› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Zelboraf side effects
- This topic has 18 replies, 4 voices, and was last updated 11 years, 5 months ago by
King.
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- December 8, 2012 at 8:39 pm
I haven’t posted in awhile but I hope everyone is having a good holiday season! I have been taking “Z” now since Oct. 18 and in the beginning the side effects were very minimal. However, now I think the side effects are showing up more…rash, red bumps on skin with a few new freckles/moles that I am watching, very sore feet (soles), sore joints and knuckles on fingers are swollen (can’t take rings off), tired more and low grade fever/chills at night only (99-100). On a few of the red bumps on my legs I can feel a small pea size bump just under the skin.I haven’t posted in awhile but I hope everyone is having a good holiday season! I have been taking “Z” now since Oct. 18 and in the beginning the side effects were very minimal. However, now I think the side effects are showing up more…rash, red bumps on skin with a few new freckles/moles that I am watching, very sore feet (soles), sore joints and knuckles on fingers are swollen (can’t take rings off), tired more and low grade fever/chills at night only (99-100). On a few of the red bumps on my legs I can feel a small pea size bump just under the skin. Are all these side effects normal and how long do they normally last? I was hoping they would fade away after awhile. I really don’t want to have to cut my rings off so I am waiting to see if it goes down. Any ideas, suggestions or input on your experience with Z will be helpful. Thanks!
Kelly
Stage lV
Fight the beast with all we got!
- Replies
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- December 8, 2012 at 11:52 pm
Kelly – talk with your onc. It is very common to have the dosage reduced if the side effects are intolerable. Alot of people do see the effects improve after several months. You should be seeing a dermatologist more often too so they can watch for Squamous Cell Carcinomas and remove them immediately, it is a known side effect that some people get. I had 2 removed. Both popped up around week 8 of therapy. I’ve had swelling like you described, it receded after a few days off drug. I have a hard time staying on the drug continually. Have you tried ibuprofen for joints/fever? -
- December 8, 2012 at 11:52 pm
Kelly – talk with your onc. It is very common to have the dosage reduced if the side effects are intolerable. Alot of people do see the effects improve after several months. You should be seeing a dermatologist more often too so they can watch for Squamous Cell Carcinomas and remove them immediately, it is a known side effect that some people get. I had 2 removed. Both popped up around week 8 of therapy. I’ve had swelling like you described, it receded after a few days off drug. I have a hard time staying on the drug continually. Have you tried ibuprofen for joints/fever? -
- December 8, 2012 at 11:52 pm
Kelly – talk with your onc. It is very common to have the dosage reduced if the side effects are intolerable. Alot of people do see the effects improve after several months. You should be seeing a dermatologist more often too so they can watch for Squamous Cell Carcinomas and remove them immediately, it is a known side effect that some people get. I had 2 removed. Both popped up around week 8 of therapy. I’ve had swelling like you described, it receded after a few days off drug. I have a hard time staying on the drug continually. Have you tried ibuprofen for joints/fever? -
- December 9, 2012 at 12:08 am
Kelly,
I saw my dermatologist every month when I first started on Zelboraf. Within a week or two of starting, I had a squamous cell pop up on my forehead and have had to have several other suspicious areas removed. I did develop rather odd skin things like tags and warts, and such. Just be sure to see the derm regularly. I also did get those red, painful bumps that looked almost like a very large bug-bite.They were very painful, but would run in cycles…the times when they were most present seemed to correlate with the times I ran more low-grade fevers and felt yucky. But then they would subside and I'd have better days.I did notice a bump under each one of them, and the bump took a little longer to go away than the redness, but they did fade away. I found Ibuprofen worked well to help the joint stiffness/pain. My feet were very painful , and I found that gel inserts in my shoes helped…and much of the time I wore sheepskin slippers 🙂 . The painful feet went completely away for me while I was still on the med. You shuld let your Dr know abt the swelling, for sure. Many people experience fewer side effects as time goes on, I had to go on to a reduced dosage after just one week on Z. I hope these things subside for you soon.
