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Started Interferon Monday
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Started Interferon Monday

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Started Interferon Monday

  • Post
    • November 30, 2011 at 8:11 am
    piii
    Participant

      Just an update, I finished my radiation treatments and they went very well. The Interferon has been a tougher go. The chills are the worst but I will make it through. I did have another mole taken off and came back a-typical they are sending the slides to Brighan and Womens for futher study but to be honest I am not too worried about it. I will worry when they tell me it is something to worry about.

       

      Peter

      Just an update, I finished my radiation treatments and they went very well. The Interferon has been a tougher go. The chills are the worst but I will make it through. I did have another mole taken off and came back a-typical they are sending the slides to Brighan and Womens for futher study but to be honest I am not too worried about it. I will worry when they tell me it is something to worry about.

       

      Peter

    Viewing 14 reply threads
    • Replies
        • November 30, 2011 at 1:02 pm
        scots
        Participant

          Peter,

          I have been where you are now.   For the chills I used a heating blanket. I went through the HD and I just finished 11 month LD of interferon 3 weeks ago.  Heating Blanket, fluids and sleep will help. Its tough but I just took one day at a time. Hang in there.  I would be happy to answer any questions based on my experience.

          scot

            • November 30, 2011 at 2:16 pm
            piii
            Participant

              Thanks for the replies. Does the month of high dose get worse before it gets better? I did start to add Advil and it helped a little bit. So I alternate every 4 hours and it did help. Doctors say I can go every 3 hours if needed.

               Peter

              • November 30, 2011 at 2:16 pm
              piii
              Participant

                Thanks for the replies. Does the month of high dose get worse before it gets better? I did start to add Advil and it helped a little bit. So I alternate every 4 hours and it did help. Doctors say I can go every 3 hours if needed.

                 Peter

                • November 30, 2011 at 6:44 pm
                scots
                Participant

                  For me it got worse, but it leveled out after about a week.  

                  scot

                  • November 30, 2011 at 6:44 pm
                  scots
                  Participant

                    For me it got worse, but it leveled out after about a week.  

                    scot

                    • November 30, 2011 at 6:46 pm
                    scots
                    Participant

                      FYI – you can check my profile. I listed anything major that happened to me in the last year.

                      • November 30, 2011 at 6:46 pm
                      scots
                      Participant

                        FYI – you can check my profile. I listed anything major that happened to me in the last year.

                        • November 30, 2011 at 6:46 pm
                        scots
                        Participant

                          FYI – you can check my profile. I listed anything major that happened to me in the last year.

                          • November 30, 2011 at 6:44 pm
                          scots
                          Participant

                            For me it got worse, but it leveled out after about a week.  

                            scot

                            • November 30, 2011 at 2:16 pm
                            piii
                            Participant

                              Thanks for the replies. Does the month of high dose get worse before it gets better? I did start to add Advil and it helped a little bit. So I alternate every 4 hours and it did help. Doctors say I can go every 3 hours if needed.

                               Peter

                            • November 30, 2011 at 1:02 pm
                            scots
                            Participant

                              Peter,

                              I have been where you are now.   For the chills I used a heating blanket. I went through the HD and I just finished 11 month LD of interferon 3 weeks ago.  Heating Blanket, fluids and sleep will help. Its tough but I just took one day at a time. Hang in there.  I would be happy to answer any questions based on my experience.

                              scot

                              • November 30, 2011 at 1:02 pm
                              scots
                              Participant

                                Peter,

                                I have been where you are now.   For the chills I used a heating blanket. I went through the HD and I just finished 11 month LD of interferon 3 weeks ago.  Heating Blanket, fluids and sleep will help. Its tough but I just took one day at a time. Hang in there.  I would be happy to answer any questions based on my experience.

                                scot

                                • November 30, 2011 at 1:34 pm
                                justlittleoleme
                                Participant

                                  Peter,

                                  sounds like you and my husband have the same treatments in common.

                                  He is stage 3b.  He just finished radiation on 11/1 and is being randomized into the clinical trial of interferon v. ipi tomorrow.  We are thinking he will get the interferon arm so we are preparing for that.

                                  I am sorry to see that you are having side effects.  I am going to be watching to see what helps and what doesn't so we can learn.

                                  Hang tough!

                                  barb

                                  • November 30, 2011 at 1:34 pm
                                  justlittleoleme
                                  Participant

                                    Peter,

                                    sounds like you and my husband have the same treatments in common.

                                    He is stage 3b.  He just finished radiation on 11/1 and is being randomized into the clinical trial of interferon v. ipi tomorrow.  We are thinking he will get the interferon arm so we are preparing for that.

                                    I am sorry to see that you are having side effects.  I am going to be watching to see what helps and what doesn't so we can learn.

                                    Hang tough!

                                    barb

                                    • November 30, 2011 at 1:34 pm
                                    justlittleoleme
                                    Participant

                                      Peter,

                                      sounds like you and my husband have the same treatments in common.

                                      He is stage 3b.  He just finished radiation on 11/1 and is being randomized into the clinical trial of interferon v. ipi tomorrow.  We are thinking he will get the interferon arm so we are preparing for that.

                                      I am sorry to see that you are having side effects.  I am going to be watching to see what helps and what doesn't so we can learn.

                                      Hang tough!

                                      barb

                                      • November 30, 2011 at 3:41 pm
                                      awg
                                      Participant

                                        Peter,

                                        I am 6mo into my interferon treatment, scans scheduled on 12/1/11. I had all the symptoms you described on my first high dose infusion as well as with my first injection. I did not have these symptoms again ( during my treatment) until I took a break for the holiday and did not receive a injection for 6 days, needless to say the injection gave me the same symptoms as my initial first injection.

