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confused-BRAF pos/neg

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › confused-BRAF pos/neg

  • Post
    • April 4, 2015 at 2:23 am
    lmhl
    Participant

      I'm just hoping someone can help me understand the difference between BRAF positive and negative in terms of treatment possibilities and outcomes.  45 years old and just diagnosed with stage 3/c-BRAF neg nodular melanoma on the bridge of my nose.  They are suggesting a radical lymph node dissection and then radiation once I have healed from surgery.

      Any thoughts or suggestions?

      Thank you all for your help.  Not sure what to think.

    Viewing 8 reply threads
    • Replies
        • April 4, 2015 at 1:45 pm
        Janner
        Participant

          BRAF negative means you aren't a candidate for the BRAF inhibitor drug treatments if you were stage 4.  You have to show positive for the mutation to have that treatment be effective.  You wouldn't be a candidate for them now anyway except maybe through a clinical trial.

          • April 4, 2015 at 1:45 pm
          Janner
          Participant

            BRAF negative means you aren't a candidate for the BRAF inhibitor drug treatments if you were stage 4.  You have to show positive for the mutation to have that treatment be effective.  You wouldn't be a candidate for them now anyway except maybe through a clinical trial.

            • April 4, 2015 at 1:45 pm
            Janner
            Participant

              BRAF negative means you aren't a candidate for the BRAF inhibitor drug treatments if you were stage 4.  You have to show positive for the mutation to have that treatment be effective.  You wouldn't be a candidate for them now anyway except maybe through a clinical trial.

              • April 4, 2015 at 1:45 pm
              Bubbles
              Participant

                Your BRAF status pertains only to whether or not you would respond to BRAF inhibitors. If you don't have the mutation you will not respond to those, however, all other therapies work pretty much equally well. I attached a link to a post I made about BRAF status a couple of questions below if you are interested. My best recommendation at this point is to be sure you are being followed and advised by a melanoma oncologist rather than a general one. I wish you my best. Celeste

                • April 4, 2015 at 1:45 pm
                Bubbles
                Participant

                  Your BRAF status pertains only to whether or not you would respond to BRAF inhibitors. If you don't have the mutation you will not respond to those, however, all other therapies work pretty much equally well. I attached a link to a post I made about BRAF status a couple of questions below if you are interested. My best recommendation at this point is to be sure you are being followed and advised by a melanoma oncologist rather than a general one. I wish you my best. Celeste

                  • April 4, 2015 at 1:45 pm
                  Bubbles
                  Participant

                    Your BRAF status pertains only to whether or not you would respond to BRAF inhibitors. If you don't have the mutation you will not respond to those, however, all other therapies work pretty much equally well. I attached a link to a post I made about BRAF status a couple of questions below if you are interested. My best recommendation at this point is to be sure you are being followed and advised by a melanoma oncologist rather than a general one. I wish you my best. Celeste

                    • April 5, 2015 at 10:13 pm
                    arthurjedi007
                    Participant

                      There's also a trial for stage 3 folks you might want to keep in mind if you need it. It is immunotherapy where you get either Yervoy or pd1. These are the 2 main non braf standard treatments available to stage 4 folks and recently via that trial for stage 3 folks.

                      Artie

                      • April 5, 2015 at 10:13 pm
                      arthurjedi007
                      Participant

                        There's also a trial for stage 3 folks you might want to keep in mind if you need it. It is immunotherapy where you get either Yervoy or pd1. These are the 2 main non braf standard treatments available to stage 4 folks and recently via that trial for stage 3 folks.

                        Artie

                        • April 5, 2015 at 10:13 pm
                        arthurjedi007
                        Participant

                          There's also a trial for stage 3 folks you might want to keep in mind if you need it. It is immunotherapy where you get either Yervoy or pd1. These are the 2 main non braf standard treatments available to stage 4 folks and recently via that trial for stage 3 folks.

                          Artie

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