Hi Michelle,
After over a year on Keytruda, and the complete resolution of three skin lesions and multiple nodules in one lung I wound up with cancer first in my hilar and subcarinal nodes. Nobody ever mentioned the possibility of surgery to me. Plan A from my local oncologist was radiation and more Keytruda. But throughout my journey I always have kept Dr. Sharfman at Johns Hopkins in my pocket, so I went to see him.
Like my local oncologist, Dr. Sharfman didn't offer surgery as a possibility to me. He also added that he didn't think radiation was my best option. He suggested that I apply for the anti-LAG-3 trial at Johns Hopkins. I went there for 6 months and received a combination of Opdivo and the experimental drug now called "relatlimab." Some people who have not had success with a PD-1 drug alone, or who like me stopped responding to it, have had some success on that trial. So that could be an option for you.
Unfortunately it didn't work for me, and after six months, and two consecutive scans showing progression, I was taken out of the trial. I write this to you tonight from my room at NIH, where tomorrow I begin the chemo regimen to start the TIL trial here.
I wish I could tell you that surgery is an option, but in my case at least it wasn't. See if there are any trials you would qualify for, and talk to your doctor about them. That might be your best option.
-Bill
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