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Interferon Alfa

Forums General Melanoma Community Interferon Alfa

  • Post
    robbier
    Participant

      Looking for patients that are either being currently being treated with interferon alfa or have been on this drug to see how it affects them, it has been recommended that I use this therpy and will go back and see myDr. on Dec 13th to give him my answer.    Any replies would be most appreciated at this time.

      Looking for patients that are either being currently being treated with interferon alfa or have been on this drug to see how it affects them, it has been recommended that I use this therpy and will go back and see myDr. on Dec 13th to give him my answer.    Any replies would be most appreciated at this time.

    Viewing 5 reply threads
    • Replies
        awg
        Participant

          I am in my 6mo of Interferon treatment, currently 3 subQ injections per week.

          The first dose during the high dose infusion (5 days a week for 20days) was uncomfortable. I had fever, chills and aches that night that were about 3 hr in duration and then it was gone. It is like having the Flu. After the first HD infusion I did not have these symptoms again with the HD infusion.

          I had the same fever, chills and aches with the first subQ Injection. I did not have the symptoms again after the first SubQ injection.

          I did notice a little dizziness but that dissipated around the 3 month of treatment.

          I also has mild nausea (took zophran) but I have been able to stop zophran about 5 weeks ago.

          I understand that each person is different and have different symptoms as will as duration of symptoms.

          I stay well hydrated and take Aleve twice a day.

           

          As a side note I had my 6mo PETCT today and was still NED!

           

          Best wishes on your treatment decision.

           

          Allen

          Stage III

            Mike A
            Participant

              My situation and response to interferon were almost exactly as Allen's – tough reaction on first days of high dose and subQ, but very tolerable after that.   I'm in 4th month of subQ.

              The decision to do interferon was a tough one.  As you've read, everyone reacts somewhat differently and the benefits are questionable.  My approach was to go ahead and try it and if the side effects became unbearable, I'd stop.  I figured, what's there to lose.  So far, so good.

              Good luck !

              Mike

              Mike A
              Participant

                My situation and response to interferon were almost exactly as Allen's – tough reaction on first days of high dose and subQ, but very tolerable after that.   I'm in 4th month of subQ.

                The decision to do interferon was a tough one.  As you've read, everyone reacts somewhat differently and the benefits are questionable.  My approach was to go ahead and try it and if the side effects became unbearable, I'd stop.  I figured, what's there to lose.  So far, so good.

                Good luck !

                Mike

                Mike A
                Participant

                  My situation and response to interferon were almost exactly as Allen's – tough reaction on first days of high dose and subQ, but very tolerable after that.   I'm in 4th month of subQ.

                  The decision to do interferon was a tough one.  As you've read, everyone reacts somewhat differently and the benefits are questionable.  My approach was to go ahead and try it and if the side effects became unbearable, I'd stop.  I figured, what's there to lose.  So far, so good.

                  Good luck !

                  Mike

                awg
                Participant

                  I am in my 6mo of Interferon treatment, currently 3 subQ injections per week.

                  The first dose during the high dose infusion (5 days a week for 20days) was uncomfortable. I had fever, chills and aches that night that were about 3 hr in duration and then it was gone. It is like having the Flu. After the first HD infusion I did not have these symptoms again with the HD infusion.

                  I had the same fever, chills and aches with the first subQ Injection. I did not have the symptoms again after the first SubQ injection.

                  I did notice a little dizziness but that dissipated around the 3 month of treatment.

                  I also has mild nausea (took zophran) but I have been able to stop zophran about 5 weeks ago.

                  I understand that each person is different and have different symptoms as will as duration of symptoms.

                  I stay well hydrated and take Aleve twice a day.

                   

                  As a side note I had my 6mo PETCT today and was still NED!

                   

                  Best wishes on your treatment decision.

                   

                  Allen

                  Stage III

                  awg
                  Participant

                    I am in my 6mo of Interferon treatment, currently 3 subQ injections per week.

                    The first dose during the high dose infusion (5 days a week for 20days) was uncomfortable. I had fever, chills and aches that night that were about 3 hr in duration and then it was gone. It is like having the Flu. After the first HD infusion I did not have these symptoms again with the HD infusion.

                    I had the same fever, chills and aches with the first subQ Injection. I did not have the symptoms again after the first SubQ injection.

                    I did notice a little dizziness but that dissipated around the 3 month of treatment.

                    I also has mild nausea (took zophran) but I have been able to stop zophran about 5 weeks ago.

                    I understand that each person is different and have different symptoms as will as duration of symptoms.

                    I stay well hydrated and take Aleve twice a day.

                     

                    As a side note I had my 6mo PETCT today and was still NED!

                     

                    Best wishes on your treatment decision.

                     

                    Allen

                    Stage III

                    Lauri England
                    Participant

                      I completed 10 1/2 months of interferon treatment that ended 3 months ago.  I have a lot of information posted about my experiences if you want to read some of them.  So far I am NED and feel 100% better.  Good luck with your decision and remenber everyone is different and experience different side effects.  My worse side effects were depression which I took prozac for and it helped some.  I also felt aggressive and very moody.  I was very forgetful and would get confused very easily.  This all went away about 1 month after stopping the treatments.

                      Lauri England
                      Participant

                        I completed 10 1/2 months of interferon treatment that ended 3 months ago.  I have a lot of information posted about my experiences if you want to read some of them.  So far I am NED and feel 100% better.  Good luck with your decision and remenber everyone is different and experience different side effects.  My worse side effects were depression which I took prozac for and it helped some.  I also felt aggressive and very moody.  I was very forgetful and would get confused very easily.  This all went away about 1 month after stopping the treatments.

                        Lauri England
                        Participant

                          I completed 10 1/2 months of interferon treatment that ended 3 months ago.  I have a lot of information posted about my experiences if you want to read some of them.  So far I am NED and feel 100% better.  Good luck with your decision and remenber everyone is different and experience different side effects.  My worse side effects were depression which I took prozac for and it helped some.  I also felt aggressive and very moody.  I was very forgetful and would get confused very easily.  This all went away about 1 month after stopping the treatments.

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