Question for long term survivors who had interferon

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Question for long term survivors who had interferon

This topic has 3 replies, 1 voice, and was last updated 9 years, 9 months ago by duncan_aus.

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- August 14, 2014 at 5:14 pm
- Quote
[email protected]
Participant
I was diagnosed with Melanoma in 2003. It was deep and took two surgeries to get it all. Fortunately it was not too agressive and I was node negative.

I underwent a month of daily interferon treatments and then did home injections for a few months until I had to quit because it was so draining I couldn't work.

After each treatment I would get the 'Shake & Bake's. I would shiver uncontrollably for 3-4 hours and then sweat uncontrollably for 3-4 more. I finished the treatments in late 2003.

In the 11 years since then I have periodic episodes where I get the 'Shake & Bakes'. It comes out of nowhere… I feel like I am on interferon for one day… and the next day I am fine.

It happens about once or twice a year. It doesn't have anything to do with being sick or any other physical issue.

The symptoms are so exactly like those of a post interferon treatment, it is hard to imagine it could be anything else. If I got sick afterwards or came down with the flu or even a cold… I would assume that was the problem… but in each instance it hits suddenly and within 8 hours starts going away.

I am curious if any other folks who took interferon in the past have experienced similar incidents.

Thanks.

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Replies

- - August 15, 2014 at 7:39 am
  - Quote
  duncan_aus
  Participant
  I'm about 18months post high dose interferon.. My experience during the treatment was the same as yours.. shake and bake..
  
  I did a week of the low dose, realised the side effects were significant, reviewed the literature and chose to stop it.
  
  I've had no such unexplained fever-like symptoms since ceasing the inteferon.
- - August 15, 2014 at 7:39 am
  - Quote
  duncan_aus
  Participant
  I'm about 18months post high dose interferon.. My experience during the treatment was the same as yours.. shake and bake..
  
  I did a week of the low dose, realised the side effects were significant, reviewed the literature and chose to stop it.
  
  I've had no such unexplained fever-like symptoms since ceasing the inteferon.
- - August 15, 2014 at 7:39 am
  - Quote
  duncan_aus
  Participant
  I'm about 18months post high dose interferon.. My experience during the treatment was the same as yours.. shake and bake..
  
  I did a week of the low dose, realised the side effects were significant, reviewed the literature and chose to stop it.
  
  I've had no such unexplained fever-like symptoms since ceasing the inteferon.

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