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Do BRAF inhibitors work in the brain?
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Do BRAF inhibitors work in the brain?

› Forums › Cutaneous Melanoma Community › Do BRAF inhibitors work in the brain?

  • Post
    • August 16, 2015 at 11:14 pm
    Hayden30
    Participant

       

      ive been on mekinist and tafinlar for 2 weeks now, and in that time I've had several subcutaneous tumors that I can feel get smaller and some I can't even feel anymore. I know that the drugs are working, but in that same two weeks I had a tumor in my brain grow from 4mm to 20mm!! I've talked to two melanoma specialists that say the drugs do cross the blood brain barrier, and that's the reason my doc put me on them to begin with. Now I'm reading about it and getting conflicting info. Does it take them longer to work on the brain possibly? 

       

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    • Replies
        • August 16, 2015 at 11:49 pm
        jamieth29
        Participant
          One of the people that frequent this site Celeste has a lot of info…there us info about braf crossing blood brain barrier on her page. I think page 2 or three. It seems that there is some different opinions on this subject although.
          http://chaoticallypreciselifeloveandmelanoma.blogspot.com/?m=1
          • August 16, 2015 at 11:49 pm
          jamieth29
          Participant
            One of the people that frequent this site Celeste has a lot of info…there us info about braf crossing blood brain barrier on her page. I think page 2 or three. It seems that there is some different opinions on this subject although.
            http://chaoticallypreciselifeloveandmelanoma.blogspot.com/?m=1
            • August 16, 2015 at 11:49 pm
            jamieth29
            Participant
              One of the people that frequent this site Celeste has a lot of info…there us info about braf crossing blood brain barrier on her page. I think page 2 or three. It seems that there is some different opinions on this subject although.
              http://chaoticallypreciselifeloveandmelanoma.blogspot.com/?m=1
              • August 17, 2015 at 1:07 am
              Mat
              Participant

                Yes, the combo will work on brain tumors in some patients (me included).  I would still pursue SRS in conjunction with the combo (which is what I did in August 2013).  As my rad onc says, the brain is expensive real estate.

                  • August 17, 2015 at 2:18 pm
                  jpg
                  Participant

                    They may pass the blood brain barrier but whether they work to eliminate the tumors is a question we don't have answers to.  I was one who developed brain mets while on the combo thinking they don't prevent them.

                    • August 17, 2015 at 2:18 pm
                    jpg
                    Participant

                      They may pass the blood brain barrier but whether they work to eliminate the tumors is a question we don't have answers to.  I was one who developed brain mets while on the combo thinking they don't prevent them.

                      • August 17, 2015 at 2:18 pm
                      jpg
                      Participant

                        They may pass the blood brain barrier but whether they work to eliminate the tumors is a question we don't have answers to.  I was one who developed brain mets while on the combo thinking they don't prevent them.

                      • August 17, 2015 at 1:07 am
                      Mat
                      Participant

                        Yes, the combo will work on brain tumors in some patients (me included).  I would still pursue SRS in conjunction with the combo (which is what I did in August 2013).  As my rad onc says, the brain is expensive real estate.

                        • August 17, 2015 at 1:07 am
                        Mat
                        Participant

                          Yes, the combo will work on brain tumors in some patients (me included).  I would still pursue SRS in conjunction with the combo (which is what I did in August 2013).  As my rad onc says, the brain is expensive real estate.

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