Comparing Pembrolizumab vs Zelboraf

For Solid Tumors: Given keytruda for metastatic epithelial pleural mesothelioma in Feb. 2017. Traditional chemotherapy did not work. Pain -- even with meds -- was a serious problem. Hope was rapidly fading. I joined a clinical trial of pembrolizumab in June 2017. The response was immediate and significant -- tumors smaller, and pain disappeared. It is now 9 months since starting pembro. My tumors continue to respond to treatment ... and hope has returned!

For Solid Tumors: After 1 1/ 2 years of TURBT treatment my husband had removal of bladder prostate and 50 lymph nodes 2 showed positive. We treated with diet and essiac with no reoccurrence. 20 months later ONE lymph node showed changes. Biopsy confirmed cancer no other signs they would not remove it, so we chose to do Pembrolizumab. We had always said no chemo or radiation period. But this was said to be working with his immune system. So he has had 2 treatments 3 weeks apart. No symptoms until 1 week after the second treatment he is complaining of back and thigh pain. We are reevaluating..... Another thing that is not being talked about is the CT scans. One nurse reluctantly admitted a small percentage of people are getting new cancer from all these scans.

For Melanoma, Metastatic: I don't have melanoma but was approved for the trial 2B of Zelboraf due to my BRAF mutation ( I have Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma, unresectable, BRAF mutation ) Scans showed a depreciation in size but I couldn't stay on the study or drug due to the effects. I was severely nauseous, had and still do haave horrible ugly painful and itchy raised skin lesions that I am still getting after 3 months off of the drug. I was incapacitated and in bed. Titrated down twice didn't change anything. I was immobilized, felt a severe malaise, could barely get out of bed and months later I am still recovering from the effects of taking the drug. I was pulled from the study by my oncologist due to the toxicity. This was very disappointing as it affected me as badly as Folfironox; its chemo in a pill. Too bad, really.

For Melanoma, Metastatic: Cancer returned (metastasized) in abdomen Sept 2011. I ended up in hospital, first parenthesis withdrew 10 liters of abdominal fluid. Given 5 months maximum to live. It is now April 2012. Zelboraf has extended and saved my life. I've been told by specialist in Denver (university of Colorado hospital) that in Europe 42 month life extension has been documented at present time. By dosing with 2 x 240mg pills twice a day! I'd be dead if not for Zelboraf!