A world traveler faces her most daunting journey: Endometrial cancer
(BPT) - Sponsored by GSK. Sherry is a patient with endometrial cancer who will be discussing her experience; individual experiences may vary. Sherry has been compensated by GSK for her participation in this article.
Sherry is a schoolteacher and an adventurer. In 2023, she traveled throughout her summer break. June found her whale-watching in Alaska, then biking through a national park in Maine. Next, Sherry visited World Heritage sites in Romania and Bulgaria, followed by a food tour in Istanbul. Then Sherry biked from one Tuscan village to the next, sampling wines along the way. The grand finale? Witnessing The Great Migration in Kenya - the annual trek of animals from the Serengeti to the grazing meadows of the Masai Mara.
"At night in the tent, I would lay awake listening to animal sounds," said Sherry. "It was a dream come true."
Sherry didn't know her body was undergoing a different journey. It started as vaginal bleeding after she left home, which she assumed was from travel stress or perimenopause, which is a term used to describe the transition period leading up to menopause. But it got worse, which was not normal for her.
An unexpected diagnosis
Interestingly, just before her travels, Sherry had undergone genetic testing due to her family history of cancer. Her genetic tests revealed Sherry's high risk for multiple cancers, including endometrial cancer, which is the most common type of uterine cancer. Her genetic counselor had recommended a preventive hysterectomy.
"At the time that felt drastic," Sherry remembered. "No one in my family ever had uterine cancer - or so I thought."
Sherry figured she would consider the preventive hysterectomy when she got back from traveling.
But when she returned from her summer break, she visited her gynecologist to discuss her bleeding. The doctor found uterine polyps, which Sherry then made an appointment to have removed. Unfortunately, the surgeon who removed her polyps informed her they were cancerous, and she was diagnosed with endometrial cancer. Now, Sherry needed to undergo a full hysterectomy.
What is endometrial cancer?
Endometrial cancer is a type of uterine cancer that starts when cells in the endometrium, or the inner lining of the uterus, begin growing out of control. Endometrial cancer represents over 90% of uterine cancer cases, and it's estimated there will be over 62,000 diagnoses of endometrial cancer in the U.S. in 2025.
Common symptoms of endometrial cancer include unusual vaginal bleeding or spotting, other vaginal discharge, pelvic pain and unexplained weight loss.
Because there's no routine screening test for endometrial cancer, regular gynecologic check-ups are advised, even after menopause, especially if there are any signs or symptoms such as irregular vaginal bleeding before menopause or any vaginal bleeding after menopause. Menopause is typically defined as the time after a woman goes 12 straight months without a period. A family history of endometrial cancer increases one's risk, but women with no family history can also develop it. Additional risk factors for endometrial cancer can include obesity, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), advancing age, and the use of postmenopausal estrogen therapy without progestin.
After her diagnosis, Sherry learned that her paternal grandmother had been treated for uterine cancer. "No one talked about it, so my father never knew," she added. "That's why I tell people now: Learn your family history."
Sherry's treatment journey
After the hysterectomy, Sherry learned the cancer had spread, requiring further treatment. A conversation with her doctor led Sherry to receive a combination of the chemotherapy medicines carboplatin and paclitaxel and a prescription immunotherapy called JEMPERLI (dostarlimab-gxly for injection 500 mg), which is used to treat certain adults with newly-diagnosed endometrial cancer that has spread outside their uterus (advanced) or has returned. JEMPERLI is an immunotherapy designed to work with the body's immune system to help immune cells recognize and target tumor cells.
Approved Uses
JEMPERLI is a prescription medicine used to treat adults with a kind of uterine cancer called endometrial cancer (EC)
- JEMPERLI may be used in combination with the chemotherapy medicines, carboplatin and paclitaxel, and then after that JEMPERLI may be used alone:
- when your cancer has spread outside your uterus (advanced) or,
- your cancer has returned.
- JEMPERLI may be used alone:
- when a laboratory test shows that your tumor is mismatch repair deficient (dMMR), and
- your cancer has returned, or it has spread (advanced EC), and
- you have received chemotherapy that contains platinum and it did not work or is no longer working, and
- your cancer cannot be treated by surgery or radiation.
