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Life post interferon
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Life post interferon

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Life post interferon

  • Post
    • June 9, 2015 at 1:13 am
    amelanomajourney
    Participant

      Hi there,

      Just wondering if anyone else has completed the 1 month high dose 11 months low dose interferon protocol.  How long did it take you to get back to "normal" after?  Any residual side effects?  Does anyone know of women who have become pregnant post-interferon?  

      Thanks!

    Viewing 5 reply threads
    • Replies
        • June 9, 2015 at 3:05 am
        Ames K
        Participant

          Hi, it's been about 15 years for me since I was on interfuron and I will say it takes a long t I me to get back to a so called "normal" life. I remember it took a year or so for my energy level to come back. And yes, you will be happy to know I had 2 beautiful children a few years later with no problem. I am now stage IV and they are 8 and 9 and they are my reason for fighting!

          • June 9, 2015 at 3:05 am
          Ames K
          Participant

            Hi, it's been about 15 years for me since I was on interfuron and I will say it takes a long t I me to get back to a so called "normal" life. I remember it took a year or so for my energy level to come back. And yes, you will be happy to know I had 2 beautiful children a few years later with no problem. I am now stage IV and they are 8 and 9 and they are my reason for fighting!

              • June 9, 2015 at 3:17 am
              amelanomajourney
              Participant

                Ames – thank you so much for the update and the hope!

                • June 9, 2015 at 6:41 pm
                jpg
                Participant

                  An important part of Ames message is the stage IV part.  The interferon did not prevent the disease from coming back.  Also, fertility is an issue.  Some are permanently damaged by it.  

                  • June 11, 2015 at 5:45 pm
                  gaby
                  Participant

                    8 month  ago my husband ended two years of treatment with pegylated interferon. They were two very difficult years …. But he  finally finished the treatment, He took a few month to recover, but now he has a normal life. The only problem is infertility. Interferon caused infertility, and despite fertility treatments even we could not have children. He was stage 3a, and thank God, not return melanoma.

                    Regards

                    Gaby

                     

                    • June 11, 2015 at 5:45 pm
                    gaby
                    Participant

                      8 month  ago my husband ended two years of treatment with pegylated interferon. They were two very difficult years …. But he  finally finished the treatment, He took a few month to recover, but now he has a normal life. The only problem is infertility. Interferon caused infertility, and despite fertility treatments even we could not have children. He was stage 3a, and thank God, not return melanoma.

                      Regards

                      Gaby

                       

                      • June 11, 2015 at 5:45 pm
                      gaby
                      Participant

                        8 month  ago my husband ended two years of treatment with pegylated interferon. They were two very difficult years …. But he  finally finished the treatment, He took a few month to recover, but now he has a normal life. The only problem is infertility. Interferon caused infertility, and despite fertility treatments even we could not have children. He was stage 3a, and thank God, not return melanoma.

                        Regards

                        Gaby

                         

                        • June 9, 2015 at 6:41 pm
                        jpg
                        Participant

                          An important part of Ames message is the stage IV part.  The interferon did not prevent the disease from coming back.  Also, fertility is an issue.  Some are permanently damaged by it.  

                          • June 9, 2015 at 6:41 pm
                          jpg
                          Participant

                            An important part of Ames message is the stage IV part.  The interferon did not prevent the disease from coming back.  Also, fertility is an issue.  Some are permanently damaged by it.  

                            • June 9, 2015 at 3:17 am
                            amelanomajourney
                            Participant

                              Ames – thank you so much for the update and the hope!

                              • June 9, 2015 at 3:17 am
                              amelanomajourney
                              Participant

                                Ames – thank you so much for the update and the hope!

                                • June 10, 2015 at 2:49 am
                                Ames K
                                Participant

                                  Don't loose hope! When I was diagnosed 15 years ago at stage III and decided on interferon treatment I was very concerned with fertility because I knew someday I wanted possibly to have children.  I was told it would never effect that.  Because of the treatment I went 14 years NED and had 2 kids with no problems…. whats so ever….and with one ovary!  Unfortunetely, my cancer has returned but we all have to have hope!

                                  • June 10, 2015 at 2:49 am
                                  Ames K
                                  Participant

                                    Don't loose hope! When I was diagnosed 15 years ago at stage III and decided on interferon treatment I was very concerned with fertility because I knew someday I wanted possibly to have children.  I was told it would never effect that.  Because of the treatment I went 14 years NED and had 2 kids with no problems…. whats so ever….and with one ovary!  Unfortunetely, my cancer has returned but we all have to have hope!

                                    • June 10, 2015 at 2:49 am
                                    Ames K
                                    Participant

                                      Don't loose hope! When I was diagnosed 15 years ago at stage III and decided on interferon treatment I was very concerned with fertility because I knew someday I wanted possibly to have children.  I was told it would never effect that.  Because of the treatment I went 14 years NED and had 2 kids with no problems…. whats so ever….and with one ovary!  Unfortunetely, my cancer has returned but we all have to have hope!

