Queen of Cheese (Susan), how did the Keytruda go?

Just saw this and distressed to see you back in the hospital.  Great news about the tumor, however.  Your resilience is impressive, which I think bodes well.  And, like Donna Faye observes, that visit with your son and future DIL will be a joyous time for all.  Best wishes, Oldbeauty

Oh Cheese! Nothing is ever easy for you. So glad to hear the tumor is shrinking. If anyone can make it through the treatments, it is you. I hope they are able to give you additional meds to help with the side effects you are dealing with. I think of you often. Enjoy your visit with your son and future DIL. That kind of "medicine" feeds the soul.

Love and Hugs,

Cindi

Hi Cheese,

I'm very sorry to hear that you're experiencing significant enough side effects from the Keytruda to end you up in the hospital!!  On the other hand, I'm thrilled that your recent scan showed that the tumor is decreasing in size.  I hope that they can get the side effects under control so that you can continue on the K/L.  FYI, my childhood friend who also has endometrial cancer is having good results with the K/L combo, although she had to reduce her L to 4 mg., due to it wreaking havoc on her BP.  (She's also getting jerked around by the specialty pharmacy that for two months has been unable to get her the L on time, forcing her to miss several days' dosage.  She's now switched to another specialty pharmacy, so hopefully she won't have to go through that hassle again, in addition to dealing with all the other cancer-related issues with which she has to deal). 

Feel better soon and have a wonderful Thanksgiving week visit with your son and future DIL!!!

While the hospitalization sucks, I am glad the tumor is shrinking.  I know the visit from the engaged couple will really lift your spirits.  I wish you continued success!  I admire you greatly.

CheeseQueen57 said:

In hospital again

 So more fun. I'm in the hospital with Keytruda induced colitis. Being treated with IV high dose steroids. I continue to have intractable nausea and some diarrhea. But the good news is scan showed tumor reduction. So if I can live through the side effects, maybe this cocktail will work. I'm much improved now and hopefully will be home before thanksgiving since the engaged couple will be with us for a week. Still trying to remain positive but some days are very hard. I pray for you all every night. 

Treatment is like climbing a mountain sometimes. You focus on just getting from one handhold to the next and in time you get to the top. There will probably be some scary moments along the way and some don't make it, but the prize awaiting at the top is what keeps you going and makes the risk worth it.  Susan, you seem to have more scary stretches than most, but one has to admire how you keep on going!  It's keeps the rest of us all going to see how you keep at it. If the K/L is going to work for anybody, I really have hopes that it will work for you. I just wish you didn't have to go through so much to get where you want to be.  I bet you have lost all of your Megace weight because of this! (Always looking for that silver lining )

Susan, so good to hear from you and that you are feeling a little better and the tumor shrinkage.  Prayers for that continued successes my friend.

CheeseQueen57 said:

Sad Thanksgiving

I'm feeling like crap. I just can't tolerate this regime. Feeling like it's the end of the line for me. As my family is preparing a lovely dinner, I'm afraid I won't be able to enjoy any of it. Sorry to be a downer but I feel I just don't have anymore to fight. 

Oh, Cheese, how I was hoping you would feel better and able to enjoy the time with your son and family. There is not much one can do to feel better when this disease and the treatments wear us down to our weakest point. You will have some time to decide if you want to keep up the treatment or take a break and then regroup. Just know all of us understand how you feel and we are all sending our hope for you to be better. df

CheeseQueen57 said:

Sad Thanksgiving

I'm feeling like crap. I just can't tolerate this regime. Feeling like it's the end of the line for me. As my family is preparing a lovely dinner, I'm afraid I won't be able to enjoy any of it. Sorry to be a downer but I feel I just don't have anymore to fight. 

Keeping you in my thoughts and prayers and hoping you find the strength you need at this time.

Susan, I've been through absolutely nothing like you have, but I do remember a friend who had barely survived cancer told me, "You'll reach a point during treatment when you really and honestly believe that you can't do it anymore - that there's nothing left in you to fight.  That's the day that is your lowest point.  Call me when you reach that day." I got there between chemos 5 and 6.  I called him late one night, and he said, "Ok, now listen closely.  This is your worst day, and tomorrow is going to start getting better, very slowly.  You might not even notice it, but I promise you it is.  Just watch."  I had to believe him because I was afraid to believe the opposite - and he had survived, right?  He was right, Susan.  We are like the marathoners who hit the wall at mile 20 and then suddenly realize we can make it the rest of the way.  You'll get to the top of whatever mountain trail God has you on, if you just keep climbing.  I think that can take many forms - treatment, no treatment, new treatment - but I know that God is faithful to see us through to what He has for us, and we aren't alone while we travel.  Much love to you.  Things almost always look better in the morning, according to my mom.  Check in and let me know if she's right.

Love, Wendy

Dear Susan...so very sorry to hear you have hit this wall...you have certainly been tried & tested many many times!

I dont post that often, but I follow everyone since I first came on here in 2012.

Your journey always has stood out...maybe bc you're a Mid-Atlantic East Coast girl like me.

Wendy's post really touched me & I hope it touched you. Hopefully you can grab hold of that for now.

Thoughts & prayers for things to settle down & stop stressing you out...