zelboraf roll call

Hi Boots,

zelboraf is the new name for BRAF-Rouche, approved Aug.2011. The side effects below have been reported my MPIPERS. Hopefully someof them willpost for you. I think that these side effects are very real tomany people soyou must take them seriously when deciding on taking zelboraf. Where are you being treatd??

Good Luck

http://www.aimatmelanoma.org/aim-for-answers/physican-blog/1870.html 
 
BRAF Inhibitors Side Effects and Management 
Dr. Kim Margolin 
Professor of Medicine - University of Washington 
Member of Division of Clinical Research 
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center 
 
The discovery of a gene mutation in about half of all melanomas that causes 
uncontrolled activity of the BRAF protein led to the development of powerful 
drugs to stop the growth of melanoma cells that depend on that pathway for their 
survival. One such drug, vemurafenib, has provided a major reduction in tumors 
in about 50% of the patients receiving it and a more modest tumor reduction 
among another 20% of the patients. 
 
 
 
Drugs of this class are called "targeted", since they are relatively specific 
for a particular cancer cell pathway. They are given orally and do not cause 
typical chemotherapy side effects like hair loss and low blood counts, but they 
can cause other annoying and even dangerous side effects that need to be managed 
with other interventions or with dose reductions. 
 
 
 
The most common side effects are fatigue, altered taste sensation, and a variety 
of skin changes, including extreme sun sensitivity requiring not only high SPF 
sunscreen but, in some individuals, almost complete avoidance of any exposure to 
sunlight. Many patients develop thick, sometimes painful calluses on the palms 
and soles of the feet that appear yellow and may leave very tender skin 
underneath when the calluses peel off. Other areas, such as the chest, neck and 
face, can develop raised pink bumps with rough surfaces, sometimes with 
prominent growth in one or more spots that turns into a very non-aggressive type 
of non-melanoma skin cancer. These should be removed surgically but are not 
life-threatening. 
 
 
 
Some patients develop signs of inflammation such as painful swollen joints, 
fever, and chills, that often go away without treatment but may require a short 
course of steroids to suppress the inflammatory symptoms. While most patients 
can tolerate these drugs well over long periods of time, some patients will 
experience symptoms requiring other medications taken orally or applied to the 
skin. It is important that all patients on these medications remain in close 
communication with their treating team. 
 

Hi Boots,

zelboraf is the new name for BRAF-Rouche, approved Aug.2011. The side effects below have been reported my MPIPERS. Hopefully someof them willpost for you. I think that these side effects are very real tomany people soyou must take them seriously when deciding on taking zelboraf. Where are you being treatd??

Good Luck

http://www.aimatmelanoma.org/aim-for-answers/physican-blog/1870.html 
 
BRAF Inhibitors Side Effects and Management 
Dr. Kim Margolin 
Professor of Medicine - University of Washington 
Member of Division of Clinical Research 
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center 
 
The discovery of a gene mutation in about half of all melanomas that causes 
uncontrolled activity of the BRAF protein led to the development of powerful 
drugs to stop the growth of melanoma cells that depend on that pathway for their 
survival. One such drug, vemurafenib, has provided a major reduction in tumors 
in about 50% of the patients receiving it and a more modest tumor reduction 
among another 20% of the patients. 
 
 
 
Drugs of this class are called "targeted", since they are relatively specific 
for a particular cancer cell pathway. They are given orally and do not cause 
typical chemotherapy side effects like hair loss and low blood counts, but they 
can cause other annoying and even dangerous side effects that need to be managed 
with other interventions or with dose reductions. 
 
 
 
The most common side effects are fatigue, altered taste sensation, and a variety 
of skin changes, including extreme sun sensitivity requiring not only high SPF 
sunscreen but, in some individuals, almost complete avoidance of any exposure to 
sunlight. Many patients develop thick, sometimes painful calluses on the palms 
and soles of the feet that appear yellow and may leave very tender skin 
underneath when the calluses peel off. Other areas, such as the chest, neck and 
face, can develop raised pink bumps with rough surfaces, sometimes with 
prominent growth in one or more spots that turns into a very non-aggressive type 
of non-melanoma skin cancer. These should be removed surgically but are not 
life-threatening. 
 
 
 
Some patients develop signs of inflammation such as painful swollen joints, 
fever, and chills, that often go away without treatment but may require a short 
course of steroids to suppress the inflammatory symptoms. While most patients 
can tolerate these drugs well over long periods of time, some patients will 
experience symptoms requiring other medications taken orally or applied to the 
skin. It is important that all patients on these medications remain in close 
communication with their treating team. 
 

Boots:

I am part of the BRIM 2 trial for Zelboraf since March 2010.  Following are the side effects I have experienced: mild joint pain, mild fatigue, body rash (none on face), photosensitivity, body hair loss (not head), mild neuropathy/ swelling in feet, and warts (one of which turned out to be a squamous cell carcinoma).

As of today I still have: mild body rash (none on face), photosensitivity, body hair loss (it's growing back), and mild neuropathy/ swelling in feet.

My profile gives some additional history.

Dick

Boots:

I am part of the BRIM 2 trial for Zelboraf since March 2010.  Following are the side effects I have experienced: mild joint pain, mild fatigue, body rash (none on face), photosensitivity, body hair loss (not head), mild neuropathy/ swelling in feet, and warts (one of which turned out to be a squamous cell carcinoma).

As of today I still have: mild body rash (none on face), photosensitivity, body hair loss (it's growing back), and mild neuropathy/ swelling in feet.

My profile gives some additional history.

Dick

Hi Boots,

Besides the side effects, already noted in this post, this drug was reported to ONLY work on an average between 8-10 months. Then the melaonma find another pathway & starts growing again.

Hope this helps!

A.

Hi Boots,

Besides the side effects, already noted in this post, this drug was reported to ONLY work on an average between 8-10 months. Then the melaonma find another pathway & starts growing again.

Hope this helps!

A.

Boots,

Read my profile for full details…

I completed Yervoy/ip on 7/29, RAPIDLY spiralled down…began BRAF on 8/8.

For me, it's been a miracle. 8/1 I was in the hospital drowning in lung fluid, 9/1 I'm walking the dog 5 miles! 

The U of Penn doctor, feels that I'm a late ipi responder and that BRAF in conjunction with ipi is the magic cocktail.

I know BRAF won't work forever. But I will surely take what I can get!

Best of luck,

TracyLee

Boots,

Read my profile for full details…

I completed Yervoy/ip on 7/29, RAPIDLY spiralled down…began BRAF on 8/8.

For me, it's been a miracle. 8/1 I was in the hospital drowning in lung fluid, 9/1 I'm walking the dog 5 miles! 

The U of Penn doctor, feels that I'm a late ipi responder and that BRAF in conjunction with ipi is the magic cocktail.

I know BRAF won't work forever. But I will surely take what I can get!

Best of luck,

TracyLee