Too late for Interferon??
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Too late for Interferon??

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Too late for Interferon??

  • Post
    • June 11, 2012 at 1:23 pm
    ladylite77
    Participant

    I am wanting to know (out of curiosity) if there is a time limit on interferon treatment after diagnosis? I was diagnosed 1 year and 3 mos ago…did surgery, etc. I am stage III metastatic(lymph nodes). I decided not to do interferon after lots of research and specialist input. However, I am now questioning that decision . Is it too late to change my mind? There are many factors causing me to ask this question…I think I will post them in another place.

    I am wanting to know (out of curiosity) if there is a time limit on interferon treatment after diagnosis? I was diagnosed 1 year and 3 mos ago…did surgery, etc. I am stage III metastatic(lymph nodes). I decided not to do interferon after lots of research and specialist input. However, I am now questioning that decision . Is it too late to change my mind? There are many factors causing me to ask this question…I think I will post them in another place.

Viewing 20 reply threads
  • Replies
      • June 11, 2012 at 1:35 pm
      Janner
      Participant

      The numbers on the efficacy of Interferon are not very high.  Whether you choose to do it or not is your own choice based on those numbers and your own research.  However, all the clinical trials for Interferon were based on starting treatment no later than 53 days out from lymph node removal.  I might be wrong and the number is 63 days, I can't remember for certain.  Anyway, it was something in the 2 month range.  Either way, your window of starting Interferon is well outside the clinical trial data.  There is no way to even speculate whether doing Interferon at this time would have any benefit at all or even a detriment.  No way to know.  No data exists for you to compare your situation to others or even look at study data this far out from diagnosis.  Given that, it might be hard to even convince an oncologist to start that treatment at this late date.

      • June 11, 2012 at 1:35 pm
      Janner
      Participant

      The numbers on the efficacy of Interferon are not very high.  Whether you choose to do it or not is your own choice based on those numbers and your own research.  However, all the clinical trials for Interferon were based on starting treatment no later than 53 days out from lymph node removal.  I might be wrong and the number is 63 days, I can't remember for certain.  Anyway, it was something in the 2 month range.  Either way, your window of starting Interferon is well outside the clinical trial data.  There is no way to even speculate whether doing Interferon at this time would have any benefit at all or even a detriment.  No way to know.  No data exists for you to compare your situation to others or even look at study data this far out from diagnosis.  Given that, it might be hard to even convince an oncologist to start that treatment at this late date.

      • June 11, 2012 at 1:35 pm
      Janner
      Participant

      The numbers on the efficacy of Interferon are not very high.  Whether you choose to do it or not is your own choice based on those numbers and your own research.  However, all the clinical trials for Interferon were based on starting treatment no later than 53 days out from lymph node removal.  I might be wrong and the number is 63 days, I can't remember for certain.  Anyway, it was something in the 2 month range.  Either way, your window of starting Interferon is well outside the clinical trial data.  There is no way to even speculate whether doing Interferon at this time would have any benefit at all or even a detriment.  No way to know.  No data exists for you to compare your situation to others or even look at study data this far out from diagnosis.  Given that, it might be hard to even convince an oncologist to start that treatment at this late date.

      • June 11, 2012 at 3:16 pm
      MichaelFL
      Participant

      I believe the window is 56 days or 8 weeks after surgery. Your doc will most likely not do it at this point anyway. You are too far out.

      • June 11, 2012 at 3:16 pm
      MichaelFL
      Participant

      I believe the window is 56 days or 8 weeks after surgery. Your doc will most likely not do it at this point anyway. You are too far out.

        • June 11, 2012 at 4:18 pm
        Janner
        Participant

        Thanks for the date correction.  63 days is for insurance coverage.  Not sure where 53 days came from but I remember 56 days correctly now.

        One more issue I thought of after posting – Insurance may not cover the cost of Interferon this far out, either, even if your doctor is willing.  It is another thing to check out if you are determined to consider doing it now.  Certainly there are people who have done Interferon after the 56 day interval, but usually it was soon after.  They folks may have had complications and were waiting for wounds to heal and such before beginning Interferon.  In the almost 11 years I've been on this site, I don't recall one instance of anyone starting Interferon this late after surgery.

