If you’re prescribed the immunotherapy drug Keytruda to treat your cancer, you may wonder how long the treatment will last. The length of your treatment can vary depending on certain factors.
Most people receive Keytruda infusions for up to 2 years. But in some cases, treatment may last longer if there’s evidence that the drug is still effective and the side effects are minimal.
On the other hand, if Keytruda is not effective for you or is causing unmanageable side effects, your doctor may stop your treatment before the 2-year mark. In this case, your doctor may have you switch to a different treatment. They can discuss other treatment options with you. (To learn more about Keytruda’s side effects, see this article.)
If your doctor thinks your cancer isn’t likely to be well managed with Keytruda or other cancer treatments, they may recommend
If you and your doctor determine that you’ll end your Keytruda treatment, it will likely take around 4 months for the drug to be completely cleared from your body.
During this time, you may still experience side effects from Keytruda. If you have side effects that are bothersome or don’t go away over time, talk with your doctor about ways to manage them.
Keytruda does not cure cancer — instead, the goal of treatment is to prevent your cancer from spreading, growing, or worsening. Life expectancy after stopping Keytruda infusions may vary, but the drug’s benefits may continue even after your treatment ends.
For example, a study of people receiving immunotherapy drugs for colorectal cancer included some people receiving pembrolizumab (the active ingredient in Keytruda). The study had the following results:
- In 98% of people, cancer did not worsen within 1 year after stopping immunotherapy treatment.
- In 91% of people, cancer did not worsen within 2 years after stopping immunotherapy treatment.
- In 84% of people, cancer did not worsen within 3 years after stopping immunotherapy treatment.
This study included people who received immunotherapy for colorectal cancer only, and some people received drugs other than pembrolizumab (Keytruda).
Keytruda is used to treat many types of cancer, so your results from the drug may vary depending on the condition it’s treating and other factors. If you have questions about what to expect after stopping Keytruda treatment, talk with your doctor.
Your Keytruda treatment may last for around 2 years, but certain factors may mean that you’ll receive the drug for a longer or shorter time. If you have questions about what to expect from your Keytruda treatment, talk with your doctor.