Brianna Hoffner Discusses Monitoring Adverse Events in Patients Receiving Treatment for Melanoma

Brianna Hoffner, MSN, RN, ANP-BC, AOCNP, nurse practitioner, The Angeles Clinic and Research Institute, discusses how to monitor the adverse events in patients receiving treatment for melanoma.

Hoffner says patients with melanoma who are being treated with BRAF or MEK inhibitors should have skin exams prior to therapy and then every 8 weeks while they receive treatment. The patients should continue to be monitored for up to 6 months after their treatment is discontinued.

These patients should also be monitored for cardiac toxicities, Hoffner says. Patients being treated with MEK inhibitors also experience diarrhea but can be managed with dietary changes and anti-diarrhea medication.

Hoffner says these agents can also cause fevers in patients. These fevers are not life threatening and do not impact treatment, as they can be managed with medication.