11 weeks on Zelboraf.
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11 weeks on Zelboraf.

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › 11 weeks on Zelboraf.

  • Post
    • May 22, 2012 at 6:54 pm
    himynameiskevin
    Participant

    Tomorrow will be exactly 11 weeks on Zelboraf. And over a month completely steroid-free. So far so good I think. Side effects have been tolerable.. random joint pains, some worse than others that seem to switch up locations every couple days and the bottoms of my feet feel bruised. Some mornings upon waking, I can barely walk on them, but usually as the day goes by and the more I walk, the pain fades. Today for the first time, they almost feel fine. That's about it for noticeable side effects. My PET/CT scan done in mid April showed shrinkage and less activity in all the lung tumors.

    Tomorrow will be exactly 11 weeks on Zelboraf. And over a month completely steroid-free. So far so good I think. Side effects have been tolerable.. random joint pains, some worse than others that seem to switch up locations every couple days and the bottoms of my feet feel bruised. Some mornings upon waking, I can barely walk on them, but usually as the day goes by and the more I walk, the pain fades. Today for the first time, they almost feel fine. That's about it for noticeable side effects. My PET/CT scan done in mid April showed shrinkage and less activity in all the lung tumors. And nothing new anywhere else. I had an brain MRI done May 1st that showed continuous shrinkage and fading in the tiny brain tumors. Most likely thanks to the SRS. But there were a couple miniscule questionable "spots" that weren't SRS-ed that have shrunk or disappeared as well, definetly attributed to the Zelboraf. So I'm thankful. So I'm 11 weeks in and no scheduled scan set… I'm sure I'll be having another Brain MRI in the next month or two. As they stretch out the time between scans, I can't help but worry from time to time about this stuff's effectiveness fading away and what options will be left and/or available. But hopefully it won't resort to that. Thanks to Dick and a couple others on here who seem to be having a lasting and durable response, you give me hope. I think about you all, multiple times, daily. Today is actually my birthday.. I made it another year. 🙂 Thank you all for the ongoing support. The help and hope is the best gift I could ask for. 

    -Kevin 

Viewing 47 reply threads
  • Replies
      • May 22, 2012 at 7:13 pm
      SoCalDave
      Participant

      Happy Birthday Kevin! 

      Glad you're feeling so good, all things considered!

      And many more!….

      Dave

      • May 22, 2012 at 7:13 pm
      SoCalDave
      Participant

      Happy Birthday Kevin! 

      Glad you're feeling so good, all things considered!

      And many more!….

      Dave

      • May 22, 2012 at 7:13 pm
      SoCalDave
      Participant

      Happy Birthday Kevin! 

      Glad you're feeling so good, all things considered!

      And many more!….

      Dave

      • May 22, 2012 at 7:31 pm
      Richard_K
      Participant
      Hey Kevin
      Happy Birthday! Here’s to many more.
      Dick
      • May 22, 2012 at 7:31 pm
      Richard_K
      Participant
      Hey Kevin
      Happy Birthday! Here’s to many more.
      Dick
      • May 22, 2012 at 7:31 pm
      Richard_K
      Participant
      Hey Kevin
      Happy Birthday! Here’s to many more.
      Dick
      • May 22, 2012 at 8:08 pm
      hope4cure1
      Participant

      What a great birthday message to celebrate!!  Keep it up, Kevin 🙂

      Hope

      • May 22, 2012 at 8:08 pm
      hope4cure1
      Participant

      What a great birthday message to celebrate!!  Keep it up, Kevin 🙂

      Hope

      • May 22, 2012 at 8:08 pm
      hope4cure1
      Participant

      What a great birthday message to celebrate!!  Keep it up, Kevin 🙂

      Hope

      • May 22, 2012 at 9:41 pm
      aldakota22
      Participant

      Happy Birthday Kevin.Think of "Z" as a bridge to the next step on your way to NED.My birthday is this Sunday and I  have been on the drug since 9/10/11..I also see Dick as inspiration  with his success.Pray we are all  here in good health next year.All the best.   Al

      • May 22, 2012 at 9:41 pm
      aldakota22
      Participant

      Happy Birthday Kevin.Think of "Z" as a bridge to the next step on your way to NED.My birthday is this Sunday and I  have been on the drug since 9/10/11..I also see Dick as inspiration  with his success.Pray we are all  here in good health next year.All the best.   Al

      • May 22, 2012 at 9:41 pm
      aldakota22
      Participant

      Happy Birthday Kevin.Think of "Z" as a bridge to the next step on your way to NED.My birthday is this Sunday and I  have been on the drug since 9/10/11..I also see Dick as inspiration  with his success.Pray we are all  here in good health next year.All the best.   Al

      • May 22, 2012 at 9:54 pm
      lhaley
      Participant

      Glad to hear you are doing well!  Happy Birthday!!

      Linda

      • May 22, 2012 at 9:54 pm
      lhaley
      Participant

      Glad to hear you are doing well!  Happy Birthday!!

