Zelboraf stopped working

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  • Post
    • March 27, 2012 at 10:29 pm
    fordad
    Participant

      First time posting , but I have been lurking on this board for months.  My father, 80,  was diagnosed with Stage 4 metastatic melanoma in Sept 2011.   There were large masses in his chest and abdomen.  His first treatment option was radiation therapy to shrink the tumor in his chest.  He also tested BRAF+ and started Zelboraf .  However after only 1 week into his Zelboraf treatment, he was hospitalized for pneumonia / radiation pneumonitis.  They actually were not certain which one it was, so treated both.  In December, he started his Zelboraf —

      First time posting , but I have been lurking on this board for months.  My father, 80,  was diagnosed with Stage 4 metastatic melanoma in Sept 2011.   There were large masses in his chest and abdomen.  His first treatment option was radiation therapy to shrink the tumor in his chest.  He also tested BRAF+ and started Zelboraf .  However after only 1 week into his Zelboraf treatment, he was hospitalized for pneumonia / radiation pneumonitis.  They actually were not certain which one it was, so treated both.  In December, he started his Zelboraf — full dose, twice a day.  His 6 week scan showed a great response with no new tumor growth and shrinkage of 40%.  In March, he had his second scan, and the Zelboraf stopped working and his masses has increased in size.

      His oncologist says there are two treatment options:  Yervoy or Abraxine.  She recommends Abraxine because of her concerns about the toxitity of Yervoy and my father's ability to withstand treatment.  Everything I have read suggests the Yervoy to be more effective; however I am concerned about the time it takes to be effective, so perhaps the Abraxine would buy some more time.

      I am interested in hearing any experience in this decision.

      Thanks,

      Bill

    Viewing 5 reply threads
    • Replies
        • March 28, 2012 at 6:10 am
        James from Sydney
        Participant

          Have you asked the Oncologist whether he could add a MEK inhibitor to the Braf, i know of people who are having success with this combo, you may have to get into a Trial. Your Father is 80 and i can understand your concern in exposing him to Toxic treatments.

          • March 28, 2012 at 6:10 am
          James from Sydney
          Participant

            Have you asked the Oncologist whether he could add a MEK inhibitor to the Braf, i know of people who are having success with this combo, you may have to get into a Trial. Your Father is 80 and i can understand your concern in exposing him to Toxic treatments.

            • March 28, 2012 at 6:10 am
            James from Sydney
            Participant

              Have you asked the Oncologist whether he could add a MEK inhibitor to the Braf, i know of people who are having success with this combo, you may have to get into a Trial. Your Father is 80 and i can understand your concern in exposing him to Toxic treatments.

              • March 28, 2012 at 1:23 pm
              Gene_S
              Participant

                How is your fathers health beside the cancer?  That may be one of the factors to consider also.    You can read my husbands profile and see that Yervoy has not been to bad for him with the side effects.  Like all treatments it effects everyone differently.  Also he noticed changes quite quickly so the time element is also different with each individual.

                I pray that what they find for your dad works well for him.

                Judy (loving wife and caregiver of Gene Stage IV)

                  • March 28, 2012 at 2:15 pm
                  fordad
                  Participant

                    Judy and James,

                    Thank you for your replies.  My father was a very active 80 year old until his diagnosis. He does not have any other major health issues, but the melanoma has really weakened him.   Like most here, sometimes you are unsure if his symptoms are a result of the disease or the treatment (in his case Zelboraf).  He is weak and fatigued, his appetite is poor but he eats what he can (his oncologist attributes this to his tumor adjacent to his pancreas), but his weight has been stable.   He has symptoms of nausea, but no vomiting.   He wants to continue to fight this.  His recent blood work showed he is anemic, so he is getting a blood transfusion today in hopes this can pep him up.  My thoughts now are to give the Yervoy a shot, since this seems to provide the most hope.  And as you said, everyone is a statistic of one.

                    Bill (loving son)

                    • March 30, 2012 at 5:56 pm
                    Ali
                    Participant

                      Hope you guys see improvement.  My oncologist mentioned that most of his patients on Yervoy do very well with the side effects, which surprised me after what I had read about it.  Good luck!

                      • March 30, 2012 at 5:56 pm
                      Ali
                      Participant

                        Hope you guys see improvement.  My oncologist mentioned that most of his patients on Yervoy do very well with the side effects, which surprised me after what I had read about it.  Good luck!

                        • March 30, 2012 at 5:56 pm
                        Ali
                        Participant

                          Hope you guys see improvement.  My oncologist mentioned that most of his patients on Yervoy do very well with the side effects, which surprised me after what I had read about it.  Good luck!

                          • March 28, 2012 at 2:15 pm
                          fordad
                          Participant

                            Judy and James,

                            Thank you for your replies.  My father was a very active 80 year old until his diagnosis. He does not have any other major health issues, but the melanoma has really weakened him.   Like most here, sometimes you are unsure if his symptoms are a result of the disease or the treatment (in his case Zelboraf).  He is weak and fatigued, his appetite is poor but he eats what he can (his oncologist attributes this to his tumor adjacent to his pancreas), but his weight has been stable.   He has symptoms of nausea, but no vomiting.   He wants to continue to fight this.  His recent blood work showed he is anemic, so he is getting a blood transfusion today in hopes this can pep him up.  My thoughts now are to give the Yervoy a shot, since this seems to provide the most hope.  And as you said, everyone is a statistic of one.

                            Bill (loving son)

                            • March 28, 2012 at 2:15 pm
                            fordad
                            Participant

                              Judy and James,

                              Thank you for your replies.  My father was a very active 80 year old until his diagnosis. He does not have any other major health issues, but the melanoma has really weakened him.   Like most here, sometimes you are unsure if his symptoms are a result of the disease or the treatment (in his case Zelboraf).  He is weak and fatigued, his appetite is poor but he eats what he can (his oncologist attributes this to his tumor adjacent to his pancreas), but his weight has been stable.   He has symptoms of nausea, but no vomiting.   He wants to continue to fight this.  His recent blood work showed he is anemic, so he is getting a blood transfusion today in hopes this can pep him up.  My thoughts now are to give the Yervoy a shot, since this seems to provide the most hope.  And as you said, everyone is a statistic of one.

                              Bill (loving son)

                            • March 28, 2012 at 1:23 pm
                            Gene_S
                            Participant

                              How is your fathers health beside the cancer?  That may be one of the factors to consider also.    You can read my husbands profile and see that Yervoy has not been to bad for him with the side effects.  Like all treatments it effects everyone differently.  Also he noticed changes quite quickly so the time element is also different with each individual.

                              I pray that what they find for your dad works well for him.

                              Judy (loving wife and caregiver of Gene Stage IV)

                              • March 28, 2012 at 1:23 pm
                              Gene_S
                              Participant

                                How is your fathers health beside the cancer?  That may be one of the factors to consider also.    You can read my husbands profile and see that Yervoy has not been to bad for him with the side effects.  Like all treatments it effects everyone differently.  Also he noticed changes quite quickly so the time element is also different with each individual.

                                I pray that what they find for your dad works well for him.

                                Judy (loving wife and caregiver of Gene Stage IV)

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