kreihel

Hi Glenn,

I am new to this group and came accross your post becuase I was researching the long term effects of the Interferon.  I was diagnosed for the second time in 2012 with stage 3 and I did the month of I.V. interfuron with what was suppose to be 11 months of shots 3 times a week.  I made it to month 9 before I had to stop.  I had all the side effects that you did.  I have the severe depression, mood swings, cold all the time, joint pain, headaches, dizzy, light headed.  Now it is 2014 and I still have headaches every day, depression-but can't take anything becuase they make the headaches worse, memory loss and the worst for me-joint pain.  I love walking and hiking and the joint pain is still there where I have a hard time walking up the stairs without my knees hurting.  I have seen my doctor who told me it would take about a year for the side effects to wear off, but obviously, it is longer than that and they are still here.  I have read that some of these side effects never go away and in some cases the interferon can cause problems with the brain which will make these side effects permanent.

Would I do the interferon again?  I don't know.  I am happy that I am here with my family still and that I was able to see my oldest graduate from High School-that was my main goal to keep me on the drug.  I hope that you can find some releif and that one day maybe they will come up with something to help people like you and me out.

Congrats on being 5 years cancer free and I wish you another 50!!!

Karen

Hi Glenn,

I am new to this group and came accross your post becuase I was researching the long term effects of the Interferon.  I was diagnosed for the second time in 2012 with stage 3 and I did the month of I.V. interfuron with what was suppose to be 11 months of shots 3 times a week.  I made it to month 9 before I had to stop.  I had all the side effects that you did.  I have the severe depression, mood swings, cold all the time, joint pain, headaches, dizzy, light headed.  Now it is 2014 and I still have headaches every day, depression-but can't take anything becuase they make the headaches worse, memory loss and the worst for me-joint pain.  I love walking and hiking and the joint pain is still there where I have a hard time walking up the stairs without my knees hurting.  I have seen my doctor who told me it would take about a year for the side effects to wear off, but obviously, it is longer than that and they are still here.  I have read that some of these side effects never go away and in some cases the interferon can cause problems with the brain which will make these side effects permanent.

Would I do the interferon again?  I don't know.  I am happy that I am here with my family still and that I was able to see my oldest graduate from High School-that was my main goal to keep me on the drug.  I hope that you can find some releif and that one day maybe they will come up with something to help people like you and me out.

Congrats on being 5 years cancer free and I wish you another 50!!!

Karen

Hi Glenn,

I am new to this group and came accross your post becuase I was researching the long term effects of the Interferon.  I was diagnosed for the second time in 2012 with stage 3 and I did the month of I.V. interfuron with what was suppose to be 11 months of shots 3 times a week.  I made it to month 9 before I had to stop.  I had all the side effects that you did.  I have the severe depression, mood swings, cold all the time, joint pain, headaches, dizzy, light headed.  Now it is 2014 and I still have headaches every day, depression-but can't take anything becuase they make the headaches worse, memory loss and the worst for me-joint pain.  I love walking and hiking and the joint pain is still there where I have a hard time walking up the stairs without my knees hurting.  I have seen my doctor who told me it would take about a year for the side effects to wear off, but obviously, it is longer than that and they are still here.  I have read that some of these side effects never go away and in some cases the interferon can cause problems with the brain which will make these side effects permanent.

Would I do the interferon again?  I don't know.  I am happy that I am here with my family still and that I was able to see my oldest graduate from High School-that was my main goal to keep me on the drug.  I hope that you can find some releif and that one day maybe they will come up with something to help people like you and me out.

Congrats on being 5 years cancer free and I wish you another 50!!!

Karen