update after test results

Amy,

How frustrating!!  I totally agree with Dennis that there should be someway to get you back on the GSK drug.  Maybe your Drs. could make a plea to the drug company of what type of information they could gleam from following you. They know you respond!! 

You did get a mixed report. As usual you find the good in all that is given to you. Your Dr seems to be a great advocate for you and hopefully they will be able to find a way for you to get back on the drugs that have been helping. 

Sending hugs,

Linda

Amy,

How frustrating!!  I totally agree with Dennis that there should be someway to get you back on the GSK drug.  Maybe your Drs. could make a plea to the drug company of what type of information they could gleam from following you. They know you respond!! 

You did get a mixed report. As usual you find the good in all that is given to you. Your Dr seems to be a great advocate for you and hopefully they will be able to find a way for you to get back on the drugs that have been helping. 

Sending hugs,

Linda

Amy, wish I had some bight idea..you are amazing.  Still a wonderful sense of humor.  I'm not sure I would still have that.  But I supose it makes it a alot easier than complaining about everything.  Anyway, keep searching the net, somewhere, somehow, you may come up with a compassionate use on the BRAF.  Keep pressure on the company, hell I'd even work with your local politicians to see if they would start putting pressure on the manufacturer too.  Use the squeeky wheel theory, it works a lot of the time.

Keep up the attitide girl.  It'll keep you going.

Mary

Stage 3

Amy, wish I had some bight idea..you are amazing.  Still a wonderful sense of humor.  I'm not sure I would still have that.  But I supose it makes it a alot easier than complaining about everything.  Anyway, keep searching the net, somewhere, somehow, you may come up with a compassionate use on the BRAF.  Keep pressure on the company, hell I'd even work with your local politicians to see if they would start putting pressure on the manufacturer too.  Use the squeeky wheel theory, it works a lot of the time.

Keep up the attitide girl.  It'll keep you going.

Mary

Stage 3

Amy,

No answers but I am sending you a huge hug and prayers.  You are so courageous…truly a remarkable woman.  And, yes, it's an order that you sit back and let others do things their way….I know your way is better but that will have to wait.

Stay Strong
King

Stage IV  7/05 Liver mets

Amy,

No answers but I am sending you a huge hug and prayers.  You are so courageous…truly a remarkable woman.  And, yes, it's an order that you sit back and let others do things their way….I know your way is better but that will have to wait.

Stay Strong
King

Stage IV  7/05 Liver mets

Amy, I am happy to hear that you are holding steady.  I will say a prayer that you get access to the BRAF drugs and that your CNS troubles will resolve completelyl.  Good luck with the Zometa, definitely let everybody take care of you and enjoy the pain meds

Amy, I am happy to hear that you are holding steady.  I will say a prayer that you get access to the BRAF drugs and that your CNS troubles will resolve completelyl.  Good luck with the Zometa, definitely let everybody take care of you and enjoy the pain meds

Amy,

I know that this mixed response is always discouraging.  Carl is currently participating in a MEK trial in Nashville.  This trial allows patients previously treated with a B-RAF inhibitor.  It is a GSK trial.  The NCT number is NCT01037127.  It allows previous brain mets.  You may want to look at this trial.  I don't know if this is helpful to you but I thought that I would mention it and let you take a look for yourself.   I do not know the current status of this trial, but they had previously offered it at  MDA.  I do know that they are planning to open Phase 3 soon, but do not know much more than that.  Carl has had a wonderful response to this trial.  He started seeing results within a few weeks, as many B-RAF patients do.  He had his second set of scans, (sinnce starting the trial) on September 2.  The chest subq continues to shrink and we were told that the lung mets are now small enough that they cannot be measured on the scans…we feel blessed.

I am sorry that you are going through this and I think of you often.  You are truly a courageous warrior and an inspiration to many on this board.  I hope that this information will help you.

