Nail Biting Husband

Erin,

My wife was diagnosed with Stage IV Melanoma cancer November 2009, and the primary was never on the skin – her doctors believe it was a lung primary.  Anyway, her cancer is in her lung, lung lymph node, and liver.  Since February 2010, she has been on a clinical trial for PLX4032, a B-Raf inhibitor.  This drug has worked very well for her, and her cancer is now nearly 30% of its size 13 months ago with no sign of abatement.  This drug was "advertised" as being a short term solution for those with the B-Raf mutation, with an original projected effective period of 6 – 8 months.  I will admit she duration with the drug is likely an anomolly, but it could give you that extra amount of time to check into VEGF (a friend of ours is having success with this trial drug), IPI, MEK, or some of the T-Cell "infusion therapies (I like what their doing at Hutchinson Cancer Center in Seattle).  

My wife's side effects have varied over her treatment – there was a rash and some hair loss for a short period, but for the most part she's battled some cysts that are like persistent zits and has some fatigue from time to time.  She still works out 3-4 times a week, goes hiking with our dog daily, and rides her horse regularly – in other words, she's kicking butt and has had to change little in her life.

Best of luck to you, and feel free to ask questions.

Mike 

Erin,

My wife was diagnosed with Stage IV Melanoma cancer November 2009, and the primary was never on the skin – her doctors believe it was a lung primary.  Anyway, her cancer is in her lung, lung lymph node, and liver.  Since February 2010, she has been on a clinical trial for PLX4032, a B-Raf inhibitor.  This drug has worked very well for her, and her cancer is now nearly 30% of its size 13 months ago with no sign of abatement.  This drug was "advertised" as being a short term solution for those with the B-Raf mutation, with an original projected effective period of 6 – 8 months.  I will admit she duration with the drug is likely an anomolly, but it could give you that extra amount of time to check into VEGF (a friend of ours is having success with this trial drug), IPI, MEK, or some of the T-Cell "infusion therapies (I like what their doing at Hutchinson Cancer Center in Seattle).  

My wife's side effects have varied over her treatment – there was a rash and some hair loss for a short period, but for the most part she's battled some cysts that are like persistent zits and has some fatigue from time to time.  She still works out 3-4 times a week, goes hiking with our dog daily, and rides her horse regularly – in other words, she's kicking butt and has had to change little in her life.

Best of luck to you, and feel free to ask questions.

Mike 

Erin,

My wife was diagnosed with Stage IV Melanoma cancer November 2009, and the primary was never on the skin – her doctors believe it was a lung primary.  Anyway, her cancer is in her lung, lung lymph node, and liver.  Since February 2010, she has been on a clinical trial for PLX4032, a B-Raf inhibitor.  This drug has worked very well for her, and her cancer is now nearly 30% of its size 13 months ago with no sign of abatement.  This drug was "advertised" as being a short term solution for those with the B-Raf mutation, with an original projected effective period of 6 – 8 months.  I will admit she duration with the drug is likely an anomolly, but it could give you that extra amount of time to check into VEGF (a friend of ours is having success with this trial drug), IPI, MEK, or some of the T-Cell "infusion therapies (I like what their doing at Hutchinson Cancer Center in Seattle).  

My wife's side effects have varied over her treatment – there was a rash and some hair loss for a short period, but for the most part she's battled some cysts that are like persistent zits and has some fatigue from time to time.  She still works out 3-4 times a week, goes hiking with our dog daily, and rides her horse regularly – in other words, she's kicking butt and has had to change little in her life.

Best of luck to you, and feel free to ask questions.

Mike 

Erin,

My wife was diagnosed with Stage IV Melanoma cancer November 2009, and the primary was never on the skin – her doctors believe it was a lung primary.  Anyway, her cancer is in her lung, lung lymph node, and liver.  Since February 2010, she has been on a clinical trial for PLX4032, a B-Raf inhibitor.  This drug has worked very well for her, and her cancer is now nearly 30% of its size 13 months ago with no sign of abatement.  This drug was "advertised" as being a short term solution for those with the B-Raf mutation, with an original projected effective period of 6 – 8 months.  I will admit she duration with the drug is likely an anomolly, but it could give you that extra amount of time to check into VEGF (a friend of ours is having success with this trial drug), IPI, MEK, or some of the T-Cell "infusion therapies (I like what their doing at Hutchinson Cancer Center in Seattle).  

My wife's side effects have varied over her treatment – there was a rash and some hair loss for a short period, but for the most part she's battled some cysts that are like persistent zits and has some fatigue from time to time.  She still works out 3-4 times a week, goes hiking with our dog daily, and rides her horse regularly – in other words, she's kicking butt and has had to change little in her life.

Best of luck to you, and feel free to ask questions.

Mike 

Erin,

My wife was diagnosed with Stage IV Melanoma cancer November 2009, and the primary was never on the skin – her doctors believe it was a lung primary.  Anyway, her cancer is in her lung, lung lymph node, and liver.  Since February 2010, she has been on a clinical trial for PLX4032, a B-Raf inhibitor.  This drug has worked very well for her, and her cancer is now nearly 30% of its size 13 months ago with no sign of abatement.  This drug was "advertised" as being a short term solution for those with the B-Raf mutation, with an original projected effective period of 6 – 8 months.  I will admit she duration with the drug is likely an anomolly, but it could give you that extra amount of time to check into VEGF (a friend of ours is having success with this trial drug), IPI, MEK, or some of the T-Cell "infusion therapies (I like what their doing at Hutchinson Cancer Center in Seattle).  

My wife's side effects have varied over her treatment – there was a rash and some hair loss for a short period, but for the most part she's battled some cysts that are like persistent zits and has some fatigue from time to time.  She still works out 3-4 times a week, goes hiking with our dog daily, and rides her horse regularly – in other words, she's kicking butt and has had to change little in her life.

Best of luck to you, and feel free to ask questions.

Mike 

Erin,

My wife was diagnosed with Stage IV Melanoma cancer November 2009, and the primary was never on the skin – her doctors believe it was a lung primary.  Anyway, her cancer is in her lung, lung lymph node, and liver.  Since February 2010, she has been on a clinical trial for PLX4032, a B-Raf inhibitor.  This drug has worked very well for her, and her cancer is now nearly 30% of its size 13 months ago with no sign of abatement.  This drug was "advertised" as being a short term solution for those with the B-Raf mutation, with an original projected effective period of 6 – 8 months.  I will admit she duration with the drug is likely an anomolly, but it could give you that extra amount of time to check into VEGF (a friend of ours is having success with this trial drug), IPI, MEK, or some of the T-Cell "infusion therapies (I like what their doing at Hutchinson Cancer Center in Seattle).  

My wife's side effects have varied over her treatment – there was a rash and some hair loss for a short period, but for the most part she's battled some cysts that are like persistent zits and has some fatigue from time to time.  She still works out 3-4 times a week, goes hiking with our dog daily, and rides her horse regularly – in other words, she's kicking butt and has had to change little in her life.

Best of luck to you, and feel free to ask questions.

Mike