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Stage 2 and Interferon
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Stage 2 and Interferon

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Stage 2 and Interferon

  • Post
    • October 31, 2012 at 10:36 pm
    amandamini
    Participant

      Hi all,

       

      I was diagnosed in Oct. with stage 2 clarks level 4.  I had my SNB and WLE and all was clear!  That was great news.  My plastic surgeon then referred me to an oncologist to get a PET scan.  Today I met with the oncologist and was surprised to find out that he recommended me going on Interferon for a year.  What can I expect as far as side effects?  Please let me know your experiences with this drug. 

       

      Thanks for your help with this!

      Amanda

      Hi all,

       

      I was diagnosed in Oct. with stage 2 clarks level 4.  I had my SNB and WLE and all was clear!  That was great news.  My plastic surgeon then referred me to an oncologist to get a PET scan.  Today I met with the oncologist and was surprised to find out that he recommended me going on Interferon for a year.  What can I expect as far as side effects?  Please let me know your experiences with this drug. 

       

      Thanks for your help with this!

      Amanda

    Viewing 11 reply threads
    • Replies
        • November 1, 2012 at 12:24 am
        scots
        Participant
          I’m also stage II and did a year of interferon. It was not easy but I did work the entire time. If search interferon on This site you will find a wide range of opinions on this. For me fatigue was the worse. Its like having the flu for an entire year. Everyone reacts differently to interferon. Interferon has been talked about quite here.

          Good luck
          Scot

            • November 1, 2012 at 2:10 am
            amandamini
            Participant

              Thanks,  Scot!  I still have some research to do before I make up my mind. 

              • November 1, 2012 at 1:29 pm
              NYKaren
              Participant
                Hi Amanda,
                Sorry to meet you this way but glad you’re here.
                Interferon is highly controversial. My docs at Sloan Kettering do not use it at all, and because I have history of depression, it wasn’t even on the table for me. My suggestion is that you be seen at a Melanoma Center of Excellance. Not recommending yes or no–just that u do your homework and consult with the best.
                Let us know how you’re doing.
                all the best,
                karen
                • November 1, 2012 at 1:29 pm
                NYKaren
                Participant
                  Hi Amanda,
                  Sorry to meet you this way but glad you’re here.
                  Interferon is highly controversial. My docs at Sloan Kettering do not use it at all, and because I have history of depression, it wasn’t even on the table for me. My suggestion is that you be seen at a Melanoma Center of Excellance. Not recommending yes or no–just that u do your homework and consult with the best.
                  Let us know how you’re doing.
                  all the best,
                  karen
                  • November 1, 2012 at 1:29 pm
                  NYKaren
                  Participant
                    Hi Amanda,
                    Sorry to meet you this way but glad you’re here.
                    Interferon is highly controversial. My docs at Sloan Kettering do not use it at all, and because I have history of depression, it wasn’t even on the table for me. My suggestion is that you be seen at a Melanoma Center of Excellance. Not recommending yes or no–just that u do your homework and consult with the best.
                    Let us know how you’re doing.
                    all the best,
                    karen
                    • November 1, 2012 at 2:10 am
                    amandamini
                    Participant

                      Thanks,  Scot!  I still have some research to do before I make up my mind. 

                      • November 1, 2012 at 2:10 am
                      amandamini
                      Participant

                        Thanks,  Scot!  I still have some research to do before I make up my mind. 

                      • November 1, 2012 at 12:24 am
                      scots
                      Participant
                        I’m also stage II and did a year of interferon. It was not easy but I did work the entire time. If search interferon on This site you will find a wide range of opinions on this. For me fatigue was the worse. Its like having the flu for an entire year. Everyone reacts differently to interferon. Interferon has been talked about quite here.

                        Good luck
                        Scot

                        • November 1, 2012 at 12:24 am
                        scots
                        Participant
                          I’m also stage II and did a year of interferon. It was not easy but I did work the entire time. If search interferon on This site you will find a wide range of opinions on this. For me fatigue was the worse. Its like having the flu for an entire year. Everyone reacts differently to interferon. Interferon has been talked about quite here.

                          Good luck
                          Scot

                          • November 1, 2012 at 9:22 pm
                          hbecker
                          Participant

                            Karen, we've seen three oncologists – two are top melanoma specialists – and none of them recommend interferon. Can you get to one of the cancer centers with noted melanoma programs? MD Anderson? Moffitt? Johns Hopkins? Sloan Kettering? U Penn.? U. Va.? Go get another opinion from someone who really knows melanoma.

                            Good luck!

                            Hazel

                              • November 1, 2012 at 9:24 pm
                              hbecker
                              Participant

                                Sorry, Amanda, I got your name wrong … also should have noted that my husband is also Stage 2.

                                Hazel

                                • November 1, 2012 at 9:24 pm
                                hbecker
                                Participant

                                  Sorry, Amanda, I got your name wrong … also should have noted that my husband is also Stage 2.

                                  Hazel

                                  • November 1, 2012 at 9:24 pm
                                  hbecker
                                  Participant

                                    Sorry, Amanda, I got your name wrong … also should have noted that my husband is also Stage 2.