Pat

Amy,

I know that this mixed response is always discouraging.  Carl is currently participating in a MEK trial in Nashville.  This trial allows patients previously treated with a B-RAF inhibitor.  It is a GSK trial.  The NCT number is NCT01037127.  It allows previous brain mets.  You may want to look at this trial.  I don't know if this is helpful to you but I thought that I would mention it and let you take a look for yourself.   I do not know the current status of this trial, but they had previously offered it at  MDA.  I do know that they are planning to open Phase 3 soon, but do not know much more than that.  Carl has had a wonderful response to this trial.  He started seeing results within a few weeks, as many B-RAF patients do.  He had his second set of scans, (sinnce starting the trial) on September 2.  The chest subq continues to shrink and we were told that the lung mets are now small enough that they cannot be measured on the scans…we feel blessed.

I am sorry that you are going through this and I think of you often.  You are truly a courageous warrior and an inspiration to many on this board.  I hope that this information will help you.

Pat

Hi Amy,

Well,  i don't doubt for one minute that you and Dennis will move a few mountains to track down a trial and of course your MPIP family will be on the case too!

It's so hard not to be discouraged while riding the ups and downs of this big roller coaster but your tenacity and faith will help you navigate this difficult path.  And yes, now's the time to delegate…and enjoy some pampering  🙂 :).

Sending lots of love and prayers always ..

Mary

Hi Amy,

Well,  i don't doubt for one minute that you and Dennis will move a few mountains to track down a trial and of course your MPIP family will be on the case too!

It's so hard not to be discouraged while riding the ups and downs of this big roller coaster but your tenacity and faith will help you navigate this difficult path.  And yes, now's the time to delegate…and enjoy some pampering  🙂 :).

Sending lots of love and prayers always ..

Mary

" We all know how great I am about letting others do stuff for me (and letting them do it their own way!) so this should be fun"

Me being a male everything I did was incorrect anyway. So if my wife does everything it is done correctly.

I sure wish you could catch a break from the beast.

" We all know how great I am about letting others do stuff for me (and letting them do it their own way!) so this should be fun"

Me being a male everything I did was incorrect anyway. So if my wife does everything it is done correctly.

I sure wish you could catch a break from the beast.

Amy I don't have any information for you but wanted to let you know that you are in my thougths and prayers.  You are an inspriation for me.   Your spirit feeds me.  

Please take care of yourself and let others do for YOU.

With love and prayers,

Shelly in SW

stage IV

Amy I don't have any information for you but wanted to let you know that you are in my thougths and prayers.  You are an inspriation for me.   Your spirit feeds me.  

Please take care of yourself and let others do for YOU.

With love and prayers,

Shelly in SW

stage IV

Dear Amy

well, my brother (prostate cancer) dealt with the tumors on his femur (had a few breaks then surgery to pin it with a titanian pin and his other leg done to prevent a breakage.  He was put on Zometa and no more breaks occured.  Zometa was one of the bone density builders they want me on, due to finding out I have lumbar osteoporosis which stopped  the doctors from using some drug for the BC problem after my bilateral.  Still have not gone that route. 

You are a strong woman, and I can see you in your TEEEEENY TINY SELF running the ship from your bed, or reclining chair, and everyone doing what they can do for you with LOVE.

Hope things proceed in your own requested orderly fashion, and know we all love you to bits.

Bonnie Lea

Dear Amy

well, my brother (prostate cancer) dealt with the tumors on his femur (had a few breaks then surgery to pin it with a titanian pin and his other leg done to prevent a breakage.  He was put on Zometa and no more breaks occured.  Zometa was one of the bone density builders they want me on, due to finding out I have lumbar osteoporosis which stopped  the doctors from using some drug for the BC problem after my bilateral.  Still have not gone that route. 

You are a strong woman, and I can see you in your TEEEEENY TINY SELF running the ship from your bed, or reclining chair, and everyone doing what they can do for you with LOVE.

Hope things proceed in your own requested orderly fashion, and know we all love you to bits.

Bonnie Lea

Amy, first healing prayers for you continue.

This is just a suggestion and I'd probably check with your doctor first.  But when I first started my fight with BMS over ipi for Will, I contacted my state's attorney general and they were very interested in helping.  Unfortunately, Will's doctor was not supportive – he was most worried about getting into trouble with BMS and losing access to future trials.