      Linda

      • May 22, 2012 at 9:54 pm
      lhaley
      Participant

      Glad to hear you are doing well!  Happy Birthday!!

      Linda

      • May 22, 2012 at 10:44 pm
      James from Sydney
      Participant

      Happy B'day Kevin, that BRAF can work a long time for some i know people over here are going strong nearly 2 years down the track so just keep living buddy. Not sure if you are doing a MEK as well but that is always another option to add to the mix if your Docs think it appropriate.

      best wishes

      James

      • May 22, 2012 at 10:44 pm
      James from Sydney
      Participant

      Happy B'day Kevin, that BRAF can work a long time for some i know people over here are going strong nearly 2 years down the track so just keep living buddy. Not sure if you are doing a MEK as well but that is always another option to add to the mix if your Docs think it appropriate.

      best wishes

      James

      • May 22, 2012 at 10:44 pm
      James from Sydney
      Participant

      Happy B'day Kevin, that BRAF can work a long time for some i know people over here are going strong nearly 2 years down the track so just keep living buddy. Not sure if you are doing a MEK as well but that is always another option to add to the mix if your Docs think it appropriate.

      best wishes

      James

      • May 22, 2012 at 11:32 pm
      Karin L
      Participant

      Happy Birthday Kevin….loving your post!  So glad you are doing well.

      Karin

      • May 22, 2012 at 11:32 pm
      Karin L
      Participant

      Happy Birthday Kevin….loving your post!  So glad you are doing well.

      Karin

      • May 22, 2012 at 11:32 pm
      Karin L
      Participant

      Happy Birthday Kevin….loving your post!  So glad you are doing well.

      Karin

      • May 22, 2012 at 11:33 pm
      triciad
      Participant

      It is wonderful to hear this news!  Happy Birthday and here's to many more decades of future birthdays to celebrate!!!

       

      Tricia

      • May 22, 2012 at 11:33 pm
      triciad
      Participant

      It is wonderful to hear this news!  Happy Birthday and here's to many more decades of future birthdays to celebrate!!!

       

      Tricia

      • May 22, 2012 at 11:33 pm
      triciad
      Participant

      It is wonderful to hear this news!  Happy Birthday and here's to many more decades of future birthdays to celebrate!!!

       

      Tricia

      • May 22, 2012 at 11:41 pm
      washoegal
      Participant

      Good to hear from you Kevin.  Keep up that attitude.  I have to believe you will kick this thing.

      Mary

      Stage 3

      • May 22, 2012 at 11:41 pm
      washoegal
      Participant

      Good to hear from you Kevin.  Keep up that attitude.  I have to believe you will kick this thing.

      Mary

      Stage 3

      • May 22, 2012 at 11:41 pm
      washoegal
      Participant

      Good to hear from you Kevin.  Keep up that attitude.  I have to believe you will kick this thing.

      Mary

      Stage 3

      • May 23, 2012 at 1:09 am
      Eileen L
      Participant

      Happy Birthday Kevin!

      Eileen L

      • May 23, 2012 at 1:09 am
      Eileen L
      Participant

      Happy Birthday Kevin!

      Eileen L

      • May 23, 2012 at 1:09 am
      Eileen L
      Participant

      Happy Birthday Kevin!

      Eileen L

      • May 23, 2012 at 12:20 pm
      AllyNTAus
      Participant
      Happy birthday Kevin and wishing you all the best for continuing positive news
      • May 23, 2012 at 12:20 pm
      AllyNTAus
      Participant
      Happy birthday Kevin and wishing you all the best for continuing positive news
      • May 23, 2012 at 12:20 pm
      AllyNTAus
      Participant
      Happy birthday Kevin and wishing you all the best for continuing positive news
      • May 23, 2012 at 4:59 pm
      H555
      Participant

      Congratulations Kevin. I'm at week 7 with Zelboraf and feeling a lot better. it's hope inspiring to read your posts. Ron

      • May 23, 2012 at 4:59 pm
      H555
      Participant

      Congratulations Kevin. I'm at week 7 with Zelboraf and feeling a lot better. it's hope inspiring to read your posts. Ron

      • May 23, 2012 at 4:59 pm
      H555
      Participant

      Congratulations Kevin. I'm at week 7 with Zelboraf and feeling a lot better. it's hope inspiring to read your posts. Ron

      • May 25, 2012 at 2:40 pm
      MaryD
      Participant

      Hi Kevin,

      First of all – hope you had a wonderful birthday and that you celebrated doing something special for yourself!  

      As always you continue to inspire all of us and it's great to hear that the Zelboraf is doing it's work and shrinking those mets.  

      Sending good thoughts and prayers  always . . .

      Mary

       

       

      • May 25, 2012 at 2:40 pm
      MaryD
      Participant

      Hi Kevin,

      First of all – hope you had a wonderful birthday and that you celebrated doing something special for yourself!  

      As always you continue to inspire all of us and it's great to hear that the Zelboraf is doing it's work and shrinking those mets.  

      Sending good thoughts and prayers  always . . .