It is not known if JEMPERLI is safe and effective in children.
JEMPERLI, in combination with the chemotherapy medicines carboplatin and paclitaxel, is the first and only FDA-approved immunotherapy combination proven to help patients with newly-diagnosed advanced or returned endometrial cancer live longer.
A clinical trial compared JEMPERLI + CP (carboplatin and paclitaxel) versus CP alone in 494 people with endometrial cancer that had spread outside the uterus (newly-diagnosed advanced) or returned, also known as the overall study population. The overall study population included people whose tumors were either dMMR/MSI-H (microsatellite instability-high) or MMRp/MSS (mismatch repair proficient)/(microsatellite stable). The clinical trial tested the effectiveness and safety of adding JEMPERLI to CP. The trial treated some patients with JEMPERLI + CP and others with a placebo (an inactive substance) + CP and then compared the results.
In the overall study population, median overall survival (OS) with JEMPERLI + CP was 45 months vs 28 months with CP alone. This difference is statistically significant, which means that the difference between the two treatment groups is greater than what might be expected by chance alone. Results varied among different biomarker groups within the overall population. Median is the middle value in a set of measurements. OS measures the average length of time patients are alive after the start of treatment. JEMPERLI + CP was not studied in comparison to other immunotherapy combinations.
Based on the results of this trial, this combination of medications was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for healthcare providers to prescribe to patients. In patients receiving JEMPERLI + CP, 19% stopped taking JEMPERLI completely and 37% had their treatment interrupted due to side effects.
Sherry's doctor discussed with her how JEMPERLI could affect her when reviewing treatment options. Because JEMPERLI is an immunotherapy, it can cause someone's immune system to attack normal organs and tissues in any area of the body. These problems can become severe or life-threatening and lead to death. More than one of these problems can occur at the same time, which may happen during or after treatment. It is important to call or see a doctor right away for any new or worsening signs or symptoms. Immune system problems can include lung problems, intestinal problems, liver problems, hormone gland problems, kidney problems, skin problems, and problems in other organs and tissues. JEMPERLI can also cause severe or life-threatening infusion reactions, rejection of a transplanted organ, and complications in people who received a bone marrow transplant that uses donor stem cells.
These are not all the potential side effects that can occur with JEMPERLI; please review the Important Safety Information below and the fullPrescribing Information, includingMedication Guide, to learn more.Learn more about additional trial results at JEMPERLI.com and ask your doctor if JEMPERLI may be right for you or a loved one.
Looking forward
Sherry continued teaching during treatment, which was challenging. "Working while undergoing treatment wasn't easy, but sitting at home would have been harder," Sherry said. "Teaching kept me busy and engaged in the world, and I needed that." She was grateful to be able to continue working during her treatment, despite the challenges, because she recognized that not everyone is able to.
Now, Sherry continues to receive a JEMPERLI infusion every six weeks. "It's another tool in my kit now - part of how I fight back against my cancer." She works closely with her doctor on her treatment schedule, including any additional appointments for monitoring. Maintaining this coordination is key, allowing her to focus on planning her next trip whenever she feels ready.
"My experience has taught me to seize the day," said Sherry. "Life is fragile, but it's also astonishing. I think often about the sound of lions breathing outside my tent, and the rush of whales spouting in Antarctica. As long as I'm here, I'll keep listening."
JEMPERLI is a medicine that may treat certain cancers by working with your immune system. JEMPERLI can cause your immune system to attack normal organs and tissues in any area of your body and can affect the way they work. These problems can sometimes become severe or life-threatening and can lead to death. You can have more than one of these problems at the same time. These problems may happen anytime during treatment or even after your treatment has ended.
Call or see your healthcare provider (HCP) right away if you develop any new or worsening signs or symptoms, including:
Lung problems. Signs and symptoms may include cough, shortness of breath, or chest pain.
Intestinal problems. Signs and symptoms may include diarrhea or more bowel movements than usual; stools that are black, tarry, sticky, or have blood or mucus; or severe stomach-area (abdomen) pain or tenderness.
