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one month interferon done
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one month interferon done

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › one month interferon done

  • Post
    • April 6, 2011 at 2:29 pm
    heg50heg
    Participant

      Hello , I have just finished my 1st month of high dose interferon treatments. I will see my Dr.on Monday of next week and start the shots foe 11 months. It went well except for the 3rd week when I got really dehydrated and had to spend 3 days at the hospital getting fluids. The Dr. tells me the shots will be easier as there only half as strong but I am skeptical on that as the side effects from the treatments were about all I could handle. The headaches were just about unbearable and I was sent for 2 more brain skans during the last month, and they were both negative.

      Hello , I have just finished my 1st month of high dose interferon treatments. I will see my Dr.on Monday of next week and start the shots foe 11 months. It went well except for the 3rd week when I got really dehydrated and had to spend 3 days at the hospital getting fluids. The Dr. tells me the shots will be easier as there only half as strong but I am skeptical on that as the side effects from the treatments were about all I could handle. The headaches were just about unbearable and I was sent for 2 more brain skans during the last month, and they were both negative. I just feel like one of these times I wont get so lucky. Has anyone had their cancer spread while on Interferon.

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    • Replies
        • April 6, 2011 at 3:16 pm
        CKasper
        Participant

          OMG you got through 1 month.  I couldn't get through one week.  I can only tell you of my experience with Interferon.

          I went through High dose in April 2006, after my first infusion I blacked out for a week and then woke up in the hosptial where they flushed it out of my system and after that experience I decided not to continue.  Since then I have had a host of side effects that have never gone away.  Rashes, swelling, cataracts.  I continued without any treatment except for a microbiotic organic diet and a herbal detox.

          I thought they didn't use this therapy any longer. 

          I am currently NED but I still suffer from the mysterious rashes and swelling and I have cataracts.  All side effects of this drug. 

           

          Good Luck

            • April 7, 2011 at 3:19 pm
            MichaelFL
            Participant

              Interferon is still the only FDA approved drug for stage 3 disease. Though the FDA no longer holds it as the gold standard, and many top melanoma specialists and centers stopped prescribing it, many people still opt for this drug.

              Michael

              • April 7, 2011 at 3:19 pm
              MichaelFL
              Participant

                Interferon is still the only FDA approved drug for stage 3 disease. Though the FDA no longer holds it as the gold standard, and many top melanoma specialists and centers stopped prescribing it, many people still opt for this drug.

                Michael

              • April 6, 2011 at 3:16 pm
              CKasper
              Participant

                OMG you got through 1 month.  I couldn't get through one week.  I can only tell you of my experience with Interferon.

                I went through High dose in April 2006, after my first infusion I blacked out for a week and then woke up in the hosptial where they flushed it out of my system and after that experience I decided not to continue.  Since then I have had a host of side effects that have never gone away.  Rashes, swelling, cataracts.  I continued without any treatment except for a microbiotic organic diet and a herbal detox.

                I thought they didn't use this therapy any longer. 

                I am currently NED but I still suffer from the mysterious rashes and swelling and I have cataracts.  All side effects of this drug. 

                 

                Good Luck

                • April 6, 2011 at 11:43 pm
                King
                Participant

                  Congratulations for making it through Boot Camp!  I did 12 months of Interferon and had a recurrence 10 weeks after completing it.  But that was over 5 years ago and I'm still here.

                  I think the fatigue and brain fog get worse as the months go on.  My headaches were more severe during the high dose month.  Rest as much as you can and drink lots of water.  One day at a time…

                  Stay Strong
                  King

                  Stage IV  7/05 Liver mets

                  • April 6, 2011 at 11:43 pm
                  King
                  Participant

                    Congratulations for making it through Boot Camp!  I did 12 months of Interferon and had a recurrence 10 weeks after completing it.  But that was over 5 years ago and I'm still here.

                    I think the fatigue and brain fog get worse as the months go on.  My headaches were more severe during the high dose month.  Rest as much as you can and drink lots of water.  One day at a time…

                    Stay Strong
                    King

                    Stage IV  7/05 Liver mets

                    • April 7, 2011 at 2:40 pm
                    ockelly
                    Participant

                      HI Heg,

                      Great job getting through.  

                      My husband TJ is in week 7 of home injections.  His side effects have been different from yours… as everyone has their own response.  I'll tell you his… during the first 4 weeks of injections he continued to be quite fatigued, started having significant insomnia, brain fog (very concerning to him), and a chronic cough.  However over the past 3 weeks he seems to be feel a lot better.  He is working a full day and not collapsing on the sofa when he gets home.  The fog is also better.  He still has his cough and insomnia but is taking ativan before bed and he now sleeps for about 5 hours (he's never slept much more than 6 so good for him).  He has had his 1st scan.  Our doctor does alternating CT and PET scan every 3 months.  This was a CT and it didn't show any melanoma but did show a strong immune response in his lungs, hence the cough.  Of course the goal is a strong immune response so his onc was happy with these results.

