to Interferon or not to Interferon

I'm sorry to hear about your diagnosis. From your profile I see that you're at Stage III so I don't quite understand the "no melanoma cells in lymph nodes".

Interferon is harsh. It will give you flulike symptoms for the year that you're on it. Some people tolerate the side effects well while others have to stop treatment because of the severity of the side effects. There's no way to predict how you will react. While doing interferon gives you the feeling that you're doing "something" about the melanoma, statistically it doesn't give you a huge advantage over "frequent observation". Some people opt for frequent observation because they don't want to give up a year being sick. It's really a personal choice.

What options did they give you over at Hillman? Any clinical trials?

You might also want to consider getting a second opinion from another melanoma specialist. I don't know where you live relative to Hillman, but Johns Hopkins in Baltimore or Abramson in Philadelphia may be worth checking out.

I'm sorry to hear about your diagnosis. From your profile I see that you're at Stage III so I don't quite understand the "no melanoma cells in lymph nodes".

Interferon is harsh. It will give you flulike symptoms for the year that you're on it. Some people tolerate the side effects well while others have to stop treatment because of the severity of the side effects. There's no way to predict how you will react. While doing interferon gives you the feeling that you're doing "something" about the melanoma, statistically it doesn't give you a huge advantage over "frequent observation". Some people opt for frequent observation because they don't want to give up a year being sick. It's really a personal choice.

What options did they give you over at Hillman? Any clinical trials?

You might also want to consider getting a second opinion from another melanoma specialist. I don't know where you live relative to Hillman, but Johns Hopkins in Baltimore or Abramson in Philadelphia may be worth checking out.

I'm sorry to hear about your diagnosis. From your profile I see that you're at Stage III so I don't quite understand the "no melanoma cells in lymph nodes".

Interferon is harsh. It will give you flulike symptoms for the year that you're on it. Some people tolerate the side effects well while others have to stop treatment because of the severity of the side effects. There's no way to predict how you will react. While doing interferon gives you the feeling that you're doing "something" about the melanoma, statistically it doesn't give you a huge advantage over "frequent observation". Some people opt for frequent observation because they don't want to give up a year being sick. It's really a personal choice.

What options did they give you over at Hillman? Any clinical trials?

You might also want to consider getting a second opinion from another melanoma specialist. I don't know where you live relative to Hillman, but Johns Hopkins in Baltimore or Abramson in Philadelphia may be worth checking out.

Stage III is a tough place to be.  I was diagnosed IIIB back in July 2009.  I went to Sloan Kettering, NYU, and several other melanoma specialists. Sloan won't even do Interferon due to its high toxicity and low success rate.   Each place wanted me to do their trial.  Of course, each trial had a placebo, so I wasn't guaranteed to get the drug.  My luck isn't all that great.  I decided to do Interferon and was able to stay the course for the full year.  It's not easy, but it was doable for me.  I don't regret it.  I felt like I was doing something to fight this beast.  I knew the success rate was low, but somebody had to be in the group for which it worked….why not me!   I know a lot of others who couldn't stay on it due to toxicity.  I guess, like everything else, it's a crap shoot.  Some people's bodies can process it, others can't…who knows why?

All I can say is make your decision,stick with it, and never look back!  Please let us know if you have any questions!  Best of luck to you!

Tricia

Stage III is a tough place to be.  I was diagnosed IIIB back in July 2009.  I went to Sloan Kettering, NYU, and several other melanoma specialists. Sloan won't even do Interferon due to its high toxicity and low success rate.   Each place wanted me to do their trial.  Of course, each trial had a placebo, so I wasn't guaranteed to get the drug.  My luck isn't all that great.  I decided to do Interferon and was able to stay the course for the full year.  It's not easy, but it was doable for me.  I don't regret it.  I felt like I was doing something to fight this beast.  I knew the success rate was low, but somebody had to be in the group for which it worked….why not me!   I know a lot of others who couldn't stay on it due to toxicity.  I guess, like everything else, it's a crap shoot.  Some people's bodies can process it, others can't…who knows why?

All I can say is make your decision,stick with it, and never look back!  Please let us know if you have any questions!  Best of luck to you!

Tricia

Stage III is a tough place to be.  I was diagnosed IIIB back in July 2009.  I went to Sloan Kettering, NYU, and several other melanoma specialists. Sloan won't even do Interferon due to its high toxicity and low success rate.   Each place wanted me to do their trial.  Of course, each trial had a placebo, so I wasn't guaranteed to get the drug.  My luck isn't all that great.  I decided to do Interferon and was able to stay the course for the full year.  It's not easy, but it was doable for me.  I don't regret it.  I felt like I was doing something to fight this beast.  I knew the success rate was low, but somebody had to be in the group for which it worked….why not me!   I know a lot of others who couldn't stay on it due to toxicity.  I guess, like everything else, it's a crap shoot.  Some people's bodies can process it, others can't…who knows why?

All I can say is make your decision,stick with it, and never look back!  Please let us know if you have any questions!  Best of luck to you!

Tricia

I am not a doctor, just a serial cancer patient, so please indulge me and let's back up a bit.

HOW did you go from a SNB with a clean sentinel node, and even the second in the chain clear to "thyroid follicles detected and thyroid removal"?

How, and using what proceedure, were the thyroid follicles detected and analyzed? What does detected mean?  Thyroid follicles can mean many things and not all of them are melanoma specific..

