› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Interferon for 3c
- This topic has 12 replies, 3 voices, and was last updated 9 years, 1 month ago by
Lee Parlier.
- Post
-
- July 12, 2016 at 7:25 am
I recently completed surgery. 29 Male. Bilateral LND to level 2 lymph nodes and a quite large area taken off my back for a quite large tumor. Left side started as a SLND but it tested positive so they took the remaining out.
I was diagnosed at level 3, I assume 3c given the extent of my surgery and the way lymph nodes on my right side lit up on my PET scan results but I don't know the specifics.
It seems once I leave the hospital (I've been here for about a week as they take care of my skin graft and lymph drains) they want to put me on interferon.
I am struggling with the decision still. Part of the reason is that I live and work in a foreign country (home is America) so my family is not here and I am worried if I would be able to work. If I were to use the medicine, it seems like my only option would be to live with my parents again. Part of the reason is there seems to be a lot of divided opinions on interferon. Part of the reason is that I am nutrition and exercise nut and feel I could make sure I am eating the right foods and getting a balance of healthy exercise while staying positive (if I were to go with wait and watch option)
If you've read this far, thank you. What I'd like to know is anyone's opinion on interferon, specifically with regards to stage 3 patients. I also saw the 2/2016 study that said interferon showed no effectiveness, but I believe the patients had a much less complicated lymph node situation.
cheat sheet: looking for any opinions or advice on interferon, questions to ask doctors (scientific or personal), personal experiences, when/why would you / wouldn't use it.
Thank you and I hope everyone is finding the strength to remain positive and live without fear : )
- Replies
-
-
- July 17, 2016 at 10:01 pm
I am currently stage 3c as you are. Iwas given the choices: 1) Do nothing-2) Interferon-3) Yervoy. My Dr. did not want me to do Yervoy because of the harmful side effects. He recomended Interferon because, "it is the traditional treatment and noone dies taking it". I decided to do the yervoy 10mg because the data I have read showed it was better than interferon.
This was a personal choice that I made. Has it worked? I don't know yet but I do know that I had to make the best decision for me based on the data. Examine everyting before you make your decision.
-
- July 22, 2016 at 3:58 pm
My Dr. said the same thing. We argued intil we made a compromise. I had to try one 3 mg yervoy and if I was ok he would do 10. I did ok after the 3 and couldn't tell I took it. After my 3rd infusion (1-3g and 2-10mg) I was tired. I lived a normal life but was zapped very easy. I haven't got the diahrea that was beat into me. My blood work has so far stayed good except for slightly elevated liver enzymes. All in allso far, it has not been a nightmare. I do know that the side effects can be delayed so I am keeping my fingers crossed but 8 weeks in it has been tolerable at the 10 mg dose.
I did notice purple knots coming to the skin which was the body reaction and some sattelite tumors which were melanoma in transit. I have experienced the same fear of yervoy advice that you have and from my personal experience I would rather try it than say I wish I had tried it. My Dr. finally gave in. I really stress that you stick to your guns. YOU MIGHT EVEN TRY THE COMPROMISE OF 1-3MG TREATMENT as a sort of test run then procede to 10 mg if all goes well. Keep me posted and good luck!!! Lee stage 4
-
- July 22, 2016 at 3:58 pm
My Dr. said the same thing. We argued intil we made a compromise. I had to try one 3 mg yervoy and if I was ok he would do 10. I did ok after the 3 and couldn't tell I took it. After my 3rd infusion (1-3g and 2-10mg) I was tired. I lived a normal life but was zapped very easy. I haven't got the diahrea that was beat into me. My blood work has so far stayed good except for slightly elevated liver enzymes. All in allso far, it has not been a nightmare. I do know that the side effects can be delayed so I am keeping my fingers crossed but 8 weeks in it has been tolerable at the 10 mg dose.
I did notice purple knots coming to the skin which was the body reaction and some sattelite tumors which were melanoma in transit. I have experienced the same fear of yervoy advice that you have and from my personal experience I would rather try it than say I wish I had tried it. My Dr. finally gave in. I really stress that you stick to your guns. YOU MIGHT EVEN TRY THE COMPROMISE OF 1-3MG TREATMENT as a sort of test run then procede to 10 mg if all goes well. Keep me posted and good luck!!! Lee stage 4
-
- July 22, 2016 at 3:58 pm
My Dr. said the same thing. We argued intil we made a compromise. I had to try one 3 mg yervoy and if I was ok he would do 10. I did ok after the 3 and couldn't tell I took it. After my 3rd infusion (1-3g and 2-10mg) I was tired. I lived a normal life but was zapped very easy. I haven't got the diahrea that was beat into me. My blood work has so far stayed good except for slightly elevated liver enzymes. All in allso far, it has not been a nightmare. I do know that the side effects can be delayed so I am keeping my fingers crossed but 8 weeks in it has been tolerable at the 10 mg dose.
I did notice purple knots coming to the skin which was the body reaction and some sattelite tumors which were melanoma in transit. I have experienced the same fear of yervoy advice that you have and from my personal experience I would rather try it than say I wish I had tried it. My Dr. finally gave in. I really stress that you stick to your guns. YOU MIGHT EVEN TRY THE COMPROMISE OF 1-3MG TREATMENT as a sort of test run then procede to 10 mg if all goes well. Keep me posted and good luck!!! Lee stage 4
-
- July 17, 2016 at 10:01 pm
I am currently stage 3c as you are. Iwas given the choices: 1) Do nothing-2) Interferon-3) Yervoy. My Dr. did not want me to do Yervoy because of the harmful side effects. He recomended Interferon because, "it is the traditional treatment and noone dies taking it". I decided to do the yervoy 10mg because the data I have read showed it was better than interferon.
This was a personal choice that I made. Has it worked? I don't know yet but I do know that I had to make the best decision for me based on the data. Examine everyting before you make your decision.
-
- July 17, 2016 at 10:01 pm
I am currently stage 3c as you are. Iwas given the choices: 1) Do nothing-2) Interferon-3) Yervoy. My Dr. did not want me to do Yervoy because of the harmful side effects. He recomended Interferon because, "it is the traditional treatment and noone dies taking it". I decided to do the yervoy 10mg because the data I have read showed it was better than interferon.
This was a personal choice that I made. Has it worked? I don't know yet but I do know that I had to make the best decision for me based on the data. Examine everyting before you make your decision.
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.