mekinist and tafinlar
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mekinist and tafinlar

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › mekinist and tafinlar

  • Post
    • January 16, 2016 at 3:56 am
    stevecathy
    Participant
    My husband had reaccurence Mets in transit found at 3 month dermatologist check. He had just finished 4 infusion of yervoy. Went back to ctca in Chicago Wednesday this week , oncologist did ct scan now has small nodule in right lung too small to biopsy. Now he is to start mekinist and tafinlar hopefully next week. Wanting to know thoughts and anyone experience with this combo treatment. Thank you and blessings
Viewing 5 reply threads
  • Replies
      • January 16, 2016 at 2:05 pm
      ed williams
      Participant

      Hi Cathy, I am just wondering if they offered him one of the Pd-1 drugs. The combo drugs have a great track record of working but they tend to eventually develop resistance. The Pd-1 drugs work for about 40% of use with stage 4 and when they work they tend to be very durable and patients continue to respond out for years. Wishing you the best with your journey!!! Ed 

      • January 16, 2016 at 2:05 pm
      ed williams
      Participant

      Hi Cathy, I am just wondering if they offered him one of the Pd-1 drugs. The combo drugs have a great track record of working but they tend to eventually develop resistance. The Pd-1 drugs work for about 40% of use with stage 4 and when they work they tend to be very durable and patients continue to respond out for years. Wishing you the best with your journey!!! Ed 

        • January 16, 2016 at 3:37 pm
        stevecathy
        Participant
        Thanks Ed for the reply. They did not offer anything else . I will mention this to his dr. I appreciate the information. Thank you and blessings
        • January 16, 2016 at 3:37 pm
        stevecathy
        Participant
        Thanks Ed for the reply. They did not offer anything else . I will mention this to his dr. I appreciate the information. Thank you and blessings
        • January 16, 2016 at 3:37 pm
        stevecathy
        Participant
        Thanks Ed for the reply. They did not offer anything else . I will mention this to his dr. I appreciate the information. Thank you and blessings
      • January 16, 2016 at 2:05 pm
      ed williams
      Participant

      Hi Cathy, I am just wondering if they offered him one of the Pd-1 drugs. The combo drugs have a great track record of working but they tend to eventually develop resistance. The Pd-1 drugs work for about 40% of use with stage 4 and when they work they tend to be very durable and patients continue to respond out for years. Wishing you the best with your journey!!! Ed 

      • January 16, 2016 at 4:21 pm
      jamieth29
      Participant
      Just wanted to add that immunotherapy seems to work best when there is a low tumor burden. I was on taf/mek for 4 months to try and get me to be surgically resectable. The drugs did the job pretty well but when pathology from surgery came back live cells were still there. The median time to maximum response is about 2 months with median resistance at 11.5 months. After surgery my doctor pulled me off them. I dont think you want to use them until you become resistant because the cancer can become more aggressive after resistance. I think the trick is finding that right time to switch to immunotherapy as it is the only thing showing long durable response.
      • January 16, 2016 at 4:21 pm
      jamieth29
      Participant
      Just wanted to add that immunotherapy seems to work best when there is a low tumor burden. I was on taf/mek for 4 months to try and get me to be surgically resectable. The drugs did the job pretty well but when pathology from surgery came back live cells were still there. The median time to maximum response is about 2 months with median resistance at 11.5 months. After surgery my doctor pulled me off them. I dont think you want to use them until you become resistant because the cancer can become more aggressive after resistance. I think the trick is finding that right time to switch to immunotherapy as it is the only thing showing long durable response.
        • January 16, 2016 at 5:47 pm
        stevecathy
        Participant
        Thank you so much , I truly appreciate all the imput. Our emotions are on overload. We need to beat this. This is my prayer. Thank you again , and blessings always
        • January 16, 2016 at 5:47 pm
        stevecathy
        Participant
        Thank you so much , I truly appreciate all the imput. Our emotions are on overload. We need to beat this. This is my prayer. Thank you again , and blessings always
        • January 16, 2016 at 5:47 pm
        stevecathy
        Participant
        Thank you so much , I truly appreciate all the imput. Our emotions are on overload. We need to beat this. This is my prayer. Thank you again , and blessings always
      • January 16, 2016 at 4:21 pm
      jamieth29
      Participant
      Just wanted to add that immunotherapy seems to work best when there is a low tumor burden. I was on taf/mek for 4 months to try and get me to be surgically resectable. The drugs did the job pretty well but when pathology from surgery came back live cells were still there. The median time to maximum response is about 2 months with median resistance at 11.5 months. After surgery my doctor pulled me off them. I dont think you want to use them until you become resistant because the cancer can become more aggressive after resistance. I think the trick is finding that right time to switch to immunotherapy as it is the only thing showing long durable response.
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