Interferon Alpha Treatment

Son had one about half way through treatment and then another in July..a few weeks before he stopped treatment. He just finished the year, yay!! His doctors never mentioned that interferon culd cause false positives, although the last one in July was just that…dont know if thats why though.

The scan showed 3 spots, one on his neck, one in a groin node and another near his abdomen. They did a needle biopsy of the groin node and is was ok, not melanoma but a benign reacitve node (whew). The neck one they are just watching with ultrasound. His primary was on his tongue and he had a neck node dissection with one positive node. This was last summer.

For him the month of IVs was hard but the 11 months of injections not as bad. He was able to go back to college full time.His main side effects were fatigue, and headaches sometimes. I think age was on his side (he was 21) as far as tolerating the interferon as well as he did.

Good luck to you

Becky

Kathy,

I had many side effects:  stomach issues, no appetite, fatigue, memory loss, fevers, joint pain, terrible cough, badder infections  and the list goes on.  I did work during the 11 months of self injections.  I'm a teacher so I had the summer off.  I didn't work during the IV's.  I didn't have my scan in April, I waited until July because we had a family vacation in June and I didn't want to ruin it if my scan was bad.  My scan was clear.  My melanoma was on my back. 2.1 mm.  I had WLE and then a LND after my sentinal node came back positive with micromets.  My blood counts never tanked so bad that I had to quit for any length of time.  I did have to take 2 shots off during one week because I had stomach flu.  Interferon isn't easy, but I was glad I did it.

Amy S. in Michigan

my experience

found mole just below left breast 08/2009, diagnosed melnoma 10/20009, 11/2009 first surgery removed cancer and pulled 3 lymphs one tested positive.12/2009 second surgery pulled 25 lymphs and tested neg on all. 01/2011 started daily interferon through iv 02/2011 in home shots 3 days a week.

infusion first day got really bad muscle cramps second day got chills really bad and fever and it got better from there really tired but made it.

the 3 days a week shots are harder for me I have had hair loss,head aches, throwing up sometimes not all the time, chills, fever, no energy and just feel yucky everday light headness, nasea, thinking process slows down and I forget alot now.  I did not have weight loss. I gained weight I was very active to not active and i think that is why. I work everyday im an office manager it can be done but it is hard.

If you have any more questions or want more details of what my expericnce is let me know [email protected]

my experience

found mole just below left breast 08/2009, diagnosed melnoma 10/20009, 11/2009 first surgery removed cancer and pulled 3 lymphs one tested positive.12/2009 second surgery pulled 25 lymphs and tested neg on all. 01/2011 started daily interferon through iv 02/2011 in home shots 3 days a week.

infusion first day got really bad muscle cramps second day got chills really bad and fever and it got better from there really tired but made it.

the 3 days a week shots are harder for me I have had hair loss,head aches, throwing up sometimes not all the time, chills, fever, no energy and just feel yucky everday light headness, nasea, thinking process slows down and I forget alot now.  I did not have weight loss. I gained weight I was very active to not active and i think that is why. I work everyday im an office manager it can be done but it is hard.

If you have any more questions or want more details of what my expericnce is let me know [email protected]

I am currently on the home doses.  I completed 3 weeks at high dose and had eye problems.  Blurred vision, cloudy rooms, nights at night became starie…Its pretty scarry when you have always been 20/20.  I knew it could be a side effect from the med but less than 5% have it.  Of course that is me.  I am stage 3B, no known primary, landed in my groin, got it out and them surgery to take out everything around it.  They were so worried they took 28 of my lympe nodes all negative.  I decided to do the interferon because of the metasis to the lympe node even though all others were not.  I didn't have too much problem with those high doses, mostly headaches….I was curious how you did throughout the year?  I just did my first home dose yesterday and didn't do very well with it?  I dont think I can do it for 11 months.  And I am worried about my eyes, it never went away, the eye clinic didn't find any medical damage, hemorrages or retinal issues?  As far as your question, my dr said he is not scanning me for 6 months after starting treatment.  Thank you and good luck on your scan when they do it….Tersia, Indiana

I was wondering how you were doing. I went threw the complete Interferon program in 1996. That may have been the first year of the drugs approval. That year was not a lot of fun but I am still cancer free!

Starving Artist (Hoping to move to louisville)

I was wondering how you were doing. I went threw the complete Interferon program in 1996. That may have been the first year of the drugs approval. That year was not a lot of fun but I am still cancer free!

Starving Artist (Hoping to move to louisville)

I was wondering how you were doing. I went threw the complete Interferon program in 1996. That may have been the first year of the drugs approval. That year was not a lot of fun but I am still cancer free!

Starving Artist (Hoping to move to louisville)

I would like some input on the current protocol for administering shots of Interferon during the 9-11 month period after the heavy IV doses. When I was in the Interferon treatment  program in 1996 the patient (me) could give themselves the shots 3x per week. This was a great savings in time since I did not need to drive to the Dr's office as well as allowing me to be home after the shot to deal with the many flu like side effects. It was probably cheaper for my Insurance costs also. A friend of ours just starting the shot portion of the Interferon treatment and has been told by her Oncologist physician that the shots must be administered at his office. Evidently its an Insurance requirement. That just does not make sense for a lot of reasons. Has anybody encountered a similar experience?    

I would like some input on the current protocol for administering shots of Interferon during the 9-11 month period after the heavy IV doses. When I was in the Interferon treatment  program in 1996 the patient (me) could give themselves the shots 3x per week. This was a great savings in time since I did not need to drive to the Dr's office as well as allowing me to be home after the shot to deal with the many flu like side effects. It was probably cheaper for my Insurance costs also. A friend of ours just starting the shot portion of the Interferon treatment and has been told by her Oncologist physician that the shots must be administered at his office. Evidently its an Insurance requirement. That just does not make sense for a lot of reasons. Has anybody encountered a similar experience?    

I was wondering how you were doing. I went threw the complete Interferon program in 1996. That may have been the first year of the drugs approval. That year was not a lot of fun but I am still cancer free!

Starving Artist (Hoping to move to louisville)