                                    Hazel

                                  • November 1, 2012 at 9:22 pm
                                  hbecker
                                  Participant

                                    Karen, we've seen three oncologists – two are top melanoma specialists – and none of them recommend interferon. Can you get to one of the cancer centers with noted melanoma programs? MD Anderson? Moffitt? Johns Hopkins? Sloan Kettering? U Penn.? U. Va.? Go get another opinion from someone who really knows melanoma.

                                    Good luck!

                                    Hazel

                                    • November 1, 2012 at 9:22 pm
                                    hbecker
                                    Participant

                                      Karen, we've seen three oncologists – two are top melanoma specialists – and none of them recommend interferon. Can you get to one of the cancer centers with noted melanoma programs? MD Anderson? Moffitt? Johns Hopkins? Sloan Kettering? U Penn.? U. Va.? Go get another opinion from someone who really knows melanoma.

                                      Good luck!

                                      Hazel

                                      • November 2, 2012 at 2:44 pm
                                      Mandi0280
                                      Participant

                                        Hi Amanda,

                                         

                                            My husband just got done with interferon in June. Although, he did not do the full year that you are talking about he only done the 1 month high dose infusions. My husband stopped there and chose not to do the 11 month injections because he wanted to return to work and things to go back to some type of normal. As far as side effects go….he had fever, chills, body aches and some nausea. Now with that being said after the first couple of days of treatment we learned to pre med him. He would get a bag of zofran and tylenol tablets right before treatment began. Then I would give him pain med every 3 hours or so after that to make sure the fever and body aches stayed away. This normally worked for him every day. I'm not going to say he didn't have bad days but you can help manage it if you find what works for you. Things are very different for different ppl. I had a lady tell me she played tennis 3 days a week while on interferon. My husband has a friend that took it and said for 1 full year he hardly got off the couch because he was sick. So, you never know how you will react to any kind of treatment including interferon. My husbands Dr was fine with him  just doing the first month due to studies suggesting that the 1 month worked just as well as the full year so you might want to check into that if you have doubts about being able to complete a full year. Hope this helped! Good luck to you.

                                         

                                        Mandi

                                        • November 2, 2012 at 2:44 pm
                                        Mandi0280
                                        Participant

                                          Hi Amanda,

                                           

                                              My husband just got done with interferon in June. Although, he did not do the full year that you are talking about he only done the 1 month high dose infusions. My husband stopped there and chose not to do the 11 month injections because he wanted to return to work and things to go back to some type of normal. As far as side effects go….he had fever, chills, body aches and some nausea. Now with that being said after the first couple of days of treatment we learned to pre med him. He would get a bag of zofran and tylenol tablets right before treatment began. Then I would give him pain med every 3 hours or so after that to make sure the fever and body aches stayed away. This normally worked for him every day. I'm not going to say he didn't have bad days but you can help manage it if you find what works for you. Things are very different for different ppl. I had a lady tell me she played tennis 3 days a week while on interferon. My husband has a friend that took it and said for 1 full year he hardly got off the couch because he was sick. So, you never know how you will react to any kind of treatment including interferon. My husbands Dr was fine with him  just doing the first month due to studies suggesting that the 1 month worked just as well as the full year so you might want to check into that if you have doubts about being able to complete a full year. Hope this helped! Good luck to you.

                                           

                                          Mandi

                                          • November 2, 2012 at 2:44 pm
                                          Mandi0280
                                          Participant

                                            Hi Amanda,

                                             

                                                My husband just got done with interferon in June. Although, he did not do the full year that you are talking about he only done the 1 month high dose infusions. My husband stopped there and chose not to do the 11 month injections because he wanted to return to work and things to go back to some type of normal. As far as side effects go….he had fever, chills, body aches and some nausea. Now with that being said after the first couple of days of treatment we learned to pre med him. He would get a bag of zofran and tylenol tablets right before treatment began. Then I would give him pain med every 3 hours or so after that to make sure the fever and body aches stayed away. This normally worked for him every day. I'm not going to say he didn't have bad days but you can help manage it if you find what works for you. Things are very different for different ppl. I had a lady tell me she played tennis 3 days a week while on interferon. My husband has a friend that took it and said for 1 full year he hardly got off the couch because he was sick. So, you never know how you will react to any kind of treatment including interferon. My husbands Dr was fine with him  just doing the first month due to studies suggesting that the 1 month worked just as well as the full year so you might want to check into that if you have doubts about being able to complete a full year. Hope this helped! Good luck to you.

                                             

                                            Mandi

                                            • November 2, 2012 at 2:47 pm
                                            Mandi0280
                                            Participant

                                              Amanda,

                                               I will add that my husband is a stage 3 not a stage 2 but given that you were inquiring about side effects the staging part shouldn't matter. I wanted to throw that in there because the post also said "stage 2 and interferon".

                                              Mandi

                                              • November 2, 2012 at 2:47 pm
                                              Mandi0280
                                              Participant

                                                Amanda,

                                                 I will add that my husband is a stage 3 not a stage 2 but given that you were inquiring about side effects the staging part shouldn't matter. I wanted to throw that in there because the post also said "stage 2 and interferon".

                                                Mandi

                                                • November 2, 2012 at 2:47 pm
                                                Mandi0280
                                                Participant

                                                  Amanda,

                                                   I will add that my husband is a stage 3 not a stage 2 but given that you were inquiring about side effects the staging part shouldn't matter. I wanted to throw that in there because the post also said "stage 2 and interferon".

                                                  Mandi

                                              Viewing 11 reply threads
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