local recurrence – inteferon?

I am stage 3a/3b resected.  My primary was >4.5mm deep, and my mitotic rate was very high.  I rejected interferon but thought long and hard about doing biochemotherapy, which is supposed to be brutal, but is over in 3 months, as opposed to 12-13 months.  Both therapies have been shown to extend relapse free survival, but neither has been provent to extend overall survival. Ultimately, I opted against any adjuvant therapy.  I have since learned that at Kaiser California, which is huge and has a very high volume of melanoma cases, only 2% of stage 3 patients opt for interferon. About 10% opt for biochemotherapy. Over 80% opt for watch and wait. This is a very individual decision, but very few people seem to be doing interferon at stage 3 anymore. I also consulted with a melanoma expert outside of Kaiser, and he also recommended against interferon.

Ultimately, you have to be comfortable with the decision you make.  And regardless of what you do, I have been told repeatedly that the most important thing is to be vigilant in feeling for lumps, looking for skin changes, and following up with my oncologist and dermatologist.  The most important thing is to catch any recurrence as early as possible, and most recurrences are found by the patient rather than by scans (although scans are important too).  Also, I think it's important to eat a healthy diet, exercise, get vitamin D3, and maintain a healthy and positive attitude.

Roxanne

I am stage 3a/3b resected.  My primary was >4.5mm deep, and my mitotic rate was very high.  I rejected interferon but thought long and hard about doing biochemotherapy, which is supposed to be brutal, but is over in 3 months, as opposed to 12-13 months.  Both therapies have been shown to extend relapse free survival, but neither has been provent to extend overall survival. Ultimately, I opted against any adjuvant therapy.  I have since learned that at Kaiser California, which is huge and has a very high volume of melanoma cases, only 2% of stage 3 patients opt for interferon. About 10% opt for biochemotherapy. Over 80% opt for watch and wait. This is a very individual decision, but very few people seem to be doing interferon at stage 3 anymore. I also consulted with a melanoma expert outside of Kaiser, and he also recommended against interferon.

Ultimately, you have to be comfortable with the decision you make.  And regardless of what you do, I have been told repeatedly that the most important thing is to be vigilant in feeling for lumps, looking for skin changes, and following up with my oncologist and dermatologist.  The most important thing is to catch any recurrence as early as possible, and most recurrences are found by the patient rather than by scans (although scans are important too).  Also, I think it's important to eat a healthy diet, exercise, get vitamin D3, and maintain a healthy and positive attitude.

Roxanne

I am stage 3a/3b resected.  My primary was >4.5mm deep, and my mitotic rate was very high.  I rejected interferon but thought long and hard about doing biochemotherapy, which is supposed to be brutal, but is over in 3 months, as opposed to 12-13 months.  Both therapies have been shown to extend relapse free survival, but neither has been provent to extend overall survival. Ultimately, I opted against any adjuvant therapy.  I have since learned that at Kaiser California, which is huge and has a very high volume of melanoma cases, only 2% of stage 3 patients opt for interferon. About 10% opt for biochemotherapy. Over 80% opt for watch and wait. This is a very individual decision, but very few people seem to be doing interferon at stage 3 anymore. I also consulted with a melanoma expert outside of Kaiser, and he also recommended against interferon.

Ultimately, you have to be comfortable with the decision you make.  And regardless of what you do, I have been told repeatedly that the most important thing is to be vigilant in feeling for lumps, looking for skin changes, and following up with my oncologist and dermatologist.  The most important thing is to catch any recurrence as early as possible, and most recurrences are found by the patient rather than by scans (although scans are important too).  Also, I think it's important to eat a healthy diet, exercise, get vitamin D3, and maintain a healthy and positive attitude.

Roxanne