Introduction 

Good quality healthcare is beneficial to all. Everyone passes through the healthcare system at some point in their lives. Patients may suffer from different kinds of health issues which may need some kind of treatment. Cancer is a very serious disease which can often be debilitating for a person and sometimes even lead to death. During the patient’s treatment, they may be given different medications. Keytruda is a medication that may be given to cancer patients. It is a kind of humanized antibody which is employed in cancer immunotherapy. It is used for treating melanoma, lung cancer, head and neck cancer, Hodgkin lymphoma, stomach cancer, cervical cancer, and some types of breast cancer. 

Keytruda

What is Keytruda?

Keytruda or pembrolizumab injection is a medication classified into a group of medicines called monoclonal antibodies. Pembrolizumab helps a person’s immune system and slows or inhibits the growth and spread of cancer cells in the body. Pembrolizumab is a kind of immunotherapy that blocks the PD-1 (programmed death receptor-1) receptor, which helps it stop cancer cells from hiding from the person’s immune system. 

When is Keytruda given to a person?

Keytruda is usually afforded to people when cancer they are suffering from has spread to other body parts from its original location. It is also given to a patient when cancer in their body can’t be treated with any surgical procedure or radiation or when other cancer treatments have not worked for the patient or have stopped working.

For some forms of cancer that a person may be suffering from, Keytruda is given only in case their tumour tests positive for “PD-L1”. It is also given to a person or patient if the tumour has been tested for a specific genetic marker (including “EGFR,” “ALK,” “HER2/neu,” or “TMB”). The doctor or qualified medical expert may thoroughly evaluate the sort of cancer a person has, their past treatment history and other treatments available to help with their health situation to try and determine if Keytruda may be suitable. 

Keytruda price in India or Keytruda cost in India

One may want to know about Keytruda price in India or Keytruda cost in India. Keytruda price in India or Keytruda cost in India may be important to people or patients currently taking the medication for many reasons. The costs of treatments these days are quite high, especially the costs for treatments that are related to cancer. Costs of medical treatments have also risen steeply since the coronavirus pandemic, where the healthcare structures in the country and around the world felt and experienced great pressure when it came to the treatments of patients. The healthcare industry also experiences a lot of pressure and has done more so in the past few years with the pandemic and the steep rise in the world’s population. A person may want to check Keytruda price in India or Keytruda cost in India in advance so they know they have enough financial means to afford it or just to know about it in general. Keytruda price in India or Keytruda cost in India may also help a person find the best treatment options.

Keytruda price in India or Keytruda cost in India is: 

  • MRP ₹197,250.00

Keytruda price in India or Keytruda cost in India may be very useful to know. You may want to know about the Keytruda price in India or the Keytruda cost in India. You may approach your local pharmacist, doctor, or any other medical expert with the right qualifications to prescribe Keytruda to a person and offer suitable insight regarding Keytruda price in India or Keytruda cost in India. You can also search about Keytruda price in India or Keytruda cost in India online. You may further also discuss and ascertain Keytruda’s price in India or Keytruda’s cost in India from government authorities providing financial assistance. In these ways, you will be able to be sure about Keytruda price in India or Keytruda cost in India.

Keytruda side effects

The primary purpose of any medication is to have positive effects on a patient so that they may be able to be treated properly and recover from the health issue they are facing. While this may almost always happen when a person takes a medication, alongside the positive effects of the drug, a person may also sometimes experience negative effects of the medication that are often referred to as side effects of that particular medication.

A person may also experience Keytruda side effects. Keytruda side effects may cause different kinds of issues for the patient, especially if they are severe in nature. It is helpful to know about Keytruda side effects because if a person knows what will happen if they are experiencing Keytruda side effects, they will be able to recognize them much more easily. By recognizing Keytruda side effects, they will know how to approach them in advance. They may also be able to get medical assistance for the Keytruda side effects they are experiencing, especially if they are severe in nature.

Keytruda causes your immune system to attack tumour cells, but it could also attack healthy cells that may affect the working or functioning of the organs and tissues in a person’s body. This may sometimes lead to serious or life-threatening issues and affect the lungs, liver, pancreas, kidneys, intestines, thyroid, or adrenal glands.