Liver problems. Signs and symptoms may include yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes, severe nausea or vomiting, pain on the right side of your stomach area (abdomen), dark urine (tea colored), or bleeding or bruising more easily than usual.
Hormone gland problems. Signs and symptoms may include headaches that will not go away or unusual headaches, eye sensitivity to light, eye problems, rapid heartbeat, increased sweating, extreme tiredness, weight gain or weight loss, feeling more hungry or thirsty than usual, urinating more often than usual, hair loss, feeling cold, constipation, your voice gets deeper, dizziness or fainting, changes in mood or behavior such as decreased sex drive, irritability, or forgetfulness.
Kidney problems. Signs and symptoms may include change in the amount or color of your urine, blood in your urine, swelling in your ankles, or loss of appetite.
Skin problems. Signs and symptoms may include rash; itching; skin blistering or peeling; swollen lymph nodes; painful sores or ulcers in your mouth or in your nose, throat, or genital area; fever or flu-like symptoms.
Problems can also happen in other organs and tissues. These are not all of the signs and symptoms of immune system problems that can happen with JEMPERLI. Call or see your HCP right away for any new or worse signs or symptoms. Signs and symptoms may include chest pain, irregular heartbeat, shortness of breath, swelling of ankles; confusion, sleepiness, memory problems, changes in mood or behavior, stiff neck, balance problems, tingling or numbness of the arms or legs; double vision, blurry vision, sensitivity to light, eye pain, changes in eyesight; persistent or severe muscle pain or weakness, muscle cramps; low red blood cells, bruising.
Infusion reactions that can sometimes be severe or life-threatening. Signs and symptoms of infusion reactions may include chills or shaking, itching or rash, flushing, shortness of breath or wheezing, dizziness, feel like passing out, fever, back or neck pain.
Rejection of a transplanted organ. Your HCP should tell you what signs and symptoms you should report and monitor you, depending on the type of organ transplant that you have had.
Complications, including graft-versus-host-disease (GVHD), in people who have received a bone marrow (stem cell) transplant that uses donor stem cells (allogeneic). These complications can be serious and can lead to death. These complications may happen if you underwent transplantation either before or after being treated with JEMPERLI. Your HCP will monitor you for these complications.
Getting medical treatment right away may help keep these problems from becoming more serious. Your HCP will check you for these problems during treatment with JEMPERLI and may treat you with corticosteroid or hormone replacement medicines. If you have severe side effects, your HCP may also need to delay or completely stop treatment with JEMPERLI.
Before receiving JEMPERLI, tell your HCP about all of your medical conditions, including immune system problems such as Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, or lupus; received an organ transplant; have received or plan to receive a stem cell transplant that uses donor stem cells (allogeneic); have received radiation treatment to your chest area; have a condition that affects your nervous system, such as myasthenia gravis or Guillain-Barré syndrome.
If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, tell your HCP. JEMPERLI can harm your unborn baby. If you are able to become pregnant, your HCP will give you a pregnancy test before you start treatment. Use an effective birth control method during treatment and for 4 months after your last dose of JEMPERLI. Tell your HCP right away if you become pregnant or think you may be pregnant during treatment with JEMPERLI.
If you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed, tell your HCP. It is not known if JEMPERLI passes into your breast milk. Do not breastfeed during treatment with JEMPERLI and for 4 months after your last dose.
Tell your HCP about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
The most common side effects of JEMPERLI when given with carboplatin and paclitaxel include nerve problems in your arms, hands, legs, and feet; tiredness; nausea; hair loss; joint pain; rash; constipation; diarrhea; stomach-area (abdomen) pain; shortness of breath; decreased appetite; urinary tract infections; vomiting.
The most common side effects of JEMPERLI when used alone include tiredness and weakness, low red blood cell count (anemia), diarrhea, nausea, constipation, vomiting.
These are not all of the possible side effects of JEMPERLI. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call by 1-800-FDA-1088. You may also report negative side effects to GSK at https://gsk.public.reportum.com or 1-888-825-5249.
Please see full Prescribing Information, including Medication Guide for patients.
Source: BrandPoint