        • June 11, 2012 at 4:18 pm
        Janner
        Participant

        Thanks for the date correction.  63 days is for insurance coverage.  Not sure where 53 days came from but I remember 56 days correctly now.

        One more issue I thought of after posting – Insurance may not cover the cost of Interferon this far out, either, even if your doctor is willing.  It is another thing to check out if you are determined to consider doing it now.  Certainly there are people who have done Interferon after the 56 day interval, but usually it was soon after.  They folks may have had complications and were waiting for wounds to heal and such before beginning Interferon.  In the almost 11 years I've been on this site, I don't recall one instance of anyone starting Interferon this late after surgery.

        • June 11, 2012 at 4:18 pm
        Janner
        Participant

        Thanks for the date correction.  63 days is for insurance coverage.  Not sure where 53 days came from but I remember 56 days correctly now.

        One more issue I thought of after posting – Insurance may not cover the cost of Interferon this far out, either, even if your doctor is willing.  It is another thing to check out if you are determined to consider doing it now.  Certainly there are people who have done Interferon after the 56 day interval, but usually it was soon after.  They folks may have had complications and were waiting for wounds to heal and such before beginning Interferon.  In the almost 11 years I've been on this site, I don't recall one instance of anyone starting Interferon this late after surgery.

      • June 11, 2012 at 3:16 pm
      MichaelFL
      Participant

      I believe the window is 56 days or 8 weeks after surgery. Your doc will most likely not do it at this point anyway. You are too far out.

      • June 11, 2012 at 5:47 pm
      Gene_S
      Participant

      Here is a posting that I gave to my oncologist when he suggested interferon for my melanoma.This info is from another melanoma forum group. Note the date that it was posted.

       

      Re: Interferon Posted: 7:39:47 am on 8/5/2010 Modified: Never  

      The promising trials (and this is really where melanoma treatment is being discovered) are the BRAF and MEK trials, some just opening up in many locations.  The target the pathway on a molecular level with an oral drug that has low toxicity.  IL2 and interferon are drugs of past that have low response but high toxicity. The other newer treatment is Ipilimubab and it is in expanded use at various locations, but you must fail another therapy first.  Dacarbazine, a very old chemo is often given for melanoma, and it has the same response rate as IL2 and biochemo, but far less toxic and doesn't require a hospital stay.  It is often used as the randomized part of a clinical trial.  To find trials near you (and there is travel assistance available through the pharma, hospitals and us) go to:  http://www.clinicaltrials.gov

      Also a sad story, see: 

      • June 11, 2012 at 5:47 pm
      Gene_S
      Participant

      Here is a posting that I gave to my oncologist when he suggested interferon for my melanoma.This info is from another melanoma forum group. Note the date that it was posted.

       

      Re: Interferon Posted: 7:39:47 am on 8/5/2010 Modified: Never  

      The promising trials (and this is really where melanoma treatment is being discovered) are the BRAF and MEK trials, some just opening up in many locations.  The target the pathway on a molecular level with an oral drug that has low toxicity.  IL2 and interferon are drugs of past that have low response but high toxicity. The other newer treatment is Ipilimubab and it is in expanded use at various locations, but you must fail another therapy first.  Dacarbazine, a very old chemo is often given for melanoma, and it has the same response rate as IL2 and biochemo, but far less toxic and doesn't require a hospital stay.  It is often used as the randomized part of a clinical trial.  To find trials near you (and there is travel assistance available through the pharma, hospitals and us) go to:  http://www.clinicaltrials.gov

      Also a sad story, see: 

      • June 11, 2012 at 5:47 pm
      Gene_S
      Participant

      Here is a posting that I gave to my oncologist when he suggested interferon for my melanoma.This info is from another melanoma forum group. Note the date that it was posted.

       

      Re: Interferon Posted: 7:39:47 am on 8/5/2010 Modified: Never  

      The promising trials (and this is really where melanoma treatment is being discovered) are the BRAF and MEK trials, some just opening up in many locations.  The target the pathway on a molecular level with an oral drug that has low toxicity.  IL2 and interferon are drugs of past that have low response but high toxicity. The other newer treatment is Ipilimubab and it is in expanded use at various locations, but you must fail another therapy first.  Dacarbazine, a very old chemo is often given for melanoma, and it has the same response rate as IL2 and biochemo, but far less toxic and doesn't require a hospital stay.  It is often used as the randomized part of a clinical trial.  To find trials near you (and there is travel assistance available through the pharma, hospitals and us) go to:  http://www.clinicaltrials.gov

      Also a sad story, see: 

      • June 12, 2012 at 10:48 am
      MeNDave
      Participant

      Hi,

      Just to let you know, there are a few trials out there for Stage III resected patients now.  Go to the clinical trials website.  I know that they have several vaccine trials out there now, where there wasn't anything a few years back (or even last year).  So when a door closes, open a window!