Keytruda use may often lead to side effects that are severe in nature. You must contact or approach your doctor as soon as you can if you experience any of the following:

  • Cough, pain in the chest region, shortness of breath
  • Pale skin, easily and unusually bruising or bleeding 
  • Pain in muscles, cramps, weakness, and difficulty moving the neck
  • Unclear vision and other kinds of vision issues 
  • confusion, sleep or memory problems, changes in mood or behaviour, balance problems;
  • Numbness, tingling, burning pain, redness, rash, or blisters on your hands or feet;
  • Fever or flu-like symptoms, swelling of glands, sores in mouth, throat, nose, or genital area
  • Upset stomach, stomach pain, bloody or tarry stools
  • Feeling unwell, with pain or swelling region of organ transplant if you have had one 
  • High blood sugar, which leads to feeling unusually thirsty, increased urination, dry mouth, unusual smelling breath 
  • Kidney problems that lead to swelling, blood in urine, reduction in the amount of urination, loss of appetite, feeling tired or short of breath;
  • liver problems = swelling around your midsection, right-sided upper stomach pain, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-coloured stools, jaundice 
  • Hormonal problems that lead to headaches, light sensitivity, eye problems, increased rate of heartbeat, increased sweating, extreme tiredness, unusual changes in weight, increased hunger or thirst, increased urination, loss of hair, loss of thermoregulation, feeling constipated, deepened voice, feeling dizzy, fainting, fall in sex drive
  • Low red blood cells or anaemia lead to pale skin, tiredness, light-headedness or shortness of breath, and cold hands and feet.

Cancer treatments may often be delayed or permanent if you have certain side effects.

Common Keytruda side effects (some are more likely with combination chemotherapy) may include:

  • Feeling nauseous, vomiting, pain in the stomach, appetite loss, upset stomach constipation, loss of weight
  • low sodium levels in the blood, abnormal levels of thyroid, liver and kidney function tests
  • Reduced counts of blood cells 
  • Feeling tingly or numb in hands, feet
  • Losing mobility in arms and legs
  • Unusual bleeding
  • Feeling uncomfortable when urinating 
  • Feeling feverish, headache, feeling weak or tired, dizzy, difficulty sleeping
  • Cough, hoarse voice, short of breath
  • Changes in taste, dry skin and eyes
  • Itching, loss of hair, rashes or blisters on hands, feet
  • Raised blood pressure
  • Pain in muscles, bones, or joints
  • Sores in the mouth, swelling of mouth, nose, eyes, throat, intestines or vagina

This is not a list of all the Keytruda side effects, and others may occur. If you have any more questions related to Keytruda side effects or may have doubts about the Keytruda side effects listed above, you can contact a doctor or a suitable medical professional about the same. They will be able to provide you with guidance and information related to the same. Also, if you are experiencing or suspect you are experiencing Keytruda side effects, you must closely monitor your health. You must get medical assistance for the same as soon as you can, especially if the Keytruda side effects that you are experiencing persist and become more severe with time.

Can Keytruda side effects be life-threatening?

Keytruda may sometimes lead to Keytruda side effects or reactions that could be serious or even threaten a person’s life and even sometimes occur when a person is being given the injection for it. Some kinds of Keytruda side effects experienced by the person may even need to be treated using other types of medication. When the patient is receiving the necessary medical assistance for the Keytruda side effects that they are experiencing, their cancer treatments may often be delayed as a result. One may also need to do medical from time to time. These tests may help the doctor or suitable medical professional that is overlooking your treatment to be able to determine if it is safe for you to keep being given Keytruda or whether some alternate route may need to be taken for the treatment and hopeful cure of the patient. 

You must approach or inform your doctor as soon as you can in case you experience any kinds of skin issues, problems that are related to eyesight, fever, glands that are swollen, difficulty moving parts of the body like your neck, pain in the chest region, persistent cough, feeling short of breath for no apparent reason, pain in muscles or joints, paleness of skin, feeling weak without reason, upset stomach, stomach pain that is or becomes more severe with time, blood in stools, bruising, bleeding, yellowing of skin or eyes, hormonal disorder, or some kind of change in the amount or colour of urine.

Keytruda uses 

Every medication is used, usually for treating some health issue. There are also some Keytruda uses. Keytruda may be used on its own or in amalgamation with other medicines to afford treatments for different health issues. 

Some notable Keytruda uses are:

  • Some kinds of skin cancers (melanoma, Merkel cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma) 
  • Cancer in the lung region 
  • Cancers affecting the head and neck of a person 
  • Hodgkin lymphoma 
  • Primary mediastinal large B- cell lymphoma
  • Cancer affecting the kidney, bladder, and urinary tract
  • Colorectal cancer
  • Suffer from or have suffered from liver cancer 
  • Triple-negative breast cancer 
  • Cancer of the cervical region or uterus
  • Cancer affecting the stomach or oesophagus 
  • A kind of cancer that laboratory tests prove to have mutations in DNA

The above list may not cover all Keytruda uses, and a patient may also be given this medication for other purposes depending on the doctor’s or healthcare professional’s medical opinion. You may like to know more about Keytruda uses too. You may approach your doctor or a suitable medical professional in this case. They will be able to provide you with information and guidance when it comes to Keytruda uses. One must remember that Keytruda uses could be different for different patients. Keytruda will not be the same for everyone. The Keytruda uses availed may generally depend on a person’s health condition, age, weight, and height, among other aspects. 

Keytruda benefits 

A person may benefit in some way when they are consuming, taking or being given some kind of medication. There are also some Keytruda benefits. Understanding Keytruda benefits is important to fully comprehend the aim, nature, and reason for using certain medicine. By understanding Keytruda benefits, one may also be able to understand why this drug is suitable for them.

