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BRAF inhibitors, Mek/Taf vs zelboraf
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BRAF inhibitors, Mek/Taf vs zelboraf

› Forums › Cutaneous Melanoma Community › BRAF inhibitors, Mek/Taf vs zelboraf

  • Post
    • August 11, 2015 at 12:30 am
    Hayden30
    Participant

      Hello, 

      im new to this forum and have been stage IV since February. I've had mets all over, lungs, eye muscle, bone, brain and subcutaneous. I tried yervoy which didn't help, and my doctor put me on the combo of mekinist and tafinlar because I'm BRAF positive. I'm just curious why I would do this versus just Zelboraf like other people in my position. Does one method work better? I trust my doctor, I'm just wondering if one is proven to work better or is newer. I can't seem to find the info when I research those drugs. I'll take any word of encouragement also!! It's been a rough few months. 

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    • Replies
        • August 11, 2015 at 12:47 am
        Bubbles
        Participant

          Hi Hayden,

          You doc is doing well.  Combining BRAF inhibitors WITH a MEK inhibitor is the standard of care for melanoma patients today.  The combination provides patients with a greater response rate, decreased rates of resistance, and decreased side effects than when BRAFi are given alone. Additionally, some patients have decreased development of resistance to BRAFi when the drug is administered in a "alternate dosing" pattern.  Here's a post where I put some of this info together:  http://chaoticallypreciselifeloveandmelanoma.blogspot.com/2014/02/braf-inhibitors-for-melanoma-dabrafenib.html

          Combination therapies….first part addresses the BRAF/MEK scenario:  http://chaoticallypreciselifeloveandmelanoma.blogspot.com/2014/08/combination-therapies-for-melanoma.html

          Dealing with melanoma since 2003.  Stage IV since 2010.  You got this!!! Wishing you well, Celeste

            • August 11, 2015 at 1:22 am
            Hayden30
            Participant

              Thank you Celeste! 

              That cleared it up for me. What treatment have you done to manage your stage IV? I just had my brain tumor removed last week, and I have gamma knife this week. I feel like it's all happening so fast, but I'm feeling good so far. 

              • August 11, 2015 at 3:15 am
              Bubbles
              Participant

                Excision of lesion to right back followed by right axillary lymphadenetomy with a positive node in 2003.  No treatment….because there was none!!!…other than interferon at that time. Excision of tumor to left arm with left axillary lymphadenectomy, no positive nodes, 2007…continued observation. SRS to brain tumor followed by removal of right upper lobe of lung in April 2010.  Removal of right tonsil, positive for melanoma, October 2010.  Trial of Nivo and peptide vaccines for 2 1/2 years started in Dec of 2010.  NED ever since.  Next scans Sept 4.  It's a process.  Hang in there.  C

                • August 11, 2015 at 3:15 am
                Bubbles
                Participant

                  Excision of lesion to right back followed by right axillary lymphadenetomy with a positive node in 2003.  No treatment….because there was none!!!…other than interferon at that time. Excision of tumor to left arm with left axillary lymphadenectomy, no positive nodes, 2007…continued observation. SRS to brain tumor followed by removal of right upper lobe of lung in April 2010.  Removal of right tonsil, positive for melanoma, October 2010.  Trial of Nivo and peptide vaccines for 2 1/2 years started in Dec of 2010.  NED ever since.  Next scans Sept 4.  It's a process.  Hang in there.  C

                  • August 11, 2015 at 3:15 am
                  Bubbles
                  Participant

                    Excision of lesion to right back followed by right axillary lymphadenetomy with a positive node in 2003.  No treatment….because there was none!!!…other than interferon at that time. Excision of tumor to left arm with left axillary lymphadenectomy, no positive nodes, 2007…continued observation. SRS to brain tumor followed by removal of right upper lobe of lung in April 2010.  Removal of right tonsil, positive for melanoma, October 2010.  Trial of Nivo and peptide vaccines for 2 1/2 years started in Dec of 2010.  NED ever since.  Next scans Sept 4.  It's a process.  Hang in there.  C

                    • August 11, 2015 at 1:22 am
                    Hayden30
                    Participant

                      Thank you Celeste! 

                      That cleared it up for me. What treatment have you done to manage your stage IV? I just had my brain tumor removed last week, and I have gamma knife this week. I feel like it's all happening so fast, but I'm feeling good so far. 

                      • August 11, 2015 at 1:22 am
                      Hayden30
                      Participant

                        Thank you Celeste! 

                        That cleared it up for me. What treatment have you done to manage your stage IV? I just had my brain tumor removed last week, and I have gamma knife this week. I feel like it's all happening so fast, but I'm feeling good so far. 

                      • August 11, 2015 at 12:47 am
                      Bubbles
                      Participant

                        Hi Hayden,

                        You doc is doing well.  Combining BRAF inhibitors WITH a MEK inhibitor is the standard of care for melanoma patients today.  The combination provides patients with a greater response rate, decreased rates of resistance, and decreased side effects than when BRAFi are given alone. Additionally, some patients have decreased development of resistance to BRAFi when the drug is administered in a "alternate dosing" pattern.  Here's a post where I put some of this info together:  http://chaoticallypreciselifeloveandmelanoma.blogspot.com/2014/02/braf-inhibitors-for-melanoma-dabrafenib.html

                        Combination therapies….first part addresses the BRAF/MEK scenario:  http://chaoticallypreciselifeloveandmelanoma.blogspot.com/2014/08/combination-therapies-for-melanoma.html

                        Dealing with melanoma since 2003.  Stage IV since 2010.  You got this!!! Wishing you well, Celeste

                        • August 11, 2015 at 12:47 am
                        Bubbles
                        Participant

                          Hi Hayden,

                          You doc is doing well.  Combining BRAF inhibitors WITH a MEK inhibitor is the standard of care for melanoma patients today.  The combination provides patients with a greater response rate, decreased rates of resistance, and decreased side effects than when BRAFi are given alone. Additionally, some patients have decreased development of resistance to BRAFi when the drug is administered in a "alternate dosing" pattern.  Here's a post where I put some of this info together:  http://chaoticallypreciselifeloveandmelanoma.blogspot.com/2014/02/braf-inhibitors-for-melanoma-dabrafenib.html

                          Combination therapies….first part addresses the BRAF/MEK scenario:  http://chaoticallypreciselifeloveandmelanoma.blogspot.com/2014/08/combination-therapies-for-melanoma.html

                          Dealing with melanoma since 2003.  Stage IV since 2010.  You got this!!! Wishing you well, Celeste

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