Onc visit to discuss Interferon

I am sure you are aware that the options are limited for stage three, but you may want to pose the following questions:

High dose and low dose- comparing improved relapse-free survival (RFS) and improved overall survival (OS) of taking either high dose or both.

Maybe this will assist you some as well: (it also has some info on Pegylated Interferon, which you mentioned in a earlier post. It has a longer half-life and can be administered subcutaneously, for up to 5 years)

http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/melanoma/HealthProfessional/page8

Also, what if any clinical trials are available for patients with resected stage III disease. (from your profile, it sounds like you are 3a, so I’m not sure how many are available)

If you wish to look, there are quite a few at http://clinicaltrials.gov/ but many are for unresected stage three and others you may not qualify for.

http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/results?term=melanoma+stage+III&recr=Open&no_unk=Y

One is even with yervoy (Ipilimumab) and high dose interferon, but it is for Stage IIIB, IIIC, or IV (M1a or M1b) disease.

And another is for stage IIIB and IIIC with macroscopic involvement using GSK 2132231A and a placebo.

Good luck,

Michael 1B

I am sure you are aware that the options are limited for stage three, but you may want to pose the following questions:

High dose and low dose- comparing improved relapse-free survival (RFS) and improved overall survival (OS) of taking either high dose or both.

Maybe this will assist you some as well: (it also has some info on Pegylated Interferon, which you mentioned in a earlier post. It has a longer half-life and can be administered subcutaneously, for up to 5 years)

http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/melanoma/HealthProfessional/page8

Also, what if any clinical trials are available for patients with resected stage III disease. (from your profile, it sounds like you are 3a, so I’m not sure how many are available)

If you wish to look, there are quite a few at http://clinicaltrials.gov/ but many are for unresected stage three and others you may not qualify for.

http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/results?term=melanoma+stage+III&recr=Open&no_unk=Y

One is even with yervoy (Ipilimumab) and high dose interferon, but it is for Stage IIIB, IIIC, or IV (M1a or M1b) disease.

And another is for stage IIIB and IIIC with macroscopic involvement using GSK 2132231A and a placebo.

Good luck,

Michael 1B

My wife passed from Melanoma several years ago, when first she was dx stage III, and began treatment with Interferon, I began my own research.   What I discovered was, that this drug is in no way a cure for the disease, that it merely adds statistically about 14 months to survival.   When I discussed this with her onc, his reply was, what do you want me to do, it is the "gold standard".  15 months after her year of Interferron treatment, the disease came back with a vengeance, and spread to her brain, her  lungs, liver, abdomen, spine, and legs.   

When she went stage IV, her bio-chemo therapy, she responded very well to it and it cleared her of approx. 95% of the disease.  Unfortunately she got to the point where she could undergo no more treatment.

My wife survived just about as long as the statistics for Interferon treatment suggested she would and that was about 27 months.

After everything I have read about Interferon and subsequent discussions with 2 oncologists, I came to the decision that were either one of my three children ever dx with stage III Melanoma, I would insist that they go straight to Stage IV treatment, and completely forego Interferon.   No one, and I mean no one has been able to show that Interferon is any more then a treatment to extend one's survivability and additional 14 months.

My advice to you is to frankly discuss Interferon Treatment with your Onc.   Ask the tough questions, do your own research and come to your own conclusions.   You probably will not get honest answers from your onc. or treatment center.

Best of luck to you.

My wife passed from Melanoma several years ago, when first she was dx stage III, and began treatment with Interferon, I began my own research.   What I discovered was, that this drug is in no way a cure for the disease, that it merely adds statistically about 14 months to survival.   When I discussed this with her onc, his reply was, what do you want me to do, it is the "gold standard".  15 months after her year of Interferron treatment, the disease came back with a vengeance, and spread to her brain, her  lungs, liver, abdomen, spine, and legs.   

When she went stage IV, her bio-chemo therapy, she responded very well to it and it cleared her of approx. 95% of the disease.  Unfortunately she got to the point where she could undergo no more treatment.

My wife survived just about as long as the statistics for Interferon treatment suggested she would and that was about 27 months.

After everything I have read about Interferon and subsequent discussions with 2 oncologists, I came to the decision that were either one of my three children ever dx with stage III Melanoma, I would insist that they go straight to Stage IV treatment, and completely forego Interferon.   No one, and I mean no one has been able to show that Interferon is any more then a treatment to extend one's survivability and additional 14 months.

My advice to you is to frankly discuss Interferon Treatment with your Onc.   Ask the tough questions, do your own research and come to your own conclusions.   You probably will not get honest answers from your onc. or treatment center.

Best of luck to you.