Stage 4 patients on Vemurafenib

By the way, it is true that vemurafenib works for an average (only an average, mind you) of 6-9 months before your tumors become resistant. I think that Tafinlar + Mekinist has a similar timeline– maybe a little longer.

What most melanoma oncologists seem to recommending now for widely disseminated tumors or brain/spinal cord tumors is BRAF + MEK first because it acts quickly. Then when the tumors have shrunk and/or stabilized they switch the patient to an immune-based therapy that takes longer to work but also lasts longer. While dabrafenib (Tafinlar) does seem to work on brain tumors, it is less effective than on tumors elsewhere in the body. So most doctors recommend either stereotactic radiosurgery ("Gamma Knife" or "Cyber Knife") or neurosurgery or, where necessary, whole brain radiation to treat brain mets even if the patient is getting systemic therapy. 

Since you have Stage IV melanoma, especially with brain mets, it is very important that you be treated at a melanoma specialty center. They use a team approach of oncologists, radiation oncologists, dermatologists, etc who are all experienced with melanoma. Are you being seen at a center like that?

By the way, it is true that vemurafenib works for an average (only an average, mind you) of 6-9 months before your tumors become resistant. I think that Tafinlar + Mekinist has a similar timeline– maybe a little longer.

What most melanoma oncologists seem to recommending now for widely disseminated tumors or brain/spinal cord tumors is BRAF + MEK first because it acts quickly. Then when the tumors have shrunk and/or stabilized they switch the patient to an immune-based therapy that takes longer to work but also lasts longer. While dabrafenib (Tafinlar) does seem to work on brain tumors, it is less effective than on tumors elsewhere in the body. So most doctors recommend either stereotactic radiosurgery ("Gamma Knife" or "Cyber Knife") or neurosurgery or, where necessary, whole brain radiation to treat brain mets even if the patient is getting systemic therapy. 

Since you have Stage IV melanoma, especially with brain mets, it is very important that you be treated at a melanoma specialty center. They use a team approach of oncologists, radiation oncologists, dermatologists, etc who are all experienced with melanoma. Are you being seen at a center like that?

The BRAF+MEK combo has not yet been approved in Canada. That might be the situation in England, too.

The BRAF+MEK combo has not yet been approved in Canada. That might be the situation in England, too.

The BRAF+MEK combo has not yet been approved in Canada. That might be the situation in England, too.

As stated above, It is better to get on the combo if possible.  As several have noted, it is only the median of the patients that it startes working on that has it stop working in under 1 year.  This then means that for the other 50% it works for over one year.  While the negative side effects are worse with just the BRAF drug alone and reduced with the combo which is is also more efective, It can work much longer and hopefully the government will get their —- out of their — and provide the best treatment for the people in the mean time.  The combo was just approved by the FDA for the USA.

As stated above, It is better to get on the combo if possible.  As several have noted, it is only the median of the patients that it startes working on that has it stop working in under 1 year.  This then means that for the other 50% it works for over one year.  While the negative side effects are worse with just the BRAF drug alone and reduced with the combo which is is also more efective, It can work much longer and hopefully the government will get their —- out of their — and provide the best treatment for the people in the mean time.  The combo was just approved by the FDA for the USA.

As stated above, It is better to get on the combo if possible.  As several have noted, it is only the median of the patients that it startes working on that has it stop working in under 1 year.  This then means that for the other 50% it works for over one year.  While the negative side effects are worse with just the BRAF drug alone and reduced with the combo which is is also more efective, It can work much longer and hopefully the government will get their —- out of their — and provide the best treatment for the people in the mean time.  The combo was just approved by the FDA for the USA.

By the way, it is true that vemurafenib works for an average (only an average, mind you) of 6-9 months before your tumors become resistant. I think that Tafinlar + Mekinist has a similar timeline– maybe a little longer.

What most melanoma oncologists seem to recommending now for widely disseminated tumors or brain/spinal cord tumors is BRAF + MEK first because it acts quickly. Then when the tumors have shrunk and/or stabilized they switch the patient to an immune-based therapy that takes longer to work but also lasts longer. While dabrafenib (Tafinlar) does seem to work on brain tumors, it is less effective than on tumors elsewhere in the body. So most doctors recommend either stereotactic radiosurgery ("Gamma Knife" or "Cyber Knife") or neurosurgery or, where necessary, whole brain radiation to treat brain mets even if the patient is getting systemic therapy. 

Since you have Stage IV melanoma, especially with brain mets, it is very important that you be treated at a melanoma specialty center. They use a team approach of oncologists, radiation oncologists, dermatologists, etc who are all experienced with melanoma. Are you being seen at a center like that?