Hi Trish

I recently developed what turned out to be absence seizures caused by metastatic melanoma causing 2 tumours in my frontal lobes. I was started on a bunch of meds, including dexamethasone (steroid) for the pressure on my brain, Keppra for the seizures and 2 anti BRAF protein (related to melanoma cells) cancer drugs - Dabrafenib & Trametinib; together known a Systemic Anti-Cancer Therapy (SACT). These last 2 have a whole sheaf of known side-effects that can be so severe many people have to stop these SACT drugs and try another treatment approach. Fortunately I seem to be tolerating them (and the other drugs) very well.

I have been on them 11 weeks now and my review MRI head 4 weeks ago - showed the tumours had shrunk to half their size 2 months before. I had needed the Keppra increased from 500 mg bd (twice a day) to 750mg bd to stop my absences - which I had no prodromal warnings of and which lead to me dropping to the floor for a couple of minutes.

My oncologists say the my wife got me to A&E (or the ER) just in time as my tumours are Stage 4 and I would have been dead by now otherwise.

Some of my experiences may be relevant - others are more for an oncolgy discussion, but hope that helps.

As a retired mental health social worker I can recall some of the dreadful drugs the people with epilepsy used to be put on back in the 70s-80s - Keppra is wonderful for me.

Daguerrotype