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TAF/MEK combination and when to switch if working?
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TAF/MEK combination and when to switch if working?

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › TAF/MEK combination and when to switch if working?

  • Post
    • December 18, 2015 at 12:31 pm
    davekarrie
    Participant

      Hello all, I am on the Taf/Mek combination since early November and it is working well, only have a few spots left.  I know this treatment usually works for about 10 months then Mel finds a new way around.  Here is my question, for any of those that have had durable responses to Taf/mek combination, did all your tumors disappear right away?  are you still on TAf/Mek? I am just wondering when to get off and get onto an immunotherapy. I was on Keutruda but had progression.  i know that they are bringing in immunotherapy with the taf/mek also.

      Thanks for any insight!

       

      Dave

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    • Replies
        • December 18, 2015 at 6:24 pm
        jamieth29
        Participant
          Hey Dave,
          Not sure what the answer is for exactly when to quit but i know you want to do before you become resistant. From what i have read the cancer seems to get more aggressive one it finds a different pathway. I have been on combo since mid August and have surgery dec 30th after surgery my doctor is pulling me off of combo. He initially only wanted me on it for 2 months but we had to get 2 surgeons together for surgery and dec 30th was the soonest i could get in. I think I have had a complete response but i only had 1 lymph node and a area of in transit spots on my leg that were where my original mole was located. My last ct showed the iliac node went from 18mm to 7mm from Aug 17 to sept 17th and the spots on my leg shrunk to tiny black dots. My doctor said that is the pigment left behind when the melanoma cells die. I’m hoping when the pathology from surgery comes back its all necrotic. I also was very curious about the combo with immunotherapy. Good luck!
            • December 19, 2015 at 8:17 am
            davekarrie
            Participant

              Thanks, yeah I always wonder when to switch to another drug because as I understand it, if it works and you switch to another drug, then you could go back to it before you become resistant to it. I would think if you stay on it and progress then going back to the combo would be fruitless. So many questions and it all seems to be about timing these meds.  I am respoinding well and only have 1 lung met that barely lit up on pet and went from 6cm in Nov to about 2cm now.

              • December 19, 2015 at 8:17 am
              davekarrie
              Participant

                Thanks, yeah I always wonder when to switch to another drug because as I understand it, if it works and you switch to another drug, then you could go back to it before you become resistant to it. I would think if you stay on it and progress then going back to the combo would be fruitless. So many questions and it all seems to be about timing these meds.  I am respoinding well and only have 1 lung met that barely lit up on pet and went from 6cm in Nov to about 2cm now.

                • December 19, 2015 at 8:17 am
                davekarrie
                Participant

                  Thanks, yeah I always wonder when to switch to another drug because as I understand it, if it works and you switch to another drug, then you could go back to it before you become resistant to it. I would think if you stay on it and progress then going back to the combo would be fruitless. So many questions and it all seems to be about timing these meds.  I am respoinding well and only have 1 lung met that barely lit up on pet and went from 6cm in Nov to about 2cm now.

                • December 18, 2015 at 6:24 pm
                jamieth29
                Participant
                  Hey Dave,
                  Not sure what the answer is for exactly when to quit but i know you want to do before you become resistant. From what i have read the cancer seems to get more aggressive one it finds a different pathway. I have been on combo since mid August and have surgery dec 30th after surgery my doctor is pulling me off of combo. He initially only wanted me on it for 2 months but we had to get 2 surgeons together for surgery and dec 30th was the soonest i could get in. I think I have had a complete response but i only had 1 lymph node and a area of in transit spots on my leg that were where my original mole was located. My last ct showed the iliac node went from 18mm to 7mm from Aug 17 to sept 17th and the spots on my leg shrunk to tiny black dots. My doctor said that is the pigment left behind when the melanoma cells die. I’m hoping when the pathology from surgery comes back its all necrotic. I also was very curious about the combo with immunotherapy. Good luck!
                  • December 18, 2015 at 6:24 pm
                  jamieth29
                  Participant
                    Hey Dave,
                    Not sure what the answer is for exactly when to quit but i know you want to do before you become resistant. From what i have read the cancer seems to get more aggressive one it finds a different pathway. I have been on combo since mid August and have surgery dec 30th after surgery my doctor is pulling me off of combo. He initially only wanted me on it for 2 months but we had to get 2 surgeons together for surgery and dec 30th was the soonest i could get in. I think I have had a complete response but i only had 1 lymph node and a area of in transit spots on my leg that were where my original mole was located. My last ct showed the iliac node went from 18mm to 7mm from Aug 17 to sept 17th and the spots on my leg shrunk to tiny black dots. My doctor said that is the pigment left behind when the melanoma cells die. I’m hoping when the pathology from surgery comes back its all necrotic. I also was very curious about the combo with immunotherapy. Good luck!
                Viewing 2 reply threads
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