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My BRAF/MEK Status Report
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My BRAF/MEK Status Report

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › My BRAF/MEK Status Report

  • Post
    • October 28, 2011 at 6:42 am
    Harry in Fair Oaks
    Participant

      I'm well into the 6th month of the GSK BRAF/MEK study, taking the highest dosages of the 2 drug combo.  I'm happy to report that, as of the scans I had on Monday, all mets have either shrunk to sub-clinical size (i.e. cannot be imaged by MRI or CT) or (in the case of a couple of bone mets) seem stable.  The bone mets may actually be non-viable, but the damage they previously caused will probably always show on the scans.

      I'm well into the 6th month of the GSK BRAF/MEK study, taking the highest dosages of the 2 drug combo.  I'm happy to report that, as of the scans I had on Monday, all mets have either shrunk to sub-clinical size (i.e. cannot be imaged by MRI or CT) or (in the case of a couple of bone mets) seem stable.  The bone mets may actually be non-viable, but the damage they previously caused will probably always show on the scans.

      Very few side effects to report – most went away after the 1st few weeks.  Apparently the BRAF/MEK combo results in fewer patient complaints than the BRAF alone.  And according to staff at the Angeles Clinic, so far they have not seen the dreaded acquired resistance to the combo inhibitors (that has been a problem with BRAF alone).

      Best wishes,

      Harry

    Viewing 23 reply threads
    • Replies
        • October 28, 2011 at 9:19 am
        lhaley
        Participant

          Sounds like a great report!!!!     Have you heard if there is any discussion on a compassionate trial with these combo drugs?  

          Keep on staying healthy

          Linda

          • October 28, 2011 at 9:19 am
          lhaley
          Participant

            Sounds like a great report!!!!     Have you heard if there is any discussion on a compassionate trial with these combo drugs?  

            Keep on staying healthy

            Linda

            • October 28, 2011 at 9:19 am
            lhaley
            Participant

              Sounds like a great report!!!!     Have you heard if there is any discussion on a compassionate trial with these combo drugs?  

              Keep on staying healthy

              Linda

              • October 28, 2011 at 9:47 am
              AlisonC
              Participant
                wow Harry ! I’m a recent returnee to the mpip (prompted by a good friend’s progression to stage IV) so your story is new to me….but wow! That’s really kicking Mel where it hurts! go you 🙂

                Fingers crossed that you have a durable and lasting response. Your profile seems to suggest that your immune system has a good idea of how to keep it in check, so I really hope that this trial sees the back of Mel for another…oh, let’s say 50 years or so ?

                🙂

                AlisonC
                Stage IIIB
                NED since 2001

                • October 28, 2011 at 9:47 am
                AlisonC
                Participant
                  wow Harry ! I’m a recent returnee to the mpip (prompted by a good friend’s progression to stage IV) so your story is new to me….but wow! That’s really kicking Mel where it hurts! go you 🙂

                  Fingers crossed that you have a durable and lasting response. Your profile seems to suggest that your immune system has a good idea of how to keep it in check, so I really hope that this trial sees the back of Mel for another…oh, let’s say 50 years or so ?

                  🙂

                  AlisonC
                  Stage IIIB
                  NED since 2001

                  • October 28, 2011 at 9:47 am
                  AlisonC
                  Participant
                    wow Harry ! I’m a recent returnee to the mpip (prompted by a good friend’s progression to stage IV) so your story is new to me….but wow! That’s really kicking Mel where it hurts! go you 🙂

                    Fingers crossed that you have a durable and lasting response. Your profile seems to suggest that your immune system has a good idea of how to keep it in check, so I really hope that this trial sees the back of Mel for another…oh, let’s say 50 years or so ?

                    🙂

                    AlisonC
                    Stage IIIB
                    NED since 2001

                    • October 28, 2011 at 11:01 am
                    jim Breitfeller
                    Participant

                      Harry,

                      Congrats!!!!

                       

                      Is there a maintenance protocol on  your trial? The trick is to kill every last melanoma cell in your body. A maintenance regime may just be what you might need.

                       

                      Wishing you all the best

                       

                      Jimmy B

                      • October 28, 2011 at 11:01 am
                      jim Breitfeller
                      Participant

                        Harry,

                        Congrats!!!!

