On Monday August 9th, I found out that I had been randomized into the experimental group and would be getting the BRAF inhibitor (RO5185426), 960 mg twice a day. I was very excited because in the Stage I and Stage II studies, very positive results and remissions had occurred.
If you are interested in reading more about this type of melanoma therapy go to the BRAF gene description in wikipedia.
So I began taking the pills on August 9 and within the first week, I realize that I was fast becomming the poster child for all the worse side effects: loss of appetite, nausea, fatigue, rash, sunburn, joint pain and tinligh and burning of face, hands and feet. Most people in the stageI or II trials had just one of two of those side effects...not them all.
So after 11 days on the drug, I am heading up to Portland to see the doctors and see what they can do to relieve me from some of this. This certainly has had a huge impact on my quality of life. So hopefully they will be able to reduce the dosage or something to help with the side effects.
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