This week, I faced my usual lineup of side effects after 15 doses of chemo: the uninvited duo of diarrhea and occasional bone pain. These “old friends” are manageable now, part of the routine I’ve begrudgingly adapted to. But this week also brought something new—my first dose of Keytruda without chemotherapy.
Keytruda isn’t new to me; I’ve been getting it every 21 days alongside chemo. But this time, it stood alone, and I wasn’t sure how to feel about it. Would it be smoother? Easier? A wild card? Only one way to find out
When I arrived at Mayo, the Florida weather decided to play a game of “Let’s Surprise Zandra.” It was warmer than I expected, so I ditched my beanie, threw on my sunglasses, and strutted into the building like I owned it. There’s something empowering about being a bald Black woman walking with purpose—it turns heads and garners smiles. Maybe they’re inspired by my confidence. Or maybe they just think I look like I’m about to call a board meeting. Either way, I was feeling myself!
Of course, the indoor AC brought me back to reality real quick. My head turned into an ice cube, and my beanie returned to its rightful place.
Once called back, I stuck to my infusion routine like clockwork. Love It or List It on the TV? Check. Nurse offering me ginger ale? Check. Me pretending soda would taste normal again? Nope. Ginger ale didn’t hit like it used to, and the crackers were equally uninspiring. My taste buds are still on strike, and I can’t even bribe them with nostalgia.
Keytruda, like chemo, is “made to order,” so there was a little wait for the pharmacy. No pre-meds meant we jumped straight into the infusion. An hour later, I was done and walking out the door. Compared to chemo days, it was a breeze.
I did some digging into Keytruda, and guess what? It shares a lot of side effects with chemo. WTH? Just when I thought I could start rebuilding my body, I’m reminded that Keytruda is here to keep me on my toes. My nurses reassured me that Keytruda’s side effects are significantly milder, so I’m crossing my fingers they’re right. I’ve got to stay on this ride until August, so let’s hope for smoother sailing.
This weekend, I decided to mix things up and participate in a volunteer event honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. I started the day with my new favorite “candy,” Imodium AD, praying it would keep me out of bathroom trouble. Spoiler alert: it worked! I made it through the event without incident and am still munching on my “treats” days later. Who needs gummy bears when you’ve got anti-diarrheal tablets?
With one chemo treatment left, I’m equal parts excited and realistic. The finish line is near, but I know there’s still the post-chemo injection and the dreaded side effects to endure. I keep reminding myself that this is just one phase of the journey, and brighter days are ahead.
Keytruda without chemo was a small but significant change in my routine. It gave me a glimpse of what’s to come after this chemo chapter closes. Until then, I’m holding onto hope, humor, and the promise of better days ahead.
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