If you feel that you cannot get access to the drugs you need through the established channels, I'd present your case to your local congressperson and your state's attorney general.  They may be more helpful than you'd anticipate. 

Amy, first healing prayers for you continue.

This is just a suggestion and I'd probably check with your doctor first.  But when I first started my fight with BMS over ipi for Will, I contacted my state's attorney general and they were very interested in helping.  Unfortunately, Will's doctor was not supportive – he was most worried about getting into trouble with BMS and losing access to future trials.

If you feel that you cannot get access to the drugs you need through the established channels, I'd present your case to your local congressperson and your state's attorney general.  They may be more helpful than you'd anticipate. 

Also, Will is on Zometa.  (he got the first IV dose 2 weeks ago).  He has bone mets also.  No breaks yet.  He's had a few bouts of nausea and I don't know if that's from the cancer, the zometa, or the chemo – how can you tell?  But that's the only new side effect I've seen since he started Zometa. 

Also, Will is on Zometa.  (he got the first IV dose 2 weeks ago).  He has bone mets also.  No breaks yet.  He's had a few bouts of nausea and I don't know if that's from the cancer, the zometa, or the chemo – how can you tell?  But that's the only new side effect I've seen since he started Zometa. 

Hi Amy,

As usual, you are the eternal fighter and optimist. You are such an inspiration to us all! I do hope the radiation works on your bone mets, and that you do find a BRAF treatment to get you back on track. Sorry, I'm a bit out of the BRAF scene, as I don't have that mutation, so I have no advice to offer you. All I have is my continual support, prayers, positive vibes, pixie dust — whatever it takes to get this beast reined in again. Good luck, and thanks for the update.

Hugs

Sharyn

Stage IV (Starting Ipi next week)

Hi Amy,

As usual, you are the eternal fighter and optimist. You are such an inspiration to us all! I do hope the radiation works on your bone mets, and that you do find a BRAF treatment to get you back on track. Sorry, I'm a bit out of the BRAF scene, as I don't have that mutation, so I have no advice to offer you. All I have is my continual support, prayers, positive vibes, pixie dust — whatever it takes to get this beast reined in again. Good luck, and thanks for the update.

Hugs

Sharyn

Stage IV (Starting Ipi next week)

Amy, 

I will be praying for you to get your hands on the BRAF drug immediately. It is just insane that you are having trouble getting it…..

molly

Amy, 

I will be praying for you to get your hands on the BRAF drug immediately. It is just insane that you are having trouble getting it…..

molly

I tested BRAF positive as well but was not eligible for the BRAF trial that I was considering because I developed brain mets. My med onc has someone on Nexavar for over a year now with stable disease. So we are currently giving that a try. Major complaint-nausea & vomiting.

From what I have learned from others on this board Nexavar trials for melanoma were stopped during phase 3 b/c they failed to be working for a lot of people but it did work for some. It is currently approved for kidney and liver cancer. You would have to get it off label. My insurance first said no but my doc appealed the decision and I was approved for 6 months.

Of course, getting the actual BRAF inhibitor that worked for you would be the ideal situation. Have you heard of CTEP? Cancer Therapy Evaluation Program. I have heard they can be instrumental in getting access to research drugs on a case by case basis. It must be physician driven and he/she makes the application on your behalf and then it is sent to CTEP who will appeal to the drug company for approval/permission for your doctor to treat just you. I really don’t know all the rules and regulations. It could be that it’s just for research drugs that are really close to approval (like ipi) and not for something like your BRAF inhibitor which is still very much in phase III trials.

Sorry if I have gone on and on. I’m sure your doctor or research nurse will know right off the bat whether CTEP is an appropriate option.

Good luck Amy and I will be praying for you.

I tested BRAF positive as well but was not eligible for the BRAF trial that I was considering because I developed brain mets. My med onc has someone on Nexavar for over a year now with stable disease. So we are currently giving that a try. Major complaint-nausea & vomiting.

From what I have learned from others on this board Nexavar trials for melanoma were stopped during phase 3 b/c they failed to be working for a lot of people but it did work for some. It is currently approved for kidney and liver cancer. You would have to get it off label. My insurance first said no but my doc appealed the decision and I was approved for 6 months.