                      Hoping that you can disregard comments like the above who didn't think this treatment was offered anymore…  I don't know how that qualifies as a supportive response????  My attitude is this…  the drug will not effect your chances of recurring but the delay in recurrence may give you more treatment options should you need them.  

                      So… one day at a time!!  

                      Take Care

                      Kelly

                        • April 10, 2011 at 12:04 am
                        Vermont_Donna
                        Participant

                          Hi,

                          Congrats on one month finished. Yes it is a rough treatment. I finished the 11 months of the three times a week shots, my biggest side effects were extreme fatigue and difficulty concentrating. I had a re-occurence shortly after my completion of the treatment (see my profile for details).

                          Good luck….you can do this!

                          Vermont_Donna

                          stage 3a

                          • April 10, 2011 at 12:04 am
                          Vermont_Donna
                          Participant

                            Hi,

                            Congrats on one month finished. Yes it is a rough treatment. I finished the 11 months of the three times a week shots, my biggest side effects were extreme fatigue and difficulty concentrating. I had a re-occurence shortly after my completion of the treatment (see my profile for details).

                            Good luck….you can do this!

                            Vermont_Donna

                            stage 3a

                          • April 7, 2011 at 2:40 pm
                          ockelly
                          Participant

                            HI Heg,

                            Great job getting through.  

                            My husband TJ is in week 7 of home injections.  His side effects have been different from yours… as everyone has their own response.  I'll tell you his… during the first 4 weeks of injections he continued to be quite fatigued, started having significant insomnia, brain fog (very concerning to him), and a chronic cough.  However over the past 3 weeks he seems to be feel a lot better.  He is working a full day and not collapsing on the sofa when he gets home.  The fog is also better.  He still has his cough and insomnia but is taking ativan before bed and he now sleeps for about 5 hours (he's never slept much more than 6 so good for him).  He has had his 1st scan.  Our doctor does alternating CT and PET scan every 3 months.  This was a CT and it didn't show any melanoma but did show a strong immune response in his lungs, hence the cough.  Of course the goal is a strong immune response so his onc was happy with these results.

                            Hoping that you can disregard comments like the above who didn't think this treatment was offered anymore…  I don't know how that qualifies as a supportive response????  My attitude is this…  the drug will not effect your chances of recurring but the delay in recurrence may give you more treatment options should you need them.  

                            So… one day at a time!!  

                            Take Care

                            Kelly

                            • April 30, 2011 at 2:31 pm
                            Lauri England
                            Participant

                              I am in my 7th month of Interferon and still hanging in there.  As previous people said Interferon effects people in different ways.  I have been unable to work due to confusion, fatigue, and headaches.  I frequently have rest periods and try not to exert myself.  I am dizzy a lot and cant stand for long periods of time.  The confusion has gotten worse over the 7 months but the doctor says it will get better once the treatments stop.  I have been able to hang in there so far.  I guess I have been pretty lucky with side effects so far.  I have not had another CT scan or MRI since before I started the treatments. I am NED as far as I know right now.

                              Good Luck to You!

                              Lauri

                              • April 30, 2011 at 2:31 pm
                              Lauri England
                              Participant

                                I am in my 7th month of Interferon and still hanging in there.  As previous people said Interferon effects people in different ways.  I have been unable to work due to confusion, fatigue, and headaches.  I frequently have rest periods and try not to exert myself.  I am dizzy a lot and cant stand for long periods of time.  The confusion has gotten worse over the 7 months but the doctor says it will get better once the treatments stop.  I have been able to hang in there so far.  I guess I have been pretty lucky with side effects so far.  I have not had another CT scan or MRI since before I started the treatments. I am NED as far as I know right now.

                                Good Luck to You!

                                Lauri

                                • April 30, 2011 at 2:31 pm
                                Lauri England
                                Participant

                                  I am in my 7th month of Interferon and still hanging in there.  As previous people said Interferon effects people in different ways.  I have been unable to work due to confusion, fatigue, and headaches.  I frequently have rest periods and try not to exert myself.  I am dizzy a lot and cant stand for long periods of time.  The confusion has gotten worse over the 7 months but the doctor says it will get better once the treatments stop.  I have been able to hang in there so far.  I guess I have been pretty lucky with side effects so far.  I have not had another CT scan or MRI since before I started the treatments. I am NED as far as I know right now.

                                  Good Luck to You!

                                  Lauri

                                  • April 30, 2011 at 2:31 pm
                                  Lauri England
                                  Participant

                                    I am in my 7th month of Interferon and still hanging in there.  As previous people said Interferon effects people in different ways.  I have been unable to work due to confusion, fatigue, and headaches.  I frequently have rest periods and try not to exert myself.  I am dizzy a lot and cant stand for long periods of time.  The confusion has gotten worse over the 7 months but the doctor says it will get better once the treatments stop.  I have been able to hang in there so far.  I guess I have been pretty lucky with side effects so far.  I have not had another CT scan or MRI since before I started the treatments. I am NED as far as I know right now.

                                    Good Luck to You!

                                    Lauri

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