Biker Butch

Hi qtkitycat,

My name is Butch. I live in Oregon so I can't help with DR's. I read your concerns about getting a second opinion. Good idea. The more info you can get the better.

 I was diagnosed in July 2011 with stage 4 melanoma and at that time I was given 3 month to live because there was no meds. available at that time for me and could not operate on the 6 tumors in my chest area. They did remove a big tumor in the brain with surgery and did  gamma – knife on a small tumor. (last MRI shows all clear for now).

There was new medicine called Zelboraf approved in late aug. 2011 that was gene approved if you had the B-RAF gene so we sent for a biopsy. I was lucky to be in the 40% to have that gene. I have been on it for 17 month now and my cat scans show no tumors or new tumors.

Have you checked to see about the gene make up? If not a recommend that you do that.

Butch

Hi qtkitycat,

My name is Butch. I live in Oregon so I can't help with DR's. I read your concerns about getting a second opinion. Good idea. The more info you can get the better.

 I was diagnosed in July 2011 with stage 4 melanoma and at that time I was given 3 month to live because there was no meds. available at that time for me and could not operate on the 6 tumors in my chest area. They did remove a big tumor in the brain with surgery and did  gamma – knife on a small tumor. (last MRI shows all clear for now).

There was new medicine called Zelboraf approved in late aug. 2011 that was gene approved if you had the B-RAF gene so we sent for a biopsy. I was lucky to be in the 40% to have that gene. I have been on it for 17 month now and my cat scans show no tumors or new tumors.

Have you checked to see about the gene make up? If not a recommend that you do that.

Butch

Hi qtkitycat,

My name is Butch. I live in Oregon so I can't help with DR's. I read your concerns about getting a second opinion. Good idea. The more info you can get the better.

 I was diagnosed in July 2011 with stage 4 melanoma and at that time I was given 3 month to live because there was no meds. available at that time for me and could not operate on the 6 tumors in my chest area. They did remove a big tumor in the brain with surgery and did  gamma – knife on a small tumor. (last MRI shows all clear for now).

There was new medicine called Zelboraf approved in late aug. 2011 that was gene approved if you had the B-RAF gene so we sent for a biopsy. I was lucky to be in the 40% to have that gene. I have been on it for 17 month now and my cat scans show no tumors or new tumors.

Have you checked to see about the gene make up? If not a recommend that you do that.

Butch

Janet,

I have been on Zelboraf fpr 16 months. I went on the full dose and after 6 weeks I had to stop because it affected my liver.

It is important to have blood tests as recommended by your doctor to make sure your liver is ok.

After being off of the meds for 7 weeks I started back on 1/2 dose and the meds worked well and shrunk my tumors and no new tumors as of last weeks cat scan. Be real carefull with the sun. I live in Oregon and lots of rain but still have to use high sunscreens to keep from burning.

Make sure that your liver will process the Med. before you leave.

Butch

Janet,

I have been on Zelboraf fpr 16 months. I went on the full dose and after 6 weeks I had to stop because it affected my liver.

It is important to have blood tests as recommended by your doctor to make sure your liver is ok.

After being off of the meds for 7 weeks I started back on 1/2 dose and the meds worked well and shrunk my tumors and no new tumors as of last weeks cat scan. Be real carefull with the sun. I live in Oregon and lots of rain but still have to use high sunscreens to keep from burning.

Make sure that your liver will process the Med. before you leave.

Butch

Janet,

I have been on Zelboraf fpr 16 months. I went on the full dose and after 6 weeks I had to stop because it affected my liver.

It is important to have blood tests as recommended by your doctor to make sure your liver is ok.

After being off of the meds for 7 weeks I started back on 1/2 dose and the meds worked well and shrunk my tumors and no new tumors as of last weeks cat scan. Be real carefull with the sun. I live in Oregon and lots of rain but still have to use high sunscreens to keep from burning.

Make sure that your liver will process the Med. before you leave.

Butch