Side Effects of Zelboraf – Urgent Help

You can call the hotline for the BRAF drug.  Otherwise, I would make sure you are talking to a doc who regularly prescribes this.  If it means your local onc has to conference with someone else, do that.  This drug has side effects but for most, they can be manageable.  But if your doc has never dealt with them before, get advice from a doc or the manufacturer. 

You can call the hotline for the BRAF drug.  Otherwise, I would make sure you are talking to a doc who regularly prescribes this.  If it means your local onc has to conference with someone else, do that.  This drug has side effects but for most, they can be manageable.  But if your doc has never dealt with them before, get advice from a doc or the manufacturer. 

You can call the hotline for the BRAF drug.  Otherwise, I would make sure you are talking to a doc who regularly prescribes this.  If it means your local onc has to conference with someone else, do that.  This drug has side effects but for most, they can be manageable.  But if your doc has never dealt with them before, get advice from a doc or the manufacturer. 

A rash that began soon after I started went away in a few weeks.I did not have any severe itching .I use Gold Bond, which is a brand name, for what little I had.

The dermatologist  burns off most of the spots that appear with liquid nitrogen I believe.

Most of my spots have been little and wart like .They usually need treated twice .He said there is a close relationship between squamous skin cancer and warts.He biopsied 5 spots in July-the two that looked minor were removed later surgically.One was sqaumous and one was basal..One had popped up two days before my appointment..He said his job is to zap them before they need excised.

The skin issues are also a side effect of zelboraf.My regular dermatologist just happens to work some with my cancer center doctors so he is familiar with zelboraf.I have seen posts where people said their doctors were not familiar with the med.

 I take a 50,000 vitamin D3 prescription every two weeks–many sources recommend vit D for cancer patients.I take a turmeric capsule on my own.I drink organic whole milk.I try to eat many vegetables like broccoli,cooked tomatoes –and any that articles recommend  –and seem to need protein too–eating well makes me feel better.I don't do as much as I had hoped to because your energy level is down some and eating well involves shopping -preparing ,cooking and dishes–I do believe it is important though

Pharmacist from company that calls does not want me to drink alcohol at all(not even the drink I enjoyed eating out once a month)

I also think about interactions from taking other herbs or meds.The nurse said some people take way too many so be cautious.

I took ibuprofen for joint pain and they switched me to Advil because of possible kidney effects.However the pharmacist said they were in the same family so… anyway I only take if I need too.

I hope your brother feels better soon.I feel better than I expected to feel but  do have to do less than I used to.

A rash that began soon after I started went away in a few weeks.I did not have any severe itching .I use Gold Bond, which is a brand name, for what little I had.

The dermatologist  burns off most of the spots that appear with liquid nitrogen I believe.

Most of my spots have been little and wart like .They usually need treated twice .He said there is a close relationship between squamous skin cancer and warts.He biopsied 5 spots in July-the two that looked minor were removed later surgically.One was sqaumous and one was basal..One had popped up two days before my appointment..He said his job is to zap them before they need excised.

The skin issues are also a side effect of zelboraf.My regular dermatologist just happens to work some with my cancer center doctors so he is familiar with zelboraf.I have seen posts where people said their doctors were not familiar with the med.

 I take a 50,000 vitamin D3 prescription every two weeks–many sources recommend vit D for cancer patients.I take a turmeric capsule on my own.I drink organic whole milk.I try to eat many vegetables like broccoli,cooked tomatoes –and any that articles recommend  –and seem to need protein too–eating well makes me feel better.I don't do as much as I had hoped to because your energy level is down some and eating well involves shopping -preparing ,cooking and dishes–I do believe it is important though

Pharmacist from company that calls does not want me to drink alcohol at all(not even the drink I enjoyed eating out once a month)

I also think about interactions from taking other herbs or meds.The nurse said some people take way too many so be cautious.

I took ibuprofen for joint pain and they switched me to Advil because of possible kidney effects.However the pharmacist said they were in the same family so… anyway I only take if I need too.

I hope your brother feels better soon.I feel better than I expected to feel but  do have to do less than I used to.

A rash that began soon after I started went away in a few weeks.I did not have any severe itching .I use Gold Bond, which is a brand name, for what little I had.

The dermatologist  burns off most of the spots that appear with liquid nitrogen I believe.

Most of my spots have been little and wart like .They usually need treated twice .He said there is a close relationship between squamous skin cancer and warts.He biopsied 5 spots in July-the two that looked minor were removed later surgically.One was sqaumous and one was basal..One had popped up two days before my appointment..He said his job is to zap them before they need excised.

The skin issues are also a side effect of zelboraf.My regular dermatologist just happens to work some with my cancer center doctors so he is familiar with zelboraf.I have seen posts where people said their doctors were not familiar with the med.

