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Tafinlar and Mekinist
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Tafinlar and Mekinist

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Tafinlar and Mekinist

  • Post
    • October 29, 2014 at 12:17 am
    Steve2142
    Participant

      I met with my oncologist today after my pet scan and he advised me that my melanoma had "exploded" in a short time and has spread to my lungs, liver, and other cutaneous sites.  The number of nodules was innumberable.  I am being tested for the BRAF gene and if I have the mutation, he is suggesting a combination of Tafinlar and Mekinist.  It would be great to hear if anyone has undergone a similar treatment regiment and what their experiences have been and what side effects they experienced.  Thank you.

    Viewing 14 reply threads
    • Replies
        • October 29, 2014 at 12:32 am
        Steve2142
        Participant

          Also curious what the cost is and how much insurance covers.  Thank you.

          • October 29, 2014 at 12:32 am
          Steve2142
          Participant

            Also curious what the cost is and how much insurance covers.  Thank you.

            • October 29, 2014 at 12:32 am
            Steve2142
            Participant

              Also curious what the cost is and how much insurance covers.  Thank you.

              • October 29, 2014 at 12:59 am
              Mat
              Participant

                Steve, I've had a great experience with the combo (as have many others).  See my prior posts.  Commercial insurance covers the meds, subject to my co-pay.

                • October 29, 2014 at 12:59 am
                Mat
                Participant

                  Steve, I've had a great experience with the combo (as have many others).  See my prior posts.  Commercial insurance covers the meds, subject to my co-pay.

                  • October 29, 2014 at 12:59 am
                  Mat
                  Participant

                    Steve, I've had a great experience with the combo (as have many others).  See my prior posts.  Commercial insurance covers the meds, subject to my co-pay.

                      • October 29, 2014 at 1:11 am
                      Mat
                      Participant

                        Steve, sounds like you're treatment naive.  If correct and your tumor burden is low (nodules are small tumors), consider taking a shot at the ipi/nivolumab trial.  More home run potential than the GSK combo.  Catherine Poole at Melanoma International just posted a link to the sites.  If you do the GSK combo, you will no longer be eligible for this trial.

                        • October 29, 2014 at 1:11 am
                        Mat
                        Participant

                          Steve, sounds like you're treatment naive.  If correct and your tumor burden is low (nodules are small tumors), consider taking a shot at the ipi/nivolumab trial.  More home run potential than the GSK combo.  Catherine Poole at Melanoma International just posted a link to the sites.  If you do the GSK combo, you will no longer be eligible for this trial.

                          • October 29, 2014 at 1:11 am
                          Mat
                          Participant

                            Steve, sounds like you're treatment naive.  If correct and your tumor burden is low (nodules are small tumors), consider taking a shot at the ipi/nivolumab trial.  More home run potential than the GSK combo.  Catherine Poole at Melanoma International just posted a link to the sites.  If you do the GSK combo, you will no longer be eligible for this trial.

                          • October 29, 2014 at 2:03 am
                          MattF
                          Participant

                            Steve… where are you from and herr being treated?

                             

                            I am stge 4 with mets to bones, brain, and free stnding sub q's

                            aggressive 4 back in Dec 2013 ….i did combo 10,000 each a month but my ins covered it…except for co pay.

                            they worked pt=retty well for 8 months then spread in bones….

                            did yervoy in aug…..

                            currently on ketruda…..ighting mets.

                             

                            on combo i did have some fatigue and vomiting'

                            M

                              • October 29, 2014 at 11:36 am
                              Cooper
                              Participant

                                here is more information about the immunotherapy combo if you are BRAF neg and interestehttp://forum.melanomainternational.org/mif/viewtopic.php?f=54&t=35453&p=46485#p46485d in this:

                                • October 29, 2014 at 11:36 am
                                Cooper
                                Participant

                                  here is more information about the immunotherapy combo if you are BRAF neg and interestehttp://forum.melanomainternational.org/mif/viewtopic.php?f=54&t=35453&p=46485#p46485d in this:

                                  • October 29, 2014 at 11:36 am
                                  Cooper
                                  Participant

                                    here is more information about the immunotherapy combo if you are BRAF neg and interestehttp://forum.melanomainternational.org/mif/viewtopic.php?f=54&t=35453&p=46485#p46485d in this:

                                  • October 29, 2014 at 2:03 am
                                  MattF
                                  Participant

                                    Steve… where are you from and herr being treated?

                                     

                                    I am stge 4 with mets to bones, brain, and free stnding sub q's

                                    aggressive 4 back in Dec 2013 ….i did combo 10,000 each a month but my ins covered it…except for co pay.

