Patients With Cancer Urged to Ask Questions, Take Notes and Do Their Research

Betsy Hamlin is among the patients who has benefited from Keytruda Qlex ((pembrolizumab and berahyaluronidase alfa-pmph), a subcutaneous form of the drug that was recently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in adults and pediatric patients aged 12 years and older with solid tumor indications already approved for the intravenous formulation of Keytruda.

Subcutaneous administration is an injection that uses a short needle to administer medication just below the surface of the skin, while intravenous, or IV, administration goes through a vein in the arm.

Hamlin was given the treatment as part of a clinical trial after receiving a diagnosis of melanoma last year. She recently sat down with CURE for an interview to share her advice for patients considering clinical trial participation and more.

CURE: What advice or insights would you share with other patients who are facing this disease and are considering clinical trials to expand their treatment options?

Hamlin: Ask a lot of questions. Take notes. Absolutely take notes every day. You don't really want to document this part of your life and keep it forever and cherish it, pass it on to your kids or anything like that, but it is so important for your care team to know how you are feeling the two weeks before you go into your next appointment. So, if anything changes — you get a migraine, changes in how you use the restroom — it is so important for the care team that you have for them to be knowledgeable in how you are feeling, not just the day of your appointment, but however long it is between your two treatments.

Be very open with your thoughts, what you're scared of, what you're feeling, because that's really important. When you're making your decisions on what kind of treatment you need, if what they're saying to you is, “OK, so this is what we're going to do,” take it a step further. Don't just say, “OK,” say, “Hey, let's go back to point B.” If at all possible, bring somebody else with you to take those notes. It doesn't matter what treatment you get, you will get a mental fog. That's just part of it.

And if you don't have a support group, find one. There are fantastic people out there that want to sit with you, that want to be part of your journey. Absolutely go online. Do the research.

It is so important to know what maybe to expect, because the person who's having the treatments, that's not really them. They're upset, and they don't know why, and just know that they love you, even if they get upset with you. There were many times that my daughter and husband would kiss me on the cheek, and they would go, “Just text us if you need anything,” then they would go into a different room.

So do the research, but know that it's your care. Take ownership of your care, and that'll make you stronger. Absolutely, don't follow the path. Make it yours, own it and it really will make you stronger in your path and walking for sure.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

I'm super happy that Merck took these treatments a step further. I'm extremely happy at that taking what we view as cancer treatments and giving our lives back, because it truly is. I don't know what the intention was, and you know what? I don't really even care. I just want to thank the scientists for being scientists and finding another way for us to survive this horrible disease of whatever it is, lung or brain or whatever. Because truly, if we can fight it mentally, then that is 75% of the battle. So giving us that back, putting it in a shot. I mean, sounds so simple, but it really, truly is a game changer.

Transcript has been edited for clarity and conciseness.

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