› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Treatment Update_Interferon
- This topic has 15 replies, 5 voices, and was last updated 13 years, 6 months ago by
awg.
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- May 22, 2012 at 7:25 pm
I am glad to report that I am scheduled to complete my last sub-q interferon injection around July 18th. Overall I tolerated the treatment well and had only minor symptoms assoicated with interferon over the last year.
I was able to work full-time during the treatment.
My last PETCT was in December 2011 and it was all clear. I am schedule to have additional PETCT in September 2012.
I am thankful for this form and the depth of information and encouragement that is available here.
Regards,
I am glad to report that I am scheduled to complete my last sub-q interferon injection around July 18th. Overall I tolerated the treatment well and had only minor symptoms assoicated with interferon over the last year.
I was able to work full-time during the treatment.
My last PETCT was in December 2011 and it was all clear. I am schedule to have additional PETCT in September 2012.
I am thankful for this form and the depth of information and encouragement that is available here.
Regards,
Allen
Stage III
- Replies
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- May 25, 2012 at 4:03 am
Allen,
Congrats!!! Even after tolerating the year fairly well you'll be amazed at how good you will soon be feeling.
My husband finished at the end of Feb. Two weeks without injections and he was feeling great, a month after he was himself again. He also thought he tolerated the year well but I think he had forgotten what feeling good really felt like.
I will mention this… if you have been on any sleep aids or antianxiety medications, taper over a few weeks before stopping cold. My hubby had been on Ativan 1mg (tiny dose) to counter nighttime anxiety and help him sleep. He had some significant withdrawal symptoms from stopping abruptly.
Enjoy your interferon free days.
Kelly
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- May 25, 2012 at 4:03 am
Allen,
Congrats!!! Even after tolerating the year fairly well you'll be amazed at how good you will soon be feeling.
My husband finished at the end of Feb. Two weeks without injections and he was feeling great, a month after he was himself again. He also thought he tolerated the year well but I think he had forgotten what feeling good really felt like.
I will mention this… if you have been on any sleep aids or antianxiety medications, taper over a few weeks before stopping cold. My hubby had been on Ativan 1mg (tiny dose) to counter nighttime anxiety and help him sleep. He had some significant withdrawal symptoms from stopping abruptly.
Enjoy your interferon free days.
Kelly
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- May 25, 2012 at 4:03 am
Allen,
Congrats!!! Even after tolerating the year fairly well you'll be amazed at how good you will soon be feeling.
My husband finished at the end of Feb. Two weeks without injections and he was feeling great, a month after he was himself again. He also thought he tolerated the year well but I think he had forgotten what feeling good really felt like.
I will mention this… if you have been on any sleep aids or antianxiety medications, taper over a few weeks before stopping cold. My hubby had been on Ativan 1mg (tiny dose) to counter nighttime anxiety and help him sleep. He had some significant withdrawal symptoms from stopping abruptly.
Enjoy your interferon free days.
Kelly
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- May 25, 2012 at 4:39 am
Allen — Thank you for taking the time to post this!
I start my year of Interferon (or however long it turns out to be) in a few days, and it's encouraging to hear that it's possible to tolerate it fairly well.
Anything you'd recommend to help me through the year?
thanks again,
Ursula
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- May 25, 2012 at 4:39 am
Allen — Thank you for taking the time to post this!
I start my year of Interferon (or however long it turns out to be) in a few days, and it's encouraging to hear that it's possible to tolerate it fairly well.
Anything you'd recommend to help me through the year?
thanks again,
Ursula
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- May 29, 2012 at 6:10 pm
Ursula,
I found that hydration helped me during the treatment. I consumed a lot of water (often high pH) to me it just had a better taste and that was my main reason for using high pH water. I also use Aleve in place of Ibuprofin, it works better for me and my Onc. also reccomended it, it allows me to take fewer pills. I did use Zofran during the early months of my injections but as time went by I was able to stop all medications with the exception of Aleve. I found that I learned what to eat, how much and when to go easy on meals and that helped with nausea without medication. If you need meds for nausea, take them, thay really helped me when I needed them, also Zofran does not make you drowsy like some other meds do.
I maintained failry normal activity but I tried to listen to what my body was telling me. When you feel tired REST, it is amazing how much this can help.
The early months I found it somewhat diffucult to concentrate but that eased up in later months.
It was as much a mental challenge as a physical challenge to get to this point and I am thankful I am close to finishing the treatment. I wanted to do everything possible to improve my situiation. I know that I would be upset with myself if I did not throw everything available at this thing.
Best wished on your treatment!!
Allen
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- May 29, 2012 at 6:10 pm
Ursula,
I found that hydration helped me during the treatment. I consumed a lot of water (often high pH) to me it just had a better taste and that was my main reason for using high pH water. I also use Aleve in place of Ibuprofin, it works better for me and my Onc. also reccomended it, it allows me to take fewer pills. I did use Zofran during the early months of my injections but as time went by I was able to stop all medications with the exception of Aleve. I found that I learned what to eat, how much and when to go easy on meals and that helped with nausea without medication. If you need meds for nausea, take them, thay really helped me when I needed them, also Zofran does not make you drowsy like some other meds do.
I maintained failry normal activity but I tried to listen to what my body was telling me. When you feel tired REST, it is amazing how much this can help.
The early months I found it somewhat diffucult to concentrate but that eased up in later months.
It was as much a mental challenge as a physical challenge to get to this point and I am thankful I am close to finishing the treatment. I wanted to do everything possible to improve my situiation. I know that I would be upset with myself if I did not throw everything available at this thing.
Best wished on your treatment!!
Allen
-
- May 29, 2012 at 6:10 pm
Ursula,
I found that hydration helped me during the treatment. I consumed a lot of water (often high pH) to me it just had a better taste and that was my main reason for using high pH water. I also use Aleve in place of Ibuprofin, it works better for me and my Onc. also reccomended it, it allows me to take fewer pills. I did use Zofran during the early months of my injections but as time went by I was able to stop all medications with the exception of Aleve. I found that I learned what to eat, how much and when to go easy on meals and that helped with nausea without medication. If you need meds for nausea, take them, thay really helped me when I needed them, also Zofran does not make you drowsy like some other meds do.
I maintained failry normal activity but I tried to listen to what my body was telling me. When you feel tired REST, it is amazing how much this can help.
The early months I found it somewhat diffucult to concentrate but that eased up in later months.
It was as much a mental challenge as a physical challenge to get to this point and I am thankful I am close to finishing the treatment. I wanted to do everything possible to improve my situiation. I know that I would be upset with myself if I did not throw everything available at this thing.
Best wished on your treatment!!
Allen
-
- May 25, 2012 at 4:39 am
Allen — Thank you for taking the time to post this!
I start my year of Interferon (or however long it turns out to be) in a few days, and it's encouraging to hear that it's possible to tolerate it fairly well.
Anything you'd recommend to help me through the year?
thanks again,
Ursula
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