› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Does Zelboraf work well on Melanoma?
- This topic has 12 replies, 3 voices, and was last updated 13 years ago by
alphabeta.
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- September 7, 2012 at 3:15 am
Hi everyone, I'm from China and also new to this forum. I'm also very glad to find a place to discuss Melanoma.
My dad was diagnosed Melanoma 12 years ago. Everything begins with a over-developed mole. After a WLS and 2 periods of chemo therapy, he has lived on his normal life for 12 years.
But the CT scan shows the Melanoma has spreaded over lung and liver this March. With 6 months chemo therapy, the Melanoma still grows a lot.
Now my family placed high hope in the medicine Zelboraf. However, it's not allowed to use or tested in China.
Hi everyone, I'm from China and also new to this forum. I'm also very glad to find a place to discuss Melanoma.
My dad was diagnosed Melanoma 12 years ago. Everything begins with a over-developed mole. After a WLS and 2 periods of chemo therapy, he has lived on his normal life for 12 years.
But the CT scan shows the Melanoma has spreaded over lung and liver this March. With 6 months chemo therapy, the Melanoma still grows a lot.
Now my family placed high hope in the medicine Zelboraf. However, it's not allowed to use or tested in China.
So I was wondering if anyone is taking Zelboraf and could show us how's the cure effect. Is it practical for my dad to go to US to take the treatment and how much that would be?
Thanks a lot.
- Replies
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- September 7, 2012 at 11:12 am
I don’t know about traveling to the US, but Zelboraf only works if he is BRaf positive. That can only be determined through pathology on a tumor sample. If he is BRaf+, Zelboraf works most of the time, very well and very quickly. Most patients have regression within days. It typically works for 6-9 months, before it stops working, but there are a few patients still on it for 1-2 years. Many patients achieve NED at some point on the drug, but it is a temporary fix. Most patients view it as a way to extend their life for awhile. It is not a cure. I think without insurance it’s $9000-$10,000 a month for the pills. Best of luck. -
- September 7, 2012 at 11:12 am
I don’t know about traveling to the US, but Zelboraf only works if he is BRaf positive. That can only be determined through pathology on a tumor sample. If he is BRaf+, Zelboraf works most of the time, very well and very quickly. Most patients have regression within days. It typically works for 6-9 months, before it stops working, but there are a few patients still on it for 1-2 years. Many patients achieve NED at some point on the drug, but it is a temporary fix. Most patients view it as a way to extend their life for awhile. It is not a cure. I think without insurance it’s $9000-$10,000 a month for the pills. Best of luck. -
- September 7, 2012 at 11:12 am
I don’t know about traveling to the US, but Zelboraf only works if he is BRaf positive. That can only be determined through pathology on a tumor sample. If he is BRaf+, Zelboraf works most of the time, very well and very quickly. Most patients have regression within days. It typically works for 6-9 months, before it stops working, but there are a few patients still on it for 1-2 years. Many patients achieve NED at some point on the drug, but it is a temporary fix. Most patients view it as a way to extend their life for awhile. It is not a cure. I think without insurance it’s $9000-$10,000 a month for the pills. Best of luck.-
- September 7, 2012 at 12:56 pm
As jmmm said, first you have to find out if your father's tumor has the BRAF mutation. I hope you can arrange for that test. I also agree that when Zelboraf works, it works quickly with few side effects. However, it only works in 50% of BRAF positive patients, and it's effects only last about 8 months. It did not work for my brother, for example.
There is hope, however, that some new drugs now in clinical trials like Dabrafenib (also for BRAF positive melanomas) will soon be approved. So if your father will be travelling so far at such expense, you might be wise to try to wait for one or more of the new drugs to be approved. That way, if Zelboraf does not work on your father's tumors, you will have other options. Perhaps surgery or radiation can help your father for the time being. As always, it's the waiting that's so hard!
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- September 7, 2012 at 12:56 pm
As jmmm said, first you have to find out if your father's tumor has the BRAF mutation. I hope you can arrange for that test. I also agree that when Zelboraf works, it works quickly with few side effects. However, it only works in 50% of BRAF positive patients, and it's effects only last about 8 months. It did not work for my brother, for example.