      Mary

       

       

      • May 25, 2012 at 2:40 pm
      MaryD
      Participant

      Hi Kevin,

      First of all – hope you had a wonderful birthday and that you celebrated doing something special for yourself!  

      As always you continue to inspire all of us and it's great to hear that the Zelboraf is doing it's work and shrinking those mets.  

      Sending good thoughts and prayers  always . . .

      Mary

       

       

      • May 27, 2012 at 3:33 am
      ChicagoTom
      Participant

      I'm right along with you. I'm at 7 or 8 weeks of big Z and I felt better after about a week or two. I had a 7cm intestinal tumor that was causing a bit of abdominal pain. No more pain there. The foot pain is pretty annoying though. Especially with hard shoes or barefoot on hardwood/tile floors. I feel like an old man in the morning as well. Today I got a sunburn at 10am on a cloudy day, ugh. I have scans on Thursday and I'm actually looking forward to them for the first time ever. Happy Birthday and keep kicking ass!

       

      • May 27, 2012 at 3:33 am
      ChicagoTom
      Participant

      I'm right along with you. I'm at 7 or 8 weeks of big Z and I felt better after about a week or two. I had a 7cm intestinal tumor that was causing a bit of abdominal pain. No more pain there. The foot pain is pretty annoying though. Especially with hard shoes or barefoot on hardwood/tile floors. I feel like an old man in the morning as well. Today I got a sunburn at 10am on a cloudy day, ugh. I have scans on Thursday and I'm actually looking forward to them for the first time ever. Happy Birthday and keep kicking ass!

       

      • May 27, 2012 at 3:33 am
      ChicagoTom
      Participant

      I'm right along with you. I'm at 7 or 8 weeks of big Z and I felt better after about a week or two. I had a 7cm intestinal tumor that was causing a bit of abdominal pain. No more pain there. The foot pain is pretty annoying though. Especially with hard shoes or barefoot on hardwood/tile floors. I feel like an old man in the morning as well. Today I got a sunburn at 10am on a cloudy day, ugh. I have scans on Thursday and I'm actually looking forward to them for the first time ever. Happy Birthday and keep kicking ass!

       

      • May 31, 2012 at 5:19 pm
      kellygrl
      Participant

      So happy for you Kevin!! My husband had a mole which turned out to be melanoma in '03, nodes were clear, then this last Mar he had headaches & MRI that showed brain mets. We got the  MRI results yesterday from 3 wks of WBR, radiation just seemed to piss of  melanoma…..  melanoma won. 🙁  He will be starting Zelboraf as soon as Fed Ex gets here in the next few days…  reading these stories keeps us going & like you stated, following Dick's story gives us so much hope!   Good Luck to you Kevin! Praying for you! 🙂

      • May 31, 2012 at 5:19 pm
      kellygrl
      Participant

      So happy for you Kevin!! My husband had a mole which turned out to be melanoma in '03, nodes were clear, then this last Mar he had headaches & MRI that showed brain mets. We got the  MRI results yesterday from 3 wks of WBR, radiation just seemed to piss of  melanoma…..  melanoma won. 🙁  He will be starting Zelboraf as soon as Fed Ex gets here in the next few days…  reading these stories keeps us going & like you stated, following Dick's story gives us so much hope!   Good Luck to you Kevin! Praying for you! 🙂

      • May 31, 2012 at 5:19 pm
      kellygrl
      Participant

      So happy for you Kevin!! My husband had a mole which turned out to be melanoma in '03, nodes were clear, then this last Mar he had headaches & MRI that showed brain mets. We got the  MRI results yesterday from 3 wks of WBR, radiation just seemed to piss of  melanoma…..  melanoma won. 🙁  He will be starting Zelboraf as soon as Fed Ex gets here in the next few days…  reading these stories keeps us going & like you stated, following Dick's story gives us so much hope!   Good Luck to you Kevin! Praying for you! 🙂

      • June 1, 2012 at 3:55 am
      Swanee
      Participant

      HAPPY BIRTHDAY KEVIN!  This  is  a great report and I am so happy to hear your good news!  I think of you often and always watch for your posts……thanks for keeping us up to date!   Will continue to send positive energy your way and remember you in thought and prayers!  All the very best …….. keep  up the great attitude and always ….. live life to the fullest!  Best wishes……Swanee

      • June 1, 2012 at 3:55 am
      Swanee
      Participant

      HAPPY BIRTHDAY KEVIN!  This  is  a great report and I am so happy to hear your good news!  I think of you often and always watch for your posts……thanks for keeping us up to date!   Will continue to send positive energy your way and remember you in thought and prayers!  All the very best …….. keep  up the great attitude and always ….. live life to the fullest!  Best wishes……Swanee

      • June 1, 2012 at 3:55 am
      Swanee
      Participant

      HAPPY BIRTHDAY KEVIN!  This  is  a great report and I am so happy to hear your good news!  I think of you often and always watch for your posts……thanks for keeping us up to date!   Will continue to send positive energy your way and remember you in thought and prayers!  All the very best …….. keep  up the great attitude and always ….. live life to the fullest!  Best wishes……Swanee

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