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Interferon and Type II Diabetes
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Interferon and Type II Diabetes

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Interferon and Type II Diabetes

  • Post
    • September 27, 2011 at 11:51 pm
    mwilson
    Participant

      Hi,

      I'm new and hate to meet you all this way.  I was diagnosed as a Type II diabetic last July 2010.  This July 2011 I had a mole on the back of my calf looked at by  a dermatologist and after excision and biopsy, found it was melanoma.  Since it was deep, I then had a WLE and a SLNP with finding of one micro metastis.  Well, so much for happy news in the month of July!

      Hi,

      I'm new and hate to meet you all this way.  I was diagnosed as a Type II diabetic last July 2010.  This July 2011 I had a mole on the back of my calf looked at by  a dermatologist and after excision and biopsy, found it was melanoma.  Since it was deep, I then had a WLE and a SLNP with finding of one micro metastis.  Well, so much for happy news in the month of July!

      I'm Stage IIIa. I've just had a brain MRI and will have a CT/PET tomorrow and then meeting with the oncologist next week.  He is setting up a referral for me with UofA AZ Cancer Center in Tucson.  Dr. Cranmer. 

      The surgeon has recommended that the rest of the lymph nodes be removed.  My hesitancy lies in the fact that my mom had lymphadema and I fully understand the problems managing it.  I did find a meeting at the Phoenix Wellness Community next week that focuses on lymphadema so will go there open minded and increase my knowledge.  I'm just not sure of having the surgery. 

      The oncologist and I have talked about 4 weeks of interferon.  My question is – is there any problem with taking metformin and interferon that anyone knows of?  The doctor was looking on line and could not find a reference. 

      We are thinking that I just monitor my blood glucose more closely than I usually do.  I don't have a problem with high reading – I'm kind of middle of the road but under decent control with an A1C of 6.4.

      Thanks for all the information that you put on this board.  It has surely made me more educated.

      Michele

       

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    • Replies
        • September 28, 2011 at 1:09 pm
        Hereiam
        Participant

          Hi Michele, 

          I`m very sorry about your diagnosis, and I really hope you recover soon!

          unfortunately I don`t have an expierience in the treatment method you are talking about, but my aunt (diagnosed with stage 3 melanoma in 2007) reacted to interferon very bad (she had nausea, fatigue, loss of hair, etc.). Of course, each of us are different and every individual reacts to medicine differently. Well, as there was no way how to treat her with chemo/radio, her oncologist came up with a treatment plan with virotherapy (she lives in Latvia and there it is a common treatment for melanoma patients) . As my aunt is 57 and her immune system is probably not as strong as yours, it was one of few options she had.  But I have to admit it was a successful  for her and for a year now she has been NED. As far as I know, virotherapy can also be combined with chemo and it helps to activate immune system while chemo is doing its job. 

          Wishing you a soon and effective recovery!

          • September 28, 2011 at 1:09 pm
          Hereiam
          Participant

            Hi Michele, 

            I`m very sorry about your diagnosis, and I really hope you recover soon!

            unfortunately I don`t have an expierience in the treatment method you are talking about, but my aunt (diagnosed with stage 3 melanoma in 2007) reacted to interferon very bad (she had nausea, fatigue, loss of hair, etc.). Of course, each of us are different and every individual reacts to medicine differently. Well, as there was no way how to treat her with chemo/radio, her oncologist came up with a treatment plan with virotherapy (she lives in Latvia and there it is a common treatment for melanoma patients) . As my aunt is 57 and her immune system is probably not as strong as yours, it was one of few options she had.  But I have to admit it was a successful  for her and for a year now she has been NED. As far as I know, virotherapy can also be combined with chemo and it helps to activate immune system while chemo is doing its job. 

            Wishing you a soon and effective recovery!

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