There is hope, however, that some new drugs now in clinical trials like Dabrafenib (also for BRAF positive melanomas) will soon be approved. So if your father will be travelling so far at such expense, you might be wise to try to wait for one or more of the new drugs to be approved. That way, if Zelboraf does not work on your father's tumors, you will have other options. Perhaps surgery or radiation can help your father for the time being. As always, it's the waiting that's so hard!
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- September 7, 2012 at 12:56 pm
As jmmm said, first you have to find out if your father's tumor has the BRAF mutation. I hope you can arrange for that test. I also agree that when Zelboraf works, it works quickly with few side effects. However, it only works in 50% of BRAF positive patients, and it's effects only last about 8 months. It did not work for my brother, for example.
There is hope, however, that some new drugs now in clinical trials like Dabrafenib (also for BRAF positive melanomas) will soon be approved. So if your father will be travelling so far at such expense, you might be wise to try to wait for one or more of the new drugs to be approved. That way, if Zelboraf does not work on your father's tumors, you will have other options. Perhaps surgery or radiation can help your father for the time being. As always, it's the waiting that's so hard!
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- September 15, 2012 at 4:45 pm
Hello.
For patients suffering from Melanoma in Russia or China. It is possible to buy Zelboraf in Russia or to buy Zelboraf in China by looking into a company called IsraMeds.com. They have services for supplying Zelboraf to Russia and China at very logical prices and their service is superb. I have used IsraMeds to buy Zelboraf and send it to my auncle in Russia. He had a prescription. But you could also use their services to connect you with an Israeli Oncologist who specializes in Melanoma. I would definitly give them a try.
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- September 15, 2012 at 4:45 pm
Hello.
For patients suffering from Melanoma in Russia or China. It is possible to buy Zelboraf in Russia or to buy Zelboraf in China by looking into a company called IsraMeds.com. They have services for supplying Zelboraf to Russia and China at very logical prices and their service is superb. I have used IsraMeds to buy Zelboraf and send it to my auncle in Russia. He had a prescription. But you could also use their services to connect you with an Israeli Oncologist who specializes in Melanoma. I would definitly give them a try.
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- September 15, 2012 at 4:45 pm
Hello.
For patients suffering from Melanoma in Russia or China. It is possible to buy Zelboraf in Russia or to buy Zelboraf in China by looking into a company called IsraMeds.com. They have services for supplying Zelboraf to Russia and China at very logical prices and their service is superb. I have used IsraMeds to buy Zelboraf and send it to my auncle in Russia. He had a prescription. But you could also use their services to connect you with an Israeli Oncologist who specializes in Melanoma. I would definitly give them a try.
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- September 15, 2012 at 5:30 pm
Hello.
For patients suffering from Melanoma in Russia or China. It is possible to buy Zelboraf in Russia or to buy Zelboraf in China by looking into a company called IsraMeds.com. They have services for supplying Zelboraf to Russia and China at very logical prices and their service is superb. I have used IsraMeds to buy Zelboraf and send it to my auncle in Russia. He had a prescription. But you could also use their services to connect you with an Israeli Oncologist who specializes in Melanoma. I would definitly give them a try.
-
- September 15, 2012 at 5:30 pm
Hello.
For patients suffering from Melanoma in Russia or China. It is possible to buy Zelboraf in Russia or to buy Zelboraf in China by looking into a company called IsraMeds.com. They have services for supplying Zelboraf to Russia and China at very logical prices and their service is superb. I have used IsraMeds to buy Zelboraf and send it to my auncle in Russia. He had a prescription. But you could also use their services to connect you with an Israeli Oncologist who specializes in Melanoma. I would definitly give them a try.
-
- September 15, 2012 at 5:30 pm
Hello.
For patients suffering from Melanoma in Russia or China. It is possible to buy Zelboraf in Russia or to buy Zelboraf in China by looking into a company called IsraMeds.com. They have services for supplying Zelboraf to Russia and China at very logical prices and their service is superb. I have used IsraMeds to buy Zelboraf and send it to my auncle in Russia. He had a prescription. But you could also use their services to connect you with an Israeli Oncologist who specializes in Melanoma. I would definitly give them a try.
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Tagged: cutaneous melanoma
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