                                        During my high does infusion I received the following daily prior to Interferon..

                                        1000mL saline

                                        25mg Benadryl

                                        IV Zophran

                                        Oral compazine

                                        600mg Advil

                                        I also took in as much water as possible.

                                         

                                        I switched from Advil to Aleve and also noticed a difference, my Onc likes Aleve.

                                        I wish you well with your treatment and hope that your symptoms decrease over time.

                                         

                                        Allen

                                        • November 30, 2011 at 3:41 pm
                                        awg
                                        Participant

                                          Peter,

                                          I am 6mo into my interferon treatment, scans scheduled on 12/1/11. I had all the symptoms you described on my first high dose infusion as well as with my first injection. I did not have these symptoms again ( during my treatment) until I took a break for the holiday and did not receive a injection for 6 days, needless to say the injection gave me the same symptoms as my initial first injection.

                                          During my high does infusion I received the following daily prior to Interferon..

                                          1000mL saline

                                          25mg Benadryl

                                          IV Zophran

                                          Oral compazine

                                          600mg Advil

                                          I also took in as much water as possible.

                                           

                                          I switched from Advil to Aleve and also noticed a difference, my Onc likes Aleve.

                                          I wish you well with your treatment and hope that your symptoms decrease over time.

                                           

                                          Allen

                                          • November 30, 2011 at 3:41 pm
                                          awg
                                          Participant

                                            Peter,

                                            I am 6mo into my interferon treatment, scans scheduled on 12/1/11. I had all the symptoms you described on my first high dose infusion as well as with my first injection. I did not have these symptoms again ( during my treatment) until I took a break for the holiday and did not receive a injection for 6 days, needless to say the injection gave me the same symptoms as my initial first injection.

                                            During my high does infusion I received the following daily prior to Interferon..

                                            1000mL saline

                                            25mg Benadryl

                                            IV Zophran

                                            Oral compazine

                                            600mg Advil

                                            I also took in as much water as possible.

                                             

                                            I switched from Advil to Aleve and also noticed a difference, my Onc likes Aleve.

                                            I wish you well with your treatment and hope that your symptoms decrease over time.

                                             

                                            Allen

                                            • December 1, 2011 at 9:37 am
                                            piii
                                            Participant

                                              Thanks for the info. I did much better last night. The first dose was the worse, I am not getting as sick as they go on. Hope that it the trend for me. its good to share with all of you I do want to say the nurses and Doc's at the cancer center have been great and they are always in a good mood, welcome me with a smile and makes the treatment easier to go through.

                                               

                                              Peter

                                              • December 1, 2011 at 9:37 am
                                              piii
                                              Participant

                                                Thanks for the info. I did much better last night. The first dose was the worse, I am not getting as sick as they go on. Hope that it the trend for me. its good to share with all of you I do want to say the nurses and Doc's at the cancer center have been great and they are always in a good mood, welcome me with a smile and makes the treatment easier to go through.

                                                 

                                                Peter

                                                • December 1, 2011 at 9:37 am
                                                piii
                                                Participant

                                                  Thanks for the info. I did much better last night. The first dose was the worse, I am not getting as sick as they go on. Hope that it the trend for me. its good to share with all of you I do want to say the nurses and Doc's at the cancer center have been great and they are always in a good mood, welcome me with a smile and makes the treatment easier to go through.

                                                   

                                                  Peter

                                                  • December 1, 2011 at 12:06 pm
                                                  fdess056
                                                  Participant

                                                    Peter, i too had radiation followed by Interferon.  The 1st few days were tough…rigors, fever, muscle aches, etc but it  got much better as time went on.  I was able to drive myself 30 miles each way for the IV treatment. I recommend drinking lots and lots of water.  Saline was also added to my IV along with anti-nausea medication.  I carried a  water bottle wherever I went and sipped from it all day long.  Later on fatigue got to be a problem but since I'm lucky enough to work from home i was able to deal with it.  Everyone responds differently and it can be a difficult treatment but Iit can be tolerated.  Good luck with your treatment

                                                    FrankD

                                                    • December 1, 2011 at 12:06 pm
                                                    fdess056
                                                    Participant

                                                      Peter, i too had radiation followed by Interferon.  The 1st few days were tough…rigors, fever, muscle aches, etc but it  got much better as time went on.  I was able to drive myself 30 miles each way for the IV treatment. I recommend drinking lots and lots of water.  Saline was also added to my IV along with anti-nausea medication.  I carried a  water bottle wherever I went and sipped from it all day long.  Later on fatigue got to be a problem but since I'm lucky enough to work from home i was able to deal with it.  Everyone responds differently and it can be a difficult treatment but Iit can be tolerated.  Good luck with your treatment

                                                      FrankD

                                                      • December 1, 2011 at 12:06 pm
                                                      fdess056
                                                      Participant

                                                        Peter, i too had radiation followed by Interferon.  The 1st few days were tough…rigors, fever, muscle aches, etc but it  got much better as time went on.  I was able to drive myself 30 miles each way for the IV treatment. I recommend drinking lots and lots of water.  Saline was also added to my IV along with anti-nausea medication.  I carried a  water bottle wherever I went and sipped from it all day long.  Later on fatigue got to be a problem but since I'm lucky enough to work from home i was able to deal with it.  Everyone responds differently and it can be a difficult treatment but Iit can be tolerated.  Good luck with your treatment

                                                        FrankD

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