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Interferon – side effects
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Interferon – side effects

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Interferon – side effects

  • Post
    • August 2, 2014 at 9:10 pm
    Camila Navarro
    Participant

      My mom had this stage III melanoma, that reached 1 off the limphs. She already had the surgery to remove it and the limphs.

       

      Now the doctor want her to use the interferon, and I've readen a lot about it, and would like to know about people that used it, about the side effects

       

      Thank u very much

    Viewing 8 reply threads
    • Replies
        • August 3, 2014 at 11:53 am
        Fen
        Participant

          Hi Camila –   It sounds like your mom is doing well so far.  Good!  The decision to do interferon is not an easy one.  The research on its effectiveness is not perfectly clear, but leans in the direction of it not being very effective. However, many people feel that doing something is better than the alternative of just being monitored.

          The effects are so different for each person.  Some people have really bad side effects while others are fine.  If she decides to do interferon and the side effects are too bad she can always quit.  

          Fen

          • August 3, 2014 at 11:53 am
          Fen
          Participant

            Hi Camila –   It sounds like your mom is doing well so far.  Good!  The decision to do interferon is not an easy one.  The research on its effectiveness is not perfectly clear, but leans in the direction of it not being very effective. However, many people feel that doing something is better than the alternative of just being monitored.

            The effects are so different for each person.  Some people have really bad side effects while others are fine.  If she decides to do interferon and the side effects are too bad she can always quit.  

            Fen

            • August 3, 2014 at 11:53 am
            Fen
            Participant

              Hi Camila –   It sounds like your mom is doing well so far.  Good!  The decision to do interferon is not an easy one.  The research on its effectiveness is not perfectly clear, but leans in the direction of it not being very effective. However, many people feel that doing something is better than the alternative of just being monitored.

              The effects are so different for each person.  Some people have really bad side effects while others are fine.  If she decides to do interferon and the side effects are too bad she can always quit.  

              Fen

                • August 3, 2014 at 7:31 pm
                jogo
                Participant

                  As an alternative to interferon there is a clinical trial that compares interferon, 10 mg ipilimumab/Kg body weight , and 3 mg ipi/Kg body weight.  You can see if the trial is still open  to participants in your area.  Your mother has to be NED, no evidence of disease,  to participate.  There are side effects in all of the arms of the trial.  Any participant has to CAREFULLY read the protocol before signing on the the randomized trial.  Read up on the trial, read up on google.  Check this site about the trial, E 1609.  Several members on this site have had an irAE, immune related adverse event.  Good luck to your mom and your family.

                  • August 3, 2014 at 9:20 pm
                  Thandster
                  Participant

                    This trial is not for stage IIIA

                    • August 3, 2014 at 9:20 pm
                    Thandster
                    Participant

                      This trial is not for stage IIIA

                      • August 3, 2014 at 9:20 pm
                      Thandster
                      Participant

                        This trial is not for stage IIIA

                        • August 4, 2014 at 2:36 am
                        Camila Navarro
                        Participant

                          Thank for answering, but I dont think that these trials are avaliable for Brazil =(

                           

                           

                          • August 4, 2014 at 2:36 am
                          Camila Navarro
                          Participant

                            Thank for answering, but I dont think that these trials are avaliable for Brazil =(

                             

                             

                            • August 4, 2014 at 2:36 am
                            Camila Navarro
                            Participant

                              Thank for answering, but I dont think that these trials are avaliable for Brazil =(

                               

                               

                              • August 3, 2014 at 7:31 pm
                              jogo
                              Participant

                                As an alternative to interferon there is a clinical trial that compares interferon, 10 mg ipilimumab/Kg body weight , and 3 mg ipi/Kg body weight.  You can see if the trial is still open  to participants in your area.  Your mother has to be NED, no evidence of disease,  to participate.  There are side effects in all of the arms of the trial.  Any participant has to CAREFULLY read the protocol before signing on the the randomized trial.  Read up on the trial, read up on google.  Check this site about the trial, E 1609.  Several members on this site have had an irAE, immune related adverse event.  Good luck to your mom and your family.

                                • August 3, 2014 at 7:31 pm
                                jogo
                                Participant

                                  As an alternative to interferon there is a clinical trial that compares interferon, 10 mg ipilimumab/Kg body weight , and 3 mg ipi/Kg body weight.  You can see if the trial is still open  to participants in your area.  Your mother has to be NED, no evidence of disease,  to participate.  There are side effects in all of the arms of the trial.  Any participant has to CAREFULLY read the protocol before signing on the the randomized trial.  Read up on the trial, read up on google.  Check this site about the trial, E 1609.  Several members on this site have had an irAE, immune related adverse event.  Good luck to your mom and your family.

                                • August 4, 2014 at 12:22 am
                                Ginger8888
                                Participant

                                  I did the 30 High dose of interferon and just had some fatigue..It didn't work for me and now i'm doing my last dose of Yervoy on the 13th..good luck, i hope it works and there are little to no side effects..

                                    • August 4, 2014 at 2:34 am
                                    Camila Navarro
                                    Participant

                                      Hi ginger, thank u for answering. How do u know that it didnt work for u? the disease came back?

                                      Sorry for my bad english, I'm in brazil 

                                       

                                      How long did u took interferon?