Of course, getting the actual BRAF inhibitor that worked for you would be the ideal situation. Have you heard of CTEP? Cancer Therapy Evaluation Program. I have heard they can be instrumental in getting access to research drugs on a case by case basis. It must be physician driven and he/she makes the application on your behalf and then it is sent to CTEP who will appeal to the drug company for approval/permission for your doctor to treat just you. I really don’t know all the rules and regulations. It could be that it’s just for research drugs that are really close to approval (like ipi) and not for something like your BRAF inhibitor which is still very much in phase III trials.

Sorry if I have gone on and on. I’m sure your doctor or research nurse will know right off the bat whether CTEP is an appropriate option.

Good luck Amy and I will be praying for you.

Dear Amy,

I wish you the very best in finding more of the BRAF inhibitor.  You must, must be able to get it!  I agree with everyone else. There must be a way.  You have been so brave and successful.  I hope your doctors will help you fight for this!

Best wishes,

ellen – dads daughter

Dear Amy,

I wish you the very best in finding more of the BRAF inhibitor.  You must, must be able to get it!  I agree with everyone else. There must be a way.  You have been so brave and successful.  I hope your doctors will help you fight for this!

Best wishes,

ellen – dads daughter

Dear Amy,

I wish you the very best in finding more of the BRAF inhibitor.  You must, must be able to get it!  I agree with everyone else. There must be a way.  You have been so brave and successful.  I hope your doctors will help you fight for this!

Best wishes,

ellen – dads daughter

Dear Amy,

I wish you the very best in finding more of the BRAF inhibitor.  You must, must be able to get it!  I agree with everyone else. There must be a way.  You have been so brave and successful.  I hope your doctors will help you fight for this!

Best wishes,

ellen – dads daughter

Amy,

As always, you are in my prayers.  I wish there was a way that the FDA would let you do whatever you want, not what they want.  How can it be?  No answer there but please know that I think of you often and pray for you and your family.

Nancy D

Amy,

As always, you are in my prayers.  I wish there was a way that the FDA would let you do whatever you want, not what they want.  How can it be?  No answer there but please know that I think of you often and pray for you and your family.

Nancy D

There must  surely be some response to the  need for compassionate use. You are not alone in this; there must be others in a similar situation who responded well to the drug but had to discontinue it due to another situation needing attention. MDX was available for compassionate use years before it became ipi, years before it was anywhere near FDA approval. Braf trials are moving along at a rapid rate, and it should qualify as one of those treatments that has a very positive future, just like Ipi long before it reached its current status. . My hope for you is that there is a growing demand for compassionate use and it becomes available to you thru that channel. If not, there must be some way for you to get into another trial. I am not certain, but many of them do not require that the patient be free of any CNS involvement, so long as their situation is stable, and it sounds like yours is. Best of luck to you. You are a great warrior, and I keep you in my thoughts and prayers.  

There must  surely be some response to the  need for compassionate use. You are not alone in this; there must be others in a similar situation who responded well to the drug but had to discontinue it due to another situation needing attention. MDX was available for compassionate use years before it became ipi, years before it was anywhere near FDA approval. Braf trials are moving along at a rapid rate, and it should qualify as one of those treatments that has a very positive future, just like Ipi long before it reached its current status. . My hope for you is that there is a growing demand for compassionate use and it becomes available to you thru that channel. If not, there must be some way for you to get into another trial. I am not certain, but many of them do not require that the patient be free of any CNS involvement, so long as their situation is stable, and it sounds like yours is. Best of luck to you. You are a great warrior, and I keep you in my thoughts and prayers.  

Hi Amy,

I am new to the board so I do not understand why you cannot go back on GSK Braf….or maybe GSK MEk.

I hope that you find the drug you neeedit seems you have come alone way to give up the fight now.

God Bless you & your family for what you are going thrrouhg.

Hi Amy,

I am new to the board so I do not understand why you cannot go back on GSK Braf….or maybe GSK MEk.

I hope that you find the drug you neeedit seems you have come alone way to give up the fight now.

God Bless you & your family for what you are going thrrouhg.