                                    they worked pt=retty well for 8 months then spread in bones….

                                    did yervoy in aug…..

                                    currently on ketruda…..ighting mets.

                                     

                                    on combo i did have some fatigue and vomiting'

                                    M

                                    • October 29, 2014 at 2:03 am
                                    MattF
                                    Participant

                                      Steve… where are you from and herr being treated?

                                       

                                      I am stge 4 with mets to bones, brain, and free stnding sub q's

                                      aggressive 4 back in Dec 2013 ….i did combo 10,000 each a month but my ins covered it…except for co pay.

                                      they worked pt=retty well for 8 months then spread in bones….

                                      did yervoy in aug…..

                                      currently on ketruda…..ighting mets.

                                       

                                      on combo i did have some fatigue and vomiting'

                                      M

                                      • October 29, 2014 at 3:24 pm
                                      kalisama
                                      Participant

                                        I'm BRAF positive and was originally started on Zelbarof. I eventually failed with progressions, serindipitously at the same time the FDA approved Mek/Taf combo. I did well with it for a few months, NED, and the side effects for me compared to the Zelb were minimal if any. 

                                        I'm on medicaid and was completely covered for my meds.

                                        After 6 months or so of mek/taf I had 2 rogue tumors arise, one in my back and one in my breast, unusual for me, as I lean towards brain/CNS mets. We ceased this treatment 6 weeks ago, and I just had my 2nd Yervoy infusion Monday. 

                                        Since I am with disease, I'm more or less a fail on the Yervoy and will likely be making my way to Keytruda within the month, before we bother with 3rd Yervoy infusion. There simply isn't time with the rate of my progression.

                                        Hope this is of some help.

                                        Bless,
                                        kali

                                        • October 29, 2014 at 3:24 pm
                                        kalisama
                                        Participant

                                          I'm BRAF positive and was originally started on Zelbarof. I eventually failed with progressions, serindipitously at the same time the FDA approved Mek/Taf combo. I did well with it for a few months, NED, and the side effects for me compared to the Zelb were minimal if any. 

                                          I'm on medicaid and was completely covered for my meds.

                                          After 6 months or so of mek/taf I had 2 rogue tumors arise, one in my back and one in my breast, unusual for me, as I lean towards brain/CNS mets. We ceased this treatment 6 weeks ago, and I just had my 2nd Yervoy infusion Monday. 

                                          Since I am with disease, I'm more or less a fail on the Yervoy and will likely be making my way to Keytruda within the month, before we bother with 3rd Yervoy infusion. There simply isn't time with the rate of my progression.

                                          Hope this is of some help.

                                          Bless,
                                          kali

                                          • October 29, 2014 at 3:24 pm
                                          kalisama
                                          Participant

                                            I'm BRAF positive and was originally started on Zelbarof. I eventually failed with progressions, serindipitously at the same time the FDA approved Mek/Taf combo. I did well with it for a few months, NED, and the side effects for me compared to the Zelb were minimal if any. 

                                            I'm on medicaid and was completely covered for my meds.

                                            After 6 months or so of mek/taf I had 2 rogue tumors arise, one in my back and one in my breast, unusual for me, as I lean towards brain/CNS mets. We ceased this treatment 6 weeks ago, and I just had my 2nd Yervoy infusion Monday. 

                                            Since I am with disease, I'm more or less a fail on the Yervoy and will likely be making my way to Keytruda within the month, before we bother with 3rd Yervoy infusion. There simply isn't time with the rate of my progression.

                                            Hope this is of some help.

                                            Bless,
                                            kali

                                            • October 31, 2014 at 3:19 am
                                            paul Lyons
                                            Participant

                                              Hi Steve,

                                              I've been on the MEK combo for about eight months, after having been on Zelboraf for four months. I've had fewer side effects on the MEK, and it seems to have kept my disease stable.

                                              All the best to you,

                                              Paul

                                              • October 31, 2014 at 3:19 am
                                              paul Lyons
                                              Participant

                                                Hi Steve,

                                                I've been on the MEK combo for about eight months, after having been on Zelboraf for four months. I've had fewer side effects on the MEK, and it seems to have kept my disease stable.

                                                All the best to you,

                                                Paul

                                                • October 31, 2014 at 3:19 am
                                                paul Lyons
                                                Participant

                                                  Hi Steve,

                                                  I've been on the MEK combo for about eight months, after having been on Zelboraf for four months. I've had fewer side effects on the MEK, and it seems to have kept my disease stable.

                                                  All the best to you,

                                                  Paul

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