PS. Have you tried soaping up your fingers real well, and trying to remove the rings that way? Sometimes that will work.
Hope it all gets better soon for you!
Tina
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- December 9, 2012 at 12:08 am
Kelly,
I saw my dermatologist every month when I first started on Zelboraf. Within a week or two of starting, I had a squamous cell pop up on my forehead and have had to have several other suspicious areas removed. I did develop rather odd skin things like tags and warts, and such. Just be sure to see the derm regularly. I also did get those red, painful bumps that looked almost like a very large bug-bite.They were very painful, but would run in cycles…the times when they were most present seemed to correlate with the times I ran more low-grade fevers and felt yucky. But then they would subside and I'd have better days.I did notice a bump under each one of them, and the bump took a little longer to go away than the redness, but they did fade away. I found Ibuprofen worked well to help the joint stiffness/pain. My feet were very painful , and I found that gel inserts in my shoes helped…and much of the time I wore sheepskin slippers 🙂 . The painful feet went completely away for me while I was still on the med. You shuld let your Dr know abt the swelling, for sure. Many people experience fewer side effects as time goes on, I had to go on to a reduced dosage after just one week on Z. I hope these things subside for you soon.
PS. Have you tried soaping up your fingers real well, and trying to remove the rings that way? Sometimes that will work.
Hope it all gets better soon for you!
Tina
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- December 9, 2012 at 12:08 am
Kelly,
I saw my dermatologist every month when I first started on Zelboraf. Within a week or two of starting, I had a squamous cell pop up on my forehead and have had to have several other suspicious areas removed. I did develop rather odd skin things like tags and warts, and such. Just be sure to see the derm regularly. I also did get those red, painful bumps that looked almost like a very large bug-bite.They were very painful, but would run in cycles…the times when they were most present seemed to correlate with the times I ran more low-grade fevers and felt yucky. But then they would subside and I'd have better days.I did notice a bump under each one of them, and the bump took a little longer to go away than the redness, but they did fade away. I found Ibuprofen worked well to help the joint stiffness/pain. My feet were very painful , and I found that gel inserts in my shoes helped…and much of the time I wore sheepskin slippers 🙂 . The painful feet went completely away for me while I was still on the med. You shuld let your Dr know abt the swelling, for sure. Many people experience fewer side effects as time goes on, I had to go on to a reduced dosage after just one week on Z. I hope these things subside for you soon.
PS. Have you tried soaping up your fingers real well, and trying to remove the rings that way? Sometimes that will work.
Hope it all gets better soon for you!
Tina
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- December 11, 2012 at 6:02 pm
Hi Kelly,
I've been thinking of you. Thanks for the update. I hope you are able to enjoy the holidays with your family even though it doesn't sound like you feel great. You are tough, though, I know that. If I can do anything to help or if you just want to vent, you know my number and email. I'm here for you.
Happy Holidays! Keep up the good fight!
Stay Strong
King
Stage IV 7/05 Liver mets
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- December 11, 2012 at 6:02 pm
Hi Kelly,
I've been thinking of you. Thanks for the update. I hope you are able to enjoy the holidays with your family even though it doesn't sound like you feel great. You are tough, though, I know that. If I can do anything to help or if you just want to vent, you know my number and email. I'm here for you.
Happy Holidays! Keep up the good fight!
Stay Strong
King
Stage IV 7/05 Liver mets
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- December 11, 2012 at 6:02 pm
Hi Kelly,
I've been thinking of you. Thanks for the update. I hope you are able to enjoy the holidays with your family even though it doesn't sound like you feel great. You are tough, though, I know that. If I can do anything to help or if you just want to vent, you know my number and email. I'm here for you.
Happy Holidays! Keep up the good fight!
Stay Strong
King
Stage IV 7/05 Liver mets
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Tagged: cutaneous melanoma
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