Bruce Davis

Hi Dave,

Sorry to hear of your mets.

Just thought I would tell you of my experience as we seem to be along the same path.

April 2011 I had all lymph nodes removed under left armpit.

CT scan revealed mets to lungs in July of 2011.

I was fortunate to be Braf+ and have been on Zelboraf since September of 2011.

There are many new choice drugs out there now. The main thing is to stay positive and find what new medication works for you.

I wish you the very best!

Bruce

Hi Dave,

Sorry to hear of your mets.

Just thought I would tell you of my experience as we seem to be along the same path.

April 2011 I had all lymph nodes removed under left armpit.

CT scan revealed mets to lungs in July of 2011.

I was fortunate to be Braf+ and have been on Zelboraf since September of 2011.

There are many new choice drugs out there now. The main thing is to stay positive and find what new medication works for you.

I wish you the very best!

Bruce

Hi Dave,

Sorry to hear of your mets.

Just thought I would tell you of my experience as we seem to be along the same path.

April 2011 I had all lymph nodes removed under left armpit.

CT scan revealed mets to lungs in July of 2011.

I was fortunate to be Braf+ and have been on Zelboraf since September of 2011.

There are many new choice drugs out there now. The main thing is to stay positive and find what new medication works for you.

I wish you the very best!

Bruce

Have been taking Zelboraf since Sept. 2011. Side effects seem to be different for everyone although mine seem to parallel Richards. The sun has been unforgiving the whole time, burns occur quickly and I always miss a spot with sunscreen so at least for me the burn was preventable. Pain in lower legs the 1st 2 months, although I was able to run up to 4 miles the 3rd month. That didn't last long as pain in the front bottom of feet started (that was the worst side effect for me). Arthritic pain seemed to move from hands/ wrists to ankles/knees from left to right sides sometimes. Arthritic pain " from medicine" seemed to go away after maybe 4 months. Feet are still a little painful, nothing like the 1st year. Hair on the entire body seemed to diminish.

Overall the side effects have been very minimal compared to what a lot of people go through with tmelanoma, everyone is different. I was able to work for 2 1/2 years and began to feel physically and mentally drained. Still enjoy a little biking and a little walking, try to stay active.

Hope this helps and wish you the best.

Bruce

Have been taking Zelboraf since Sept. 2011. Side effects seem to be different for everyone although mine seem to parallel Richards. The sun has been unforgiving the whole time, burns occur quickly and I always miss a spot with sunscreen so at least for me the burn was preventable. Pain in lower legs the 1st 2 months, although I was able to run up to 4 miles the 3rd month. That didn't last long as pain in the front bottom of feet started (that was the worst side effect for me). Arthritic pain seemed to move from hands/ wrists to ankles/knees from left to right sides sometimes. Arthritic pain " from medicine" seemed to go away after maybe 4 months. Feet are still a little painful, nothing like the 1st year. Hair on the entire body seemed to diminish.

Overall the side effects have been very minimal compared to what a lot of people go through with tmelanoma, everyone is different. I was able to work for 2 1/2 years and began to feel physically and mentally drained. Still enjoy a little biking and a little walking, try to stay active.

Hope this helps and wish you the best.

Bruce

Have been taking Zelboraf since Sept. 2011. Side effects seem to be different for everyone although mine seem to parallel Richards. The sun has been unforgiving the whole time, burns occur quickly and I always miss a spot with sunscreen so at least for me the burn was preventable. Pain in lower legs the 1st 2 months, although I was able to run up to 4 miles the 3rd month. That didn't last long as pain in the front bottom of feet started (that was the worst side effect for me). Arthritic pain seemed to move from hands/ wrists to ankles/knees from left to right sides sometimes. Arthritic pain " from medicine" seemed to go away after maybe 4 months. Feet are still a little painful, nothing like the 1st year. Hair on the entire body seemed to diminish.

Overall the side effects have been very minimal compared to what a lot of people go through with tmelanoma, everyone is different. I was able to work for 2 1/2 years and began to feel physically and mentally drained. Still enjoy a little biking and a little walking, try to stay active.

Hope this helps and wish you the best.

Bruce

My side effects at first, the first month to 2 months; painful lower legs, and arms from elbow through hands. Pain would switch from Left side to Right side, sometimes legs and sometimes arms or both, seemed like arthritic pain. Thats what stands out to me for the first couple of months as being the worst.

I think people suffer from different side effects. The sun has always been difficult. Missing 1 little spot with sun-tan lotion can turn into 2nd degree burn for me after short period of time.

After about 3 months a diabetic like nerve pain went to the bottom-front of my feet. That lasted a long time months without relief, even tried cortizone shots in bottom of feet without relief. Maybe the side-effects…pain goes to the weakest parts of your body. I have high arches in feet and ran marathons. Arthritis in legs and hands.

I've been fortunate, Zelboraf shrunk the tumors in lungs significantly as I was facing 6 months to a year to live back in sept. of 2011. CT scans and blood work has come back well always. So the side effects I would say were minimal.

I was able to work for 2 1/2 years taking Zelboraf. The last year has brought fatigue and some nausea, foot pain and fluid in legs. If possible the best thing is to keep active!

Hope this helps your father and I wish him the best!

Bruce

My side effects at first, the first month to 2 months; painful lower legs, and arms from elbow through hands. Pain would switch from Left side to Right side, sometimes legs and sometimes arms or both, seemed like arthritic pain. Thats what stands out to me for the first couple of months as being the worst.

I think people suffer from different side effects. The sun has always been difficult. Missing 1 little spot with sun-tan lotion can turn into 2nd degree burn for me after short period of time.

After about 3 months a diabetic like nerve pain went to the bottom-front of my feet. That lasted a long time months without relief, even tried cortizone shots in bottom of feet without relief. Maybe the side-effects…pain goes to the weakest parts of your body. I have high arches in feet and ran marathons. Arthritis in legs and hands.

I've been fortunate, Zelboraf shrunk the tumors in lungs significantly as I was facing 6 months to a year to live back in sept. of 2011. CT scans and blood work has come back well always. So the side effects I would say were minimal.

I was able to work for 2 1/2 years taking Zelboraf. The last year has brought fatigue and some nausea, foot pain and fluid in legs. If possible the best thing is to keep active!

Hope this helps your father and I wish him the best!

Bruce

My side effects at first, the first month to 2 months; painful lower legs, and arms from elbow through hands. Pain would switch from Left side to Right side, sometimes legs and sometimes arms or both, seemed like arthritic pain. Thats what stands out to me for the first couple of months as being the worst.

I think people suffer from different side effects. The sun has always been difficult. Missing 1 little spot with sun-tan lotion can turn into 2nd degree burn for me after short period of time.

After about 3 months a diabetic like nerve pain went to the bottom-front of my feet. That lasted a long time months without relief, even tried cortizone shots in bottom of feet without relief. Maybe the side-effects…pain goes to the weakest parts of your body. I have high arches in feet and ran marathons. Arthritis in legs and hands.

I've been fortunate, Zelboraf shrunk the tumors in lungs significantly as I was facing 6 months to a year to live back in sept. of 2011. CT scans and blood work has come back well always. So the side effects I would say were minimal.

I was able to work for 2 1/2 years taking Zelboraf. The last year has brought fatigue and some nausea, foot pain and fluid in legs. If possible the best thing is to keep active!

Hope this helps your father and I wish him the best!

Bruce