                         

                        Is there a maintenance protocol on  your trial? The trick is to kill every last melanoma cell in your body. A maintenance regime may just be what you might need.

                         

                        Wishing you all the best

                         

                        Jimmy B

                        • October 28, 2011 at 11:01 am
                        jim Breitfeller
                        Participant

                          Harry,

                          Congrats!!!!

                           

                          Is there a maintenance protocol on  your trial? The trick is to kill every last melanoma cell in your body. A maintenance regime may just be what you might need.

                           

                          Wishing you all the best

                           

                          Jimmy B

                          • October 28, 2011 at 12:04 pm
                          Richard_K
                          Participant
                            Great report! Love your hobby.
                            Dick
                            • October 28, 2011 at 12:04 pm
                            Richard_K
                            Participant
                              Great report! Love your hobby.
                              Dick
                              • October 28, 2011 at 12:04 pm
                              Richard_K
                              Participant
                                Great report! Love your hobby.
                                Dick
                                • October 28, 2011 at 3:48 pm
                                kylez
                                Participant

                                  Awesome news for you Harry! It's so great to hear about good responses to a new treatment option.

                                  SF Chronicle has an article out this morning about UCSF's participation in this trial, with quotes from GSK's director of oncology research, and from a patient with a response that sounds similar to yours.

                                  It feels like "they're" chipping away a little bit more, unraveling one more piece of the huge puzzle. It's very cool when you are part of that new piece 🙂

                                  • October 28, 2011 at 3:48 pm
                                  kylez
                                  Participant

                                    Awesome news for you Harry! It's so great to hear about good responses to a new treatment option.

                                    SF Chronicle has an article out this morning about UCSF's participation in this trial, with quotes from GSK's director of oncology research, and from a patient with a response that sounds similar to yours.

                                    It feels like "they're" chipping away a little bit more, unraveling one more piece of the huge puzzle. It's very cool when you are part of that new piece 🙂

                                    • October 28, 2011 at 3:48 pm
                                    kylez
                                    Participant

                                      Awesome news for you Harry! It's so great to hear about good responses to a new treatment option.

                                      SF Chronicle has an article out this morning about UCSF's participation in this trial, with quotes from GSK's director of oncology research, and from a patient with a response that sounds similar to yours.

                                      It feels like "they're" chipping away a little bit more, unraveling one more piece of the huge puzzle. It's very cool when you are part of that new piece 🙂

                                      • October 28, 2011 at 4:09 pm
                                      mombase
                                      Participant

                                        Congartulations, Harry! Hopefully this combo is the next on the horizon for apporval (or close to it!). It must make trios to SoCal very much worth it!

                                        Cristy, Stage IV

                                        • October 28, 2011 at 4:09 pm
                                        mombase
                                        Participant

                                          Congartulations, Harry! Hopefully this combo is the next on the horizon for apporval (or close to it!). It must make trios to SoCal very much worth it!

                                          Cristy, Stage IV

                                          • October 28, 2011 at 4:09 pm
                                          mombase
                                          Participant

                                            Congartulations, Harry! Hopefully this combo is the next on the horizon for apporval (or close to it!). It must make trios to SoCal very much worth it!

                                            Cristy, Stage IV

                                            • October 28, 2011 at 6:33 pm
                                            washoegal
                                            Participant

                                              Thanks for the update.  So encouraging to hear good news. 

                                              Mary

                                              Stage 3

                                              • October 28, 2011 at 6:33 pm
                                              washoegal
                                              Participant

                                                Thanks for the update.  So encouraging to hear good news. 

                                                Mary

                                                Stage 3

                                                • October 28, 2011 at 6:33 pm
                                                washoegal
                                                Participant

                                                  Thanks for the update.  So encouraging to hear good news. 

                                                  Mary

                                                  Stage 3

                                                  • October 28, 2011 at 7:09 pm
                                                  jag
                                                  Participant

                                                    Great news Harry, and stay ugly.

                                                    • October 28, 2011 at 7:09 pm
                                                    jag
                                                    Participant

                                                      Great news Harry, and stay ugly.

                                                      • October 28, 2011 at 7:09 pm
                                                      jag
                                                      Participant

                                                        Great news Harry, and stay ugly.

                                                    Viewing 23 reply threads
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