Try not to stress (rightio, easy, huh? chuckle), but really, from what you are saying, sure is an unusual quantum leap, even for melanoma.

Not doubting you mind you,, but something doesn't add up; and obviously I am missing something.

Cheers,

Charlie S

I am not a doctor, just a serial cancer patient, so please indulge me and let's back up a bit.

HOW did you go from a SNB with a clean sentinel node, and even the second in the chain clear to "thyroid follicles detected and thyroid removal"?

How, and using what proceedure, were the thyroid follicles detected and analyzed? What does detected mean?  Thyroid follicles can mean many things and not all of them are melanoma specific..

Try not to stress (rightio, easy, huh? chuckle), but really, from what you are saying, sure is an unusual quantum leap, even for melanoma.

Not doubting you mind you,, but something doesn't add up; and obviously I am missing something.

Cheers,

Charlie S

I am not a doctor, just a serial cancer patient, so please indulge me and let's back up a bit.

HOW did you go from a SNB with a clean sentinel node, and even the second in the chain clear to "thyroid follicles detected and thyroid removal"?

How, and using what proceedure, were the thyroid follicles detected and analyzed? What does detected mean?  Thyroid follicles can mean many things and not all of them are melanoma specific..

Try not to stress (rightio, easy, huh? chuckle), but really, from what you are saying, sure is an unusual quantum leap, even for melanoma.

Not doubting you mind you,, but something doesn't add up; and obviously I am missing something.

Cheers,

Charlie S

I have yet to read where any one who took it was ever cured for melanoma using interferon. The problem here is that there are few options. Ask your oncologist for the names of patients that he has treated with interferon and where they are today.  I feel that changing your lifestyle and diet (read the book "The Makers Diet" ) would be a far better option than the toxic drug. Read the info on the following link carefully. Best Wishes, Gene

http://curezone.com/forums/fm.asp?i=929945

I have yet to read where any one who took it was ever cured for melanoma using interferon. The problem here is that there are few options. Ask your oncologist for the names of patients that he has treated with interferon and where they are today.  I feel that changing your lifestyle and diet (read the book "The Makers Diet" ) would be a far better option than the toxic drug. Read the info on the following link carefully. Best Wishes, Gene

http://curezone.com/forums/fm.asp?i=929945

I have yet to read where any one who took it was ever cured for melanoma using interferon. The problem here is that there are few options. Ask your oncologist for the names of patients that he has treated with interferon and where they are today.  I feel that changing your lifestyle and diet (read the book "The Makers Diet" ) would be a far better option than the toxic drug. Read the info on the following link carefully. Best Wishes, Gene

http://curezone.com/forums/fm.asp?i=929945

I am a stage IIIB survivor as well and almost a year out from my interferon treatments.  NED so far.  I chose to do interferon because that was the only treatment at the time that I was offered.  I was told at the time that statistics show very good success rate for the first 5 years out.  I pray that it is true, but with Melanoma you never know.  I do have a friend that did Interferon as well for the whole 11 months and he has been NED for over 13 years and he was stage IIIC with more then half his lymphnodes effected.  Was it because of the Interferon?  Will never know for sure, but it was worth the risk to me because at stage 3 and 4+ lymphnodes possitive I was almost guaranteed that this crap would return within the 1st year if I did nothing.  My story and Interferon experience is all noted on this system, but I do know if I had the choice again I would do it again.  I am 37 years old and have one child left at home and I was willing to do whatever it takes to survive this.  It is a very personal decision on everyones part.  I was diagnosed June of 2010 and was treated at U OF M in Michigan.  Hope all goes well with you.

I am a stage IIIB survivor as well and almost a year out from my interferon treatments.  NED so far.  I chose to do interferon because that was the only treatment at the time that I was offered.  I was told at the time that statistics show very good success rate for the first 5 years out.  I pray that it is true, but with Melanoma you never know.  I do have a friend that did Interferon as well for the whole 11 months and he has been NED for over 13 years and he was stage IIIC with more then half his lymphnodes effected.  Was it because of the Interferon?  Will never know for sure, but it was worth the risk to me because at stage 3 and 4+ lymphnodes possitive I was almost guaranteed that this crap would return within the 1st year if I did nothing.  My story and Interferon experience is all noted on this system, but I do know if I had the choice again I would do it again.  I am 37 years old and have one child left at home and I was willing to do whatever it takes to survive this.  It is a very personal decision on everyones part.  I was diagnosed June of 2010 and was treated at U OF M in Michigan.  Hope all goes well with you.

I am a stage IIIB survivor as well and almost a year out from my interferon treatments.  NED so far.  I chose to do interferon because that was the only treatment at the time that I was offered.  I was told at the time that statistics show very good success rate for the first 5 years out.  I pray that it is true, but with Melanoma you never know.  I do have a friend that did Interferon as well for the whole 11 months and he has been NED for over 13 years and he was stage IIIC with more then half his lymphnodes effected.  Was it because of the Interferon?  Will never know for sure, but it was worth the risk to me because at stage 3 and 4+ lymphnodes possitive I was almost guaranteed that this crap would return within the 1st year if I did nothing.  My story and Interferon experience is all noted on this system, but I do know if I had the choice again I would do it again.  I am 37 years old and have one child left at home and I was willing to do whatever it takes to survive this.  It is a very personal decision on everyones part.  I was diagnosed June of 2010 and was treated at U OF M in Michigan.  Hope all goes well with you.