      • June 12, 2012 at 10:48 am
      MeNDave
      Participant

      Hi,

      Just to let you know, there are a few trials out there for Stage III resected patients now.  Go to the clinical trials website.  I know that they have several vaccine trials out there now, where there wasn't anything a few years back (or even last year).  So when a door closes, open a window!

      • June 12, 2012 at 10:48 am
      MeNDave
      Participant

      Hi,

      Just to let you know, there are a few trials out there for Stage III resected patients now.  Go to the clinical trials website.  I know that they have several vaccine trials out there now, where there wasn't anything a few years back (or even last year).  So when a door closes, open a window!

      • June 12, 2012 at 11:29 am
      ladylite77
      Participant

      Thank you, all for your response to my concerns. I appreciate the information so much. This just confirms my gut instinct that there is no turning back from the decision I made.

      I will definitely start looking into the clinical trials. Thank you for the helpful site and the advice.

      I wil just continue observation and testing as usual.

      Thank you!

      Ladylite77

      • June 12, 2012 at 11:29 am
      ladylite77
      Participant

      Thank you, all for your response to my concerns. I appreciate the information so much. This just confirms my gut instinct that there is no turning back from the decision I made.

      I will definitely start looking into the clinical trials. Thank you for the helpful site and the advice.

      I wil just continue observation and testing as usual.

      Thank you!

      Ladylite77

      • June 12, 2012 at 11:29 am
      ladylite77
      Participant

      Thank you, all for your response to my concerns. I appreciate the information so much. This just confirms my gut instinct that there is no turning back from the decision I made.

      I will definitely start looking into the clinical trials. Thank you for the helpful site and the advice.

      I wil just continue observation and testing as usual.

      Thank you!

      Ladylite77

      • June 13, 2012 at 11:45 pm
      EmilyandMike
      Participant

      All the trials for adjuvant therapies will usually require that you to start within 90 days after your node dissection.  My husband didnt do interferon after researching it and he didnt qualify for any other trials at the time.  So he is doing observation…so far so good – almost 3 years later.   My advice is that you stay educated on what trials/therapies are available for stage 4 "just in case"…take care!

      • June 13, 2012 at 11:45 pm
      EmilyandMike
      Participant

      All the trials for adjuvant therapies will usually require that you to start within 90 days after your node dissection.  My husband didnt do interferon after researching it and he didnt qualify for any other trials at the time.  So he is doing observation…so far so good – almost 3 years later.   My advice is that you stay educated on what trials/therapies are available for stage 4 "just in case"…take care!

      • June 13, 2012 at 11:45 pm
      EmilyandMike
      Participant

      All the trials for adjuvant therapies will usually require that you to start within 90 days after your node dissection.  My husband didnt do interferon after researching it and he didnt qualify for any other trials at the time.  So he is doing observation…so far so good – almost 3 years later.   My advice is that you stay educated on what trials/therapies are available for stage 4 "just in case"…take care!

      • June 14, 2012 at 7:33 pm
      Mandi0280
      Participant
      My husband was diagnosed with MM in October 2011 and is just now starting interferon as of 2 weeks ago. He was first on ipilumumab but had to come off of it due to side effects so his Dr now suggested interferon .
      • June 14, 2012 at 7:33 pm
      Mandi0280
      Participant
      My husband was diagnosed with MM in October 2011 and is just now starting interferon as of 2 weeks ago. He was first on ipilumumab but had to come off of it due to side effects so his Dr now suggested interferon .
      • June 14, 2012 at 7:33 pm
      Mandi0280
      Participant
      My husband was diagnosed with MM in October 2011 and is just now starting interferon as of 2 weeks ago. He was first on ipilumumab but had to come off of it due to side effects so his Dr now suggested interferon .
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