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Sylatron Statistical Question

Forums General Melanoma Community Sylatron Statistical Question

  • Post
    JustOnceCubbies
    Participant

      Hello everyone.   I was diagnosed 5 years ago with melanoma, and stayed at Stage 1 for 4 years, with treatment of Intron A just after my initial surgery.     Four years later I jumped to Stage III after a reoccurance in a lymph node.    Another round of surgeries and this time treatment with Sylatron.   I'm 19 months into weekly injections with Sylatron, and fighting the good fight.   My question is this…….does anyone know where I can find the statistical benefits of Sylatron during the maintenance period?    I know when we looked at the Interferon, something along the lines of 75% of the benefit was realized during that first month or two of HEAVY dosage.   So stopping after 8 months because of the side effects was something we could live with, because the statistical analysis pointed towards that.   Does anyone know where I can find a numbers breakdown on Sylatron like that?

       

      Thanks in advance for any suggestions or help!

    Viewing 2 reply threads
    • Replies
        Janner
        Participant

          I'm a bit confused.  You said you were stage I but did Intron A right after surgery 4 years ago?  Did I read that correctly?  They don't use Interferon (any type) for stage I so that doesn't make sense.  They sometimes do Intron for high risk stage II, however, but it is never indicated for stage I.  Can you fill out a profile with more details?  Breslow depth, SNB results?

          As for Sylatron, other than doing a search, why not ask your doctor?  If they are prescribing it, they ought to have some indication of the "recurrence", "disease free survival" and "overall survival" rates and how Sylatron impacts them.

            JustOnceCubbies
            Participant

              I was stage I 5 yrs ago, but participated in a John Wayne study that showed "markers" in a lymph node in my neck.   After consulting with MD Anderson for a second opinion, the consensus was to start Interferon.

              JC
              Participant

                "markers" in a lymph node?  I'm stage I, I don't think I ever had that tested, should I have?  Should I have been on Interferon too for Stage I treatment?  I was given nothing, just surgery.  Now it seems as if some people are offered more.  Why not everyone?

                JustOnceCubbies
                Participant

                  I was in a study that was based out of the John Wayne Cancer Institute in Cali.    They sent off my lymph nodes that were "clear" from the local path that was done, but showed signs of pre-cancerous cells in Cali.  I then went to MD Anderson for a second opinion, and after they looked at the results from