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Update – 14 months into GSK BRAF/MEK Trial

Forums General Melanoma Community Update – 14 months into GSK BRAF/MEK Trial

  • Post
    Harry in Fair Oaks
    Participant

      I'm now more than a year into this trial, and I'm doing very well.  No new tumors observed, all the soft tissue tumors are gone, and the couple of bone mets that are still seen on the CT are not showing any activity on the PET.  The drugs have proven very easy to tolerate.  While I had lots of joint pains and fevers a month or two into the trial, the only issues I now have are mild fatigue and the occasional (every couple of months) high fever.

      I'm now more than a year into this trial, and I'm doing very well.  No new tumors observed, all the soft tissue tumors are gone, and the couple of bone mets that are still seen on the CT are not showing any activity on the PET.  The drugs have proven very easy to tolerate.  While I had lots of joint pains and fevers a month or two into the trial, the only issues I now have are mild fatigue and the occasional (every couple of months) high fever.

      The initial results from the trial (as reported at ASCO) indicate that this combo of BRAF and MEK inhibitors may be more effective than a single agent (e.g. Zelboraf) and is easier to tolerate, with fewer side effects.  My experience seems to bear this out.  I hope that this treatment indeed proves effective, and that it will benefit many others.  It is becoming somewhat of a hassle to keep up with all the scans and tests and appointments, but I keep reminding myself that besides perhaps saving my own life, I'm also doing my little bit to advance knowledge.

      Best wishes,

      Harry

    Viewing 20 reply threads
    • Replies
        killmel
        Participant

          Congrats Harry, thank you for posting your good news. Gives us all hope.

          I understand that there is going to be a Phase 3 for this trial.Do you know anything about that?

          How often do you have scans & apptments for this trial??

          Continued succcess on these drug.

          A.

          killmel
          Participant

            Congrats Harry, thank you for posting your good news. Gives us all hope.

            I understand that there is going to be a Phase 3 for this trial.Do you know anything about that?

            How often do you have scans & apptments for this trial??

            Continued succcess on these drug.

            A.

            killmel
            Participant

              Congrats Harry, thank you for posting your good news. Gives us all hope.

              I understand that there is going to be a Phase 3 for this trial.Do you know anything about that?

              How often do you have scans & apptments for this trial??

              Continued succcess on these drug.

              A.

                Harry in Fair Oaks
                Participant

                  I don't have details as to when or where on the Phase 3 trial, except that the daily dose will be the same as what I'm getting (300 mg of the BRAF and 2 mg of the MEK).

                  I have clinic appointments every 4 weeks.  I get scans of chest, abdomen and pelvis every 8 weeks.  MRI of head every 16 weeks.  ECHO cardiogram every 12 weeks.  And derm exams every 8 weeks.

                  Best wishes,

                  Harry

                  Harry in Fair Oaks
                  Participant

                    I don't have details as to when or where on the Phase 3 trial, except that the daily dose will be the same as what I'm getting (300 mg of the BRAF and 2 mg of the MEK).

                    I have clinic appointments every 4 weeks.  I get scans of chest, abdomen and pelvis every 8 weeks.  MRI of head every 16 weeks.  ECHO cardiogram every 12 weeks.  And derm exams every 8 weeks.

                    Best wishes,

                    Harry

                    Harry in Fair Oaks
                    Participant

                      I don't have details as to when or where on the Phase 3 trial, except that the daily dose will be the same as what I'm getting (300 mg of the BRAF and 2 mg of the MEK).

                      I have clinic appointments every 4 weeks.  I get scans of chest, abdomen and pelvis every 8 weeks.  MRI of head every 16 weeks.  ECHO cardiogram every 12 weeks.  And derm exams every 8 weeks.

                      Best wishes,

                      Harry

                    aldakota22
                    Participant

                      Way to go Harry.Hopefully this is an answer to Zelboraf staying an affective drug against melanoma.I will keep you in my prayers that you are like the Energizer Bunny.Just keep going and going. Beat the Beast.  Al 

                      aldakota22
                      Participant

                        Way to go Harry.Hopefully this is an answer to Zelboraf staying an affective drug against melanoma.I will keep you in my prayers that you are like the Energizer Bunny.Just keep going and going. Beat the Beast.  Al 

                        aldakota22
                        Participant

                          Way to go Harry.Hopefully this is an answer to Zelboraf staying an affective drug against melanoma.I will keep you in my prayers that you are like the Energizer Bunny.Just keep going and going. Beat the Beast.  Al 

                          Richard_K
                          Participant

                            Harry

                            Great to be able to reead this kind of news, keep it up.

