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3.5 months off ZEL, still NED but eye issues
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3.5 months off ZEL, still NED but eye issues

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › 3.5 months off ZEL, still NED but eye issues

  • Post
    • May 6, 2014 at 7:38 am
    beatricefromPARIS
    Participant

      Hello all,

      A liitle recap on my situation: 

      – diagnosed Stage IV feb 2009 with many body mets (brain clear).

      – treated over 5 years (3 chemos, InF, IPI, Zel, a few surgeries).

      – 2 years on Zelboraf+surgery finally made me NED as of May 2013.

      – Sarcoidosis (on skin) developped under Zel and was controlled by corticoids.

      – Because of severe uveitis, oncs dared stop Zelboraf in January 2014, as I was seeing everything blurred and could lose eyesight. Had injection of kenacort in right eye and drops in the left. Eyesight recovered. 

      – Since then, the right eye developped drooping eyelid and over-dilated pupilla (called ptosis and mydriasis in medical terms). The eyelid problem could be caused by a device used to keep open the eyelid during the injection in the eye, which could have strained the muscle. The mydriasis is still unexplained – checks were done by docs to eliminate worst possible causes.

      – Being allowed to stop Zel was a relief…for digestion, energy levels, skin and hair, etc.. but I now have a strange gaze and disymetrical look and many scars to remind me of melanoma if I ever was to forget it.

      – Apart from that, everything stays all clear in last brain and body scans! 

      Keeping fingers crossed….

      Beatrice

    Viewing 2 reply threads
    • Replies
        • May 6, 2014 at 4:02 pm
        tcell
        Participant

          Hi Beatrice,

          from your nickname I gather you are also from Europe. Your story seems very encouraging to me who was just diagnosed a few months ago with stage IV. I am being treated at the Vienna university hosptial.

          I am taking Tafinlar and Mekinist at th moment. Would this combination also be an option for you once you need it? It is supposed to have less side effects.

          I hope, however, that you are not going to need it soon and that you stay NED for a very long time! I hope I can also ever get that far.

          Who treats you in Paris?

          All the best,

          Chris

          • May 6, 2014 at 4:02 pm
          tcell
          Participant

            Hi Beatrice,

            from your nickname I gather you are also from Europe. Your story seems very encouraging to me who was just diagnosed a few months ago with stage IV. I am being treated at the Vienna university hosptial.

            I am taking Tafinlar and Mekinist at th moment. Would this combination also be an option for you once you need it? It is supposed to have less side effects.

            I hope, however, that you are not going to need it soon and that you stay NED for a very long time! I hope I can also ever get that far.

            Who treats you in Paris?

            All the best,

            Chris

            • May 6, 2014 at 4:02 pm
            tcell
            Participant

              Hi Beatrice,

              from your nickname I gather you are also from Europe. Your story seems very encouraging to me who was just diagnosed a few months ago with stage IV. I am being treated at the Vienna university hosptial.

              I am taking Tafinlar and Mekinist at th moment. Would this combination also be an option for you once you need it? It is supposed to have less side effects.

              I hope, however, that you are not going to need it soon and that you stay NED for a very long time! I hope I can also ever get that far.

              Who treats you in Paris?

              All the best,

              Chris

          Viewing 2 reply threads
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