Zelboraf Week 2

Today marks 2 weeks that Steve has been on the Zelboraf.  He is still on the full dosage (4 pills in the am and 4 in the pm) and is doing really well and is having minimal side effects.  The side effects he is currently experiencing is minimal joint pain, extreme foot pain (bottom of the foot on the pad), fatigue, anxiety and last night he had trouble sleeping (which we are hoping is just an isolated event).  The lymph node continues to shrink although the shrinking has slowed down.  This is to be expected.  This drug works VERY quickly to attack your tumors and then slows down.  However, just because it slows down DOES NOT mean that it is no longer working. 

Steve has still been going to work everyday and working all day.  He wears a hoodie on the way to work to be sure he protects his neck and arms from the sun on his drive to work.  (He also wears facial sunscreen and SPF chapstick).  The Zelboraf causes extreme sun sensitivity.

Sadie's birthday is today, but we had her birthday party this past weekend at a local skating rink.  No, Steve didn't skate, haha!  But, he did come to the party, take photos, run around keeping an eye on Ashlynn, etc.  So, for the most part, the Zelboraf (as of yet) has not disrupted our lives too much.

Yesterday we received a letter from our insurance company letting us know that we could no longer fill the prescription for Zelboraf through MD Anderson (or any other pharmacy for that matter) and that we would have to fill the prescription through a specialty pharmacy.  We spent several hours trying to get this set up last night.  The pharmacy ended up closing before we could get it completed.  I did however get on the phones bright and early this morning and get it all squared away.  They got Steve in their system, I called and spoke with Urvi (Dr. Kim's awesome PA) and she faxed over the prescription.  I logged on to the pharmacy website a few minutes ago and it shows that they have received the prescription and have already mailed it out.  We also have a ZERO copay for the Zelboraf.  So, everything ended well there.

I will update again next week.  Have a good week everyone!

Steve and his baby girls <3

 Daddy and the birthday girl <3

Our family <3