of the process, but in a word…OUCH. These injections do not feel good. I should qualify that by saying that I received the maximum dose in a large lesion just under my collar bone and while the doc was clear about the fact that these usually do hurt, my case was probably a little more intense (given the location and amount). Because the lesion was 4.5cmx4cm and relatively easy to see and feel they did it right there in clinic (no ultrasound) and I suspect over the three injections most of it went into the lesion and some over, under, and around it. I don't know if TVEC feels anything like this and it was not the needle itself that hurt, it was definitely the PV-10. At the risk of discouraging people from it since it is potentially very effective, I will say that it hurts like crazy for about 15-20 minutes and then begins to back down to about a 4 or 5 on the pain scale and after a few hours its pretty tolerable maybe like a 2 or 3. The doc said expect it to be "tender for a few days". The PV-10 also "stains" the skin and area around the injection and turns your urine an exotic shade of pink (after all, it is rose bengal stain)…not sure how long that will last either. Like I said to Dr. Ross, if it works, I really don't care how painful it is! Interesingly, I was more worried about the Keytruda and really wasn't worried at all about the PV-10…I think I had it backwards.

                    Tex

                    • October 11, 2017 at 4:00 pm
                    94z28joe
                    Participant

                      I've had 8 TVEC injection sessions so far and they arent bad. I've had no side effects and go to the gym the same day for heavy workouts. I get them in my face on my cheek close to my ear. They put numbing cream on that area for 30 mins while the TVEC defrost then they inject the spot or spots in my case. It has been working so far for me my little specks have gotten smaller to where they have almost disappeared. So far the first treatment thats actually done something for me. 

                    • October 11, 2017 at 2:39 pm
                    iskitwo
                    Participant

                      Good Idea!! Sometimes the unknow is what makes it scary. 

                      • October 11, 2017 at 4:46 pm
                      Jahendry12
                      Participant

                        Thanks for the update.  Please keep us posted and prayers that these treatments kick mel's butt!

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