                            Dick

                              Laurie from maine
                              Participant

                                Great news – thank you for posting!! 

                                laurie from maine

                                Laurie from maine
                                Participant

                                  Great news – thank you for posting!! 

                                  laurie from maine

                                  Laurie from maine
                                  Participant

                                    Great news – thank you for posting!! 

                                    laurie from maine

                                  Richard_K
                                  Participant

                                    Harry

                                    Great to be able to reead this kind of news, keep it up.

                                    Dick

                                    Richard_K
                                    Participant

                                      Harry

                                      Great to be able to reead this kind of news, keep it up.

                                      Dick

                                      gabsound
                                      Participant
                                        Harry,

                                        This is indeed great news for you and other BRAF positive patients!!

                                        Julie in Las Vegas

                                        gabsound
                                        Participant
                                          Harry,

                                          This is indeed great news for you and other BRAF positive patients!!

                                          Julie in Las Vegas

                                          gabsound
                                          Participant
                                            Harry,

                                            This is indeed great news for you and other BRAF positive patients!!

                                            Julie in Las Vegas

                                            Rebecca and Bob
                                            Participant

                                              Harry,

                                               

                                              So nice to hear your positive news. We go in soon for my husbands scans and it's people like you that inspire us and give us hope! I hope you keep hearing good news and melanoma leaves you alone permanently.

                                              Congratulations!

                                              Rebecca

                                              Rebecca and Bob
                                              Participant

                                                Harry,

                                                 

                                                So nice to hear your positive news. We go in soon for my husbands scans and it's people like you that inspire us and give us hope! I hope you keep hearing good news and melanoma leaves you alone permanently.

                                                Congratulations!

                                                Rebecca

                                                Rebecca and Bob
                                                Participant

                                                  Harry,

                                                   

                                                  So nice to hear your positive news. We go in soon for my husbands scans and it's people like you that inspire us and give us hope! I hope you keep hearing good news and melanoma leaves you alone permanently.

                                                  Congratulations!

                                                  Rebecca

                                                  triciad
                                                  Participant

                                                    Harry,

                                                    Thanks for posting this encouraging news.  I just found out that I am BRAF positive, so I will keep this information in my back pocket…hopefully for a long time! I wish you continued success on this combo!  Best of luck!

                                                    Tricia

                                                    triciad
                                                    Participant

                                                      Harry,

                                                      Thanks for posting this encouraging news.  I just found out that I am BRAF positive, so I will keep this information in my back pocket…hopefully for a long time! I wish you continued success on this combo!  Best of luck!

                                                      Tricia

                                                      triciad
                                                      Participant

                                                        Harry,

                                                        Thanks for posting this encouraging news.  I just found out that I am BRAF positive, so I will keep this information in my back pocket…hopefully for a long time! I wish you continued success on this combo!  Best of luck!

                                                        Tricia

                                                        Tina D
                                                        Participant

                                                          This is encouraging news. As someone who is on Zelboraf alone at the  moment, I want to personally thank you for all of the extra effort it requires to be a part of a trial. Because of folks like you, hopefully this new combo will be approved in short arder and available for others who need it. Sooo happy for the good news for you!! Thank you for posting!!

                                                          Tina D
                                                          Participant

                                                            This is encouraging news. As someone who is on Zelboraf alone at the  moment, I want to personally thank you for all of the extra effort it requires to be a part of a trial. Because of folks like you, hopefully this new combo will be approved in short arder and available for others who need it. Sooo happy for the good news for you!! Thank you for posting!!

                                                            Tina D
                                                            Participant

                                                              This is encouraging news. As someone who is on Zelboraf alone at the  moment, I want to personally thank you for all of the extra effort it requires to be a part of a trial. Because of folks like you, hopefully this new combo will be approved in short arder and available for others who need it. Sooo happy for the good news for you!! Thank you for posting!!

                                                          Viewing 20 reply threads
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