                                      My mom's doctor says it should be an 2 years treatmant…

                                      =/

                                      • August 4, 2014 at 2:34 am
                                      Camila Navarro
                                      Participant

                                        Hi ginger, thank u for answering. How do u know that it didnt work for u? the disease came back?

                                        Sorry for my bad english, I'm in brazil 

                                         

                                        How long did u took interferon?

                                        My mom's doctor says it should be an 2 years treatmant…

                                        =/

                                        • August 4, 2014 at 2:34 am
                                        Camila Navarro
                                        Participant

                                          Hi ginger, thank u for answering. How do u know that it didnt work for u? the disease came back?

                                          Sorry for my bad english, I'm in brazil 

                                           

                                          How long did u took interferon?

                                          My mom's doctor says it should be an 2 years treatmant…

                                          =/

                                          • August 4, 2014 at 11:08 am
                                          Ginger8888
                                          Participant

                                            Hello, i had scans about a week after i finished interferon and there was still some melanoma found in a lymph node in my neck and i still had one small spot light up in each lung..

                                            • August 4, 2014 at 11:08 am
                                            Ginger8888
                                            Participant

                                              Hello, i had scans about a week after i finished interferon and there was still some melanoma found in a lymph node in my neck and i still had one small spot light up in each lung..

                                              • August 4, 2014 at 11:10 am
                                              Ginger8888
                                              Participant

                                                If i had shown some improvement then i would have went on the maintenance dose for 11 months..

                                                • August 4, 2014 at 11:10 am
                                                Ginger8888
                                                Participant

                                                  If i had shown some improvement then i would have went on the maintenance dose for 11 months..

                                                  • August 4, 2014 at 11:10 am
                                                  Ginger8888
                                                  Participant

                                                    If i had shown some improvement then i would have went on the maintenance dose for 11 months..

                                                    • August 4, 2014 at 11:08 am
                                                    Ginger8888
                                                    Participant

                                                      Hello, i had scans about a week after i finished interferon and there was still some melanoma found in a lymph node in my neck and i still had one small spot light up in each lung..

                                                    • August 4, 2014 at 12:22 am
                                                    Ginger8888
                                                    Participant

                                                      I did the 30 High dose of interferon and just had some fatigue..It didn't work for me and now i'm doing my last dose of Yervoy on the 13th..good luck, i hope it works and there are little to no side effects..

                                                      • August 4, 2014 at 12:22 am
                                                      Ginger8888
                                                      Participant

                                                        I did the 30 High dose of interferon and just had some fatigue..It didn't work for me and now i'm doing my last dose of Yervoy on the 13th..good luck, i hope it works and there are little to no side effects..

                                                        • August 6, 2014 at 4:34 am
                                                        duncan_aus
                                                        Participant

                                                          Hi Camila,

                                                          I did the 4 week course of high dose interferon (20 infusions).

                                                          I felt terrible in the evenings (infusions were mid afternoon). Aches all over, feverish.. I had a lot of trouble sleeping and ended up on Temazepam to sleep. The day after each infusion I felt like I had a hangover and was very very tired. I worked through the first two weeks of the treatment and then had the last two weeks off of work.

                                                          I found hot showers were the best and would spend as long as I could in the shower in the evening.

                                                          I chose not to go onto the 12month low dose interferon after the high dose treatment.. I tried it for a week and it seemed as bad as the High dose treatment and the evidence for its efficacy seemed quite poor.

                                                          Best wishes for your mother and your family with her treatment.

                                                           

                                                           

                                                          • August 6, 2014 at 4:34 am
                                                          duncan_aus
                                                          Participant

                                                            Hi Camila,

                                                            I did the 4 week course of high dose interferon (20 infusions).

                                                            I felt terrible in the evenings (infusions were mid afternoon). Aches all over, feverish.. I had a lot of trouble sleeping and ended up on Temazepam to sleep. The day after each infusion I felt like I had a hangover and was very very tired. I worked through the first two weeks of the treatment and then had the last two weeks off of work.

                                                            I found hot showers were the best and would spend as long as I could in the shower in the evening.

                                                            I chose not to go onto the 12month low dose interferon after the high dose treatment.. I tried it for a week and it seemed as bad as the High dose treatment and the evidence for its efficacy seemed quite poor.

                                                            Best wishes for your mother and your family with her treatment.

                                                             

                                                             

                                                            • August 6, 2014 at 4:34 am
                                                            duncan_aus
                                                            Participant

                                                              Hi Camila,

                                                              I did the 4 week course of high dose interferon (20 infusions).

                                                              I felt terrible in the evenings (infusions were mid afternoon). Aches all over, feverish.. I had a lot of trouble sleeping and ended up on Temazepam to sleep. The day after each infusion I felt like I had a hangover and was very very tired. I worked through the first two weeks of the treatment and then had the last two weeks off of work.

                                                              I found hot showers were the best and would spend as long as I could in the shower in the evening.

                                                              I chose not to go onto the 12month low dose interferon after the high dose treatment.. I tried it for a week and it seemed as bad as the High dose treatment and the evidence for its efficacy seemed quite poor.

                                                              Best wishes for your mother and your family with her treatment.

                                                               

                                                               

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