In case you have any doubts or would like to know more about Keytruda benefits, you may contact or approach a doctor or any other kind of medical professional that is qualified to give you advice and guidance on the same. They will be able to also help you understand the types of Keytruda benefits that may be useful and helpful for your health condition. 

What must I inform my doctor about before I take Keytruda?

In order to ensure that Keytruda is safe and will not cause any harmful reactions or issues for you, you must inform your doctor about or if you have had any of the following conditions:

  • Have some kind of autoimmune disorder like rheumatoid arthritis, Chron’s disease, ulcerative colitis or psoriasis 
  • Have received or may be receiving a stem cell transplant by using stem cells that have been taken from a donor 
  • Have you received or are due to receive a transplant for an organ 
  • Have you been given radiation in your chest region 
  • Have or have suffered from any kind of nerve-muscle disorder like myasthenia garvis or Guillain-Barré syndrome 

This list may not be exhaustive of everything that you may want to or should inform your doctor about. In case you think you may be experiencing or have any other kind of health issue that you think may be relevant to Keytruda intake or relevant to your treatment, you must inform your doctor or medical authority carrying out your treatment about this. 

Can I become pregnant while having Keytruda or taking it while pregnant?

It is generally not recommended to take Keytruda while you are pregnant or expecting to have a child soon. Keytruda could pass from the pregnant person to the fetus or baby that has not been born yet. This may harm the fetus or unborn baby, causing all kinds of issues. These issues could range from cognitive issues to problems relating to the unborn child’s development. You may need to do a pregnancy test to ensure you are not pregnant before taking Keytruda.

It is also important that you use proper contraception methods while taking Keytruda and for at least 4 months after your last dose. It is best not to engage in sexual activities or try to have a child, or try to get pregnant while you are being given Keytruda. You must approach or inform your doctor as soon as possible if you become pregnant while taking Keytruda. It is important to take as few risks as possible when it comes to pregnancy to avoid any unwanted situations, harm, or risks to your child or baby. 

How is Keytruda given to a person?

Keytruda may be given by infusion into a vein of the patient. They will normally be afforded once every 3 to 6 weeks unless the doctor or medical professional is overlooking your treatment. A doctor or trained medical professional will give you the necessary injection for Keytruda. It would be best if you did not administer this injection to yourself and only received it at a proper hospital or medical facility that is considered suitable to do so. This drug is generally given to the patient in a slow manner over a period of 30 minutes.

Will a person be given periodic medical tests while taking Keytruda?

One may require periodic medical tests when being given Keytruda. These periodic medical tests will assist a doctor in determining if it is safe for a person to keep receiving Keytruda. You must also make sure to attend your appointments on time and not miss any follow-up visits with your doctor or medical professional. This will ensure that treatment is working on the patient in the way it should and that no unnecessary or unwanted effects of the drug are being experienced.

What must I do if I miss a dose of Keytruda?

You must try to attend your appointments to be given Keytruda on time. This is important so that the treatment you are being given has the intended effect, your health condition improves, and you are cured as soon as possible in the best-case scenario. In case you miss a dose, however, for different reasons like some commitments, forgetting to attend, or something else, you must inform your doctor or medical professional who is treating and overlooking your use of this medication. Your doctor or the medical professional may be able to give you the necessary instructions relating to the missed dose of Keytruda and possibly also set up another appointment for you so that you can receive the Keytruda injection.

What will happen if I overdose on Keytruda?

Keytruda is given to a person by a trained medical professional or an experienced doctor. If you overdose on Keytruda and are given too much of the drug, you will most likely be asked to remain in the hospital or medical facility where you received the injection. In a medical setting, the situation of an overdose when it comes to Keytruda may be able to be addressed quickly and without much stress or problem.

What must a person avoid while being given Keytruda?

One must follow their doctor’s instructions when it comes to any kind of restrictions on food, beverages, or activities. One may usually be recommended to avoid substances like alcohol as it may often react with medicines. You must inform your doctor about any other unusual substances you may be consuming while taking Keytruda to avoid unwanted reactions or threats to your health and well-being. 

Conclusion

Keytruda is an important medication. It is a medication that is often very critical in the treatment of cancer patients to help the state of their health improve and hopefully even cure them of the kind of health impediment or health issue they are facing. By understanding how much ever we can about Keytruda, a person that has been prescribed the same will ensure that they have done what they can from their side to ensure that the treatment they are being afforded is as smooth as possible. It will also ensure that the doctor or medical professional giving the patient the treatment can perform their tasks and smoothly provide their services because of reduced confusion and the need to explain everything to the patient. This will ensure that the treatment works in the way it should, has the intended effect on the patient and leads to their hopeful cure in the best-case scenario. Impact Guru the crowdfunding platform can help you get fundraising benefits.