                                    • June 9, 2015 at 3:05 am
                                    Ames K
                                    Participant

                                      Hi, it's been about 15 years for me since I was on interfuron and I will say it takes a long t I me to get back to a so called "normal" life. I remember it took a year or so for my energy level to come back. And yes, you will be happy to know I had 2 beautiful children a few years later with no problem. I am now stage IV and they are 8 and 9 and they are my reason for fighting!

                                      • June 10, 2015 at 2:43 pm
                                      mwconklin
                                      Participant

                                        Everyone is a little different. I had to stop Interferon treatments after 7 months because of a problem I developed with my left eye from the Interferon. I have had several laser treatments since then but the problem never corrected after almost 2 years. Some people have very minimal side affects.

                                        • June 10, 2015 at 2:43 pm
                                        mwconklin
                                        Participant

                                          Everyone is a little different. I had to stop Interferon treatments after 7 months because of a problem I developed with my left eye from the Interferon. I have had several laser treatments since then but the problem never corrected after almost 2 years. Some people have very minimal side affects.

                                          • June 10, 2015 at 2:43 pm
                                          mwconklin
                                          Participant

                                            Everyone is a little different. I had to stop Interferon treatments after 7 months because of a problem I developed with my left eye from the Interferon. I have had several laser treatments since then but the problem never corrected after almost 2 years. Some people have very minimal side affects.

                                              • June 10, 2015 at 7:31 pm
                                              jpg
                                              Participant

                                                The facts are interferon doesn't extend your life.  Melanoma will recur if it is going to.  Don't do it.

                                                • June 10, 2015 at 7:31 pm
                                                jpg
                                                Participant

                                                  The facts are interferon doesn't extend your life.  Melanoma will recur if it is going to.  Don't do it.

                                                  • June 10, 2015 at 11:21 pm
                                                  amelanomajourney
                                                  Participant

                                                    Hey Anonymous, 

                                                    Thanks for your feedback, interferon treatment for melanoma is such a polarizing topic and I appreciate your point of view.

                                                    There are so many factors that play into this decision – How old are you? Do you have a family? Do you want to have a family? Has your government approved any other treatment for your stage of melanoma?  Are you able and eligible to access clinical trials?  Can you afford other treatments?  How healthy are you baseline?  What do you do for work, can you take time off?  What side effects are you willing to tolerate?

                                                    There is no easy answer and what we chose today could be very different and will be very different 5 or 10 years from now as new medication and treatment options become available for Stage 3 melanoma, but right now there are so many factors that make it a very personal decision.

                                                    I personally finished a year of interferon, and today do not regret my decision.  

                                                    Sam

                                                    • June 10, 2015 at 11:21 pm
                                                    amelanomajourney
                                                    Participant

                                                      Hey Anonymous, 

                                                      Thanks for your feedback, interferon treatment for melanoma is such a polarizing topic and I appreciate your point of view.

                                                      There are so many factors that play into this decision – How old are you? Do you have a family? Do you want to have a family? Has your government approved any other treatment for your stage of melanoma?  Are you able and eligible to access clinical trials?  Can you afford other treatments?  How healthy are you baseline?  What do you do for work, can you take time off?  What side effects are you willing to tolerate?

                                                      There is no easy answer and what we chose today could be very different and will be very different 5 or 10 years from now as new medication and treatment options become available for Stage 3 melanoma, but right now there are so many factors that make it a very personal decision.

                                                      I personally finished a year of interferon, and today do not regret my decision.  

                                                      Sam

                                                      • June 10, 2015 at 11:21 pm
                                                      amelanomajourney
                                                      Participant

                                                        Hey Anonymous, 

                                                        Thanks for your feedback, interferon treatment for melanoma is such a polarizing topic and I appreciate your point of view.

                                                        There are so many factors that play into this decision – How old are you? Do you have a family? Do you want to have a family? Has your government approved any other treatment for your stage of melanoma?  Are you able and eligible to access clinical trials?  Can you afford other treatments?  How healthy are you baseline?  What do you do for work, can you take time off?  What side effects are you willing to tolerate?

                                                        There is no easy answer and what we chose today could be very different and will be very different 5 or 10 years from now as new medication and treatment options become available for Stage 3 melanoma, but right now there are so many factors that make it a very personal decision.

                                                        I personally finished a year of interferon, and today do not regret my decision.  

                                                        Sam

                                                        • June 10, 2015 at 7:31 pm
                                                        jpg
                                                        Participant

                                                          The facts are interferon doesn't extend your life.  Melanoma will recur if it is going to.  Don't do it.

                                                    Viewing 5 reply threads
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