Zelboraf and side effects

 I have been o Zelboraf since 9/12/11.Side effects included hair loss ( head and body) loss of some taste.weight loss but still have very good appetite and occasional case of the runs about every 2 to 3 weeks lasting from 1 to 3 days.You stay on this drug as long as it works.Hopefully a very very long time.

Judy

My situation is a little different than yours as I am part of the Zelboraf phase II clinical trial.  As such, I will remain on Zelboraf as long as it continues to work, I believe that would be the same for others but I am not sure.

I’m not sure when it started, but I did have body hair loss.  I’m 65 and the hair on my head was already thinning so I do not know if Zelboraf contributed to additional head hair loss but it definitely did not fall completely out although the texture did change. Today body hair has mostly returned although much thinner.

I never had any appetite or stomach problems.

Let me know if you have any more questions and I will try to answer.  Continued good luck.

Dick

I have been on Zelboraf for 6 mos. at a greatly reduced dose due to side effects:

On Full dose:

 fever

 arthragia with swelling

Erythema nodosums 

diarrhea

Myalgia

Hair loss-everywhere

petechia

keratosis pilaris

foot and hand neuropathy

elevated ALT

scans showed 40% reduction of tumors, no new growths

On Half dose with steroids:

Body  and face rashes

Itching,

Loss of body hair

Fever(but less than 100 degrees)

keratosis pilaris

foot neuropathy

elevated ALT

scans showed 30% reduction in tumors, no new growths

On less than Half dose without steroids:

keratosis pilaris

squamous cell cancer

last scans showed mild reduction of tumors, no new growth...some lung mets resolved

boots