 I take a 50,000 vitamin D3 prescription every two weeks–many sources recommend vit D for cancer patients.I take a turmeric capsule on my own.I drink organic whole milk.I try to eat many vegetables like broccoli,cooked tomatoes –and any that articles recommend  –and seem to need protein too–eating well makes me feel better.I don't do as much as I had hoped to because your energy level is down some and eating well involves shopping -preparing ,cooking and dishes–I do believe it is important though

Pharmacist from company that calls does not want me to drink alcohol at all(not even the drink I enjoyed eating out once a month)

I also think about interactions from taking other herbs or meds.The nurse said some people take way too many so be cautious.

I took ibuprofen for joint pain and they switched me to Advil because of possible kidney effects.However the pharmacist said they were in the same family so… anyway I only take if I need too.

I hope your brother feels better soon.I feel better than I expected to feel but  do have to do less than I used to.

Yes, I had exactly the same reaction within the first week. The nurses in the emergency room told me to be sure noone ever prescribed this med for me again ( haha). I was taken off it for 2 weeks until the rash mostly subsided. I was on prednisone, and meds for the itching and took frequent tepid water oatmeal baths. It was really quite miserable. But after the 2 weeks, I was restarted on 75% dosage and did not have a recurrence of rash on that level again. So, just because there is a severe reaction to start does not NECESSARILY mean he will be unable to take it at all. by the way.. at the 75% dosage I had a complete response at my 8 wk scans.

Tina

Yes, I had exactly the same reaction within the first week. The nurses in the emergency room told me to be sure noone ever prescribed this med for me again ( haha). I was taken off it for 2 weeks until the rash mostly subsided. I was on prednisone, and meds for the itching and took frequent tepid water oatmeal baths. It was really quite miserable. But after the 2 weeks, I was restarted on 75% dosage and did not have a recurrence of rash on that level again. So, just because there is a severe reaction to start does not NECESSARILY mean he will be unable to take it at all. by the way.. at the 75% dosage I had a complete response at my 8 wk scans.

Tina

Yes, I had exactly the same reaction within the first week. The nurses in the emergency room told me to be sure noone ever prescribed this med for me again ( haha). I was taken off it for 2 weeks until the rash mostly subsided. I was on prednisone, and meds for the itching and took frequent tepid water oatmeal baths. It was really quite miserable. But after the 2 weeks, I was restarted on 75% dosage and did not have a recurrence of rash on that level again. So, just because there is a severe reaction to start does not NECESSARILY mean he will be unable to take it at all. by the way.. at the 75% dosage I had a complete response at my 8 wk scans.

Tina

If you tell us where your brother lives, maybe someone here can recommend a good melanoma specialist in his area. Meanwhile, you can search this forum for the terms Zelboraf and "side effects" (in quotes) and see various discussions about it.

Since you live in Turkey, you might want to post your question on the Melanoma International Foundation web site ( http://forum.melanomainternational.org/mif/ ). The MIF is another excellent resource for you and they have many international members, including some from Turkey.  I hope your brother feels better soon!

speaking as another who received Zelboraf in trial before approval: my doctor also expressed appreciation for reactions / showed it was working.

As previous recipient described I also had a manifestation of skin lesions and was a regular visitor for liquid nitrogen and self administered Efudex.

I had rather "remarkable" tumor presence and within a week had remarkable response: At about the eight week mark my doctor referred to me as Mr. Remission –  about 8 months after starting trial tumors began their resurgence.

As others have stated there is a mountain of information re: side effects all colored in gray.  From my anecdotal platform a reduction in dosage & continuation might work – a compromise of internal organs would signal stopping or pause.

The biggest caution or advice I can give to a Zelboraf user is stay out of the sun – I could get burned from the reflection off a car bumper

Wish you well in Turkey,  john

speaking as another who received Zelboraf in trial before approval: my doctor also expressed appreciation for reactions / showed it was working.

As previous recipient described I also had a manifestation of skin lesions and was a regular visitor for liquid nitrogen and self administered Efudex.

I had rather "remarkable" tumor presence and within a week had remarkable response: At about the eight week mark my doctor referred to me as Mr. Remission –  about 8 months after starting trial tumors began their resurgence.

As others have stated there is a mountain of information re: side effects all colored in gray.  From my anecdotal platform a reduction in dosage & continuation might work – a compromise of internal organs would signal stopping or pause.

The biggest caution or advice I can give to a Zelboraf user is stay out of the sun – I could get burned from the reflection off a car bumper

Wish you well in Turkey,  john

speaking as another who received Zelboraf in trial before approval: my doctor also expressed appreciation for reactions / showed it was working.

As previous recipient described I also had a manifestation of skin lesions and was a regular visitor for liquid nitrogen and self administered Efudex.

I had rather "remarkable" tumor presence and within a week had remarkable response: At about the eight week mark my doctor referred to me as Mr. Remission –  about 8 months after starting trial tumors began their resurgence.

As others have stated there is a mountain of information re: side effects all colored in gray.  From my anecdotal platform a reduction in dosage & continuation might work – a compromise of internal organs would signal stopping or pause.

The biggest caution or advice I can give to a Zelboraf user is stay out of the sun – I could get burned from the reflection off a car bumper

Wish you well in Turkey,  john

during taking zelboraf for a period of 11 months I had the same side effects and maybe more than them. after first 2 weeks of treatment I got rash all over my body with severe nausea. then  I was taken off it for 10 days until the rash mostly subsided. then I started to take medicine again.

during my treatment I usually felt severe tiredness with joint pains and never went out under daylight. however sometimes I had had skin reactions again, but never took off zelboraf. furthermore my oncologist told me that there is a correlation between the effectiveness of zelboraf and side effects. that's exactly right, cos I saw the results.

now I completed my treatment with success. I cannot believe it yet, but its real, I successed to get over from melanoma.

pls be in contact with your oncologist and ask your dermatologists advice for the side effects. then continue to take medicine.

my husband has been on zeloboraf for 2 months straight, the first time he was on it for 2 1/2 weeks developed a severe skin reaction taken off for 2 weeks and restarted once rash resolved, he had a PET scan last week showing great improvement but is feeling very sick, n/v, very tired, like he has the flu, he is on pepcid, protontix for stomach problems which they believe is due to pain meds

my husband has been on zeloboraf for 2 months straight, the first time he was on it for 2 1/2 weeks developed a severe skin reaction taken off for 2 weeks and restarted once rash resolved, he had a PET scan last week showing great improvement but is feeling very sick, n/v, very tired, like he has the flu, he is on pepcid, protontix for stomach problems which they believe is due to pain meds

my husband has been on zeloboraf for 2 months straight, the first time he was on it for 2 1/2 weeks developed a severe skin reaction taken off for 2 weeks and restarted once rash resolved, he had a PET scan last week showing great improvement but is feeling very sick, n/v, very tired, like he has the flu, he is on pepcid, protontix for stomach problems which they believe is due to pain meds

during taking zelboraf for a period of 11 months I had the same side effects and maybe more than them. after first 2 weeks of treatment I got rash all over my body with severe nausea. then  I was taken off it for 10 days until the rash mostly subsided. then I started to take medicine again.

during my treatment I usually felt severe tiredness with joint pains and never went out under daylight. however sometimes I had had skin reactions again, but never took off zelboraf. furthermore my oncologist told me that there is a correlation between the effectiveness of zelboraf and side effects. that's exactly right, cos I saw the results.

now I completed my treatment with success. I cannot believe it yet, but its real, I successed to get over from melanoma.

pls be in contact with your oncologist and ask your dermatologists advice for the side effects. then continue to take medicine.

during taking zelboraf for a period of 11 months I had the same side effects and maybe more than them. after first 2 weeks of treatment I got rash all over my body with severe nausea. then  I was taken off it for 10 days until the rash mostly subsided. then I started to take medicine again.

during my treatment I usually felt severe tiredness with joint pains and never went out under daylight. however sometimes I had had skin reactions again, but never took off zelboraf. furthermore my oncologist told me that there is a correlation between the effectiveness of zelboraf and side effects. that's exactly right, cos I saw the results.

now I completed my treatment with success. I cannot believe it yet, but its real, I successed to get over from melanoma.

pls be in contact with your oncologist and ask your dermatologists advice for the side effects. then continue to take medicine.

Since you live in Turkey, you might want to post your question on the Melanoma International Foundation web site ( http://forum.melanomainternational.org/mif/ ). The MIF is another excellent resource for you and they have many international members, including some from Turkey.  I hope your brother feels better soon!

Since you live in Turkey, you might want to post your question on the Melanoma International Foundation web site ( http://forum.melanomainternational.org/mif/ ). The MIF is another excellent resource for you and they have many international members, including some from Turkey.  I hope your brother feels better soon!

If you tell us where your brother lives, maybe someone here can recommend a good melanoma specialist in his area. Meanwhile, you can search this forum for the terms Zelboraf and "side effects" (in quotes) and see various discussions about it.

If you tell us where your brother lives, maybe someone here can recommend a good melanoma specialist in his area. Meanwhile, you can search this forum for the terms Zelboraf and "side effects" (in quotes) and see various discussions about it.