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immunitherapy

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  • Post
    • January 7, 2016 at 1:56 pm
    darinohio
    Participant

        I first want to say this is a very helpful forum.  i check in occacionaly the warmth and knowledge 

      you all share is very comforting.  I have a question hopfully someone can relate to. 5 yrs ago I went 

      thru a full year of inferon treatments for stage 3 nodular melanoma. i still see my oncologist regularly.

      it seems about once a year a new mole or spot shows up. He has it removed and they always come back melanoma. Each year there are more spots. I see him in 2 weeks and i have 6 more suspicious spots.

        My question is how long does the interferon therapy last ? Are these considered recurrances?

      Can I do another kind of therapy?  I'm just worried cause the spots are appaering more frequently.

                       Thank You and Gos Bless

    Viewing 5 reply threads
    • Replies
        • January 8, 2016 at 4:34 am
        jennunicorn
        Participant

          Interferon is no longer considered the best option for Stage 3 treatment, now that drugs like Yervoy (ipi) have been FDA approved. I would talk with your oncologist about what your options are, if you need more treatment or not. I am Stage 3b and doing Yervoy currently. My oncologist did not offer Interferon since it does not have good statistics in helping someone in our situation. I am sure there are others on here with more expertise on this matter and hopefully they can also answer your questions a little better. I hope your oncologist is a Melanoma specialist, if not, then I would definitely consider finding one. Treatment options have expanded greatly since you went through Interferon 5 years ago. 

          All the best to you,

          Jenn

          • January 8, 2016 at 4:34 am
          jennunicorn
          Participant

            Interferon is no longer considered the best option for Stage 3 treatment, now that drugs like Yervoy (ipi) have been FDA approved. I would talk with your oncologist about what your options are, if you need more treatment or not. I am Stage 3b and doing Yervoy currently. My oncologist did not offer Interferon since it does not have good statistics in helping someone in our situation. I am sure there are others on here with more expertise on this matter and hopefully they can also answer your questions a little better. I hope your oncologist is a Melanoma specialist, if not, then I would definitely consider finding one. Treatment options have expanded greatly since you went through Interferon 5 years ago. 

            All the best to you,

            Jenn

            • January 8, 2016 at 4:34 am
            jennunicorn
            Participant

              Interferon is no longer considered the best option for Stage 3 treatment, now that drugs like Yervoy (ipi) have been FDA approved. I would talk with your oncologist about what your options are, if you need more treatment or not. I am Stage 3b and doing Yervoy currently. My oncologist did not offer Interferon since it does not have good statistics in helping someone in our situation. I am sure there are others on here with more expertise on this matter and hopefully they can also answer your questions a little better. I hope your oncologist is a Melanoma specialist, if not, then I would definitely consider finding one. Treatment options have expanded greatly since you went through Interferon 5 years ago. 

              All the best to you,

              Jenn

              • January 9, 2016 at 8:58 pm
              _Paul_
              Participant

                Like Jenn said it is very important that you see an oncologist that specializes in melanoma because of your recurrences. I had a couple of occurrences after my initial diagnosis and progressed to stage 4. Fortunately I switched to a melanoma oncologist from my first one who was not a specialist and I am doing well. I lead a normal life. But I am convinced that had I not switched I would be either very sick or dead.

                Research and new treatments change so fast in the melanoma world that you need a specialist to stay on top of it all.

                – Paul

                • January 9, 2016 at 8:58 pm
                _Paul_
                Participant

                  Like Jenn said it is very important that you see an oncologist that specializes in melanoma because of your recurrences. I had a couple of occurrences after my initial diagnosis and progressed to stage 4. Fortunately I switched to a melanoma oncologist from my first one who was not a specialist and I am doing well. I lead a normal life. But I am convinced that had I not switched I would be either very sick or dead.

                  Research and new treatments change so fast in the melanoma world that you need a specialist to stay on top of it all.

                  – Paul

                  • January 9, 2016 at 8:58 pm
                  _Paul_
                  Participant

                    Like Jenn said it is very important that you see an oncologist that specializes in melanoma because of your recurrences. I had a couple of occurrences after my initial diagnosis and progressed to stage 4. Fortunately I switched to a melanoma oncologist from my first one who was not a specialist and I am doing well. I lead a normal life. But I am convinced that had I not switched I would be either very sick or dead.

                    Research and new treatments change so fast in the melanoma world that you need a specialist to stay on top of it all.

                    – Paul

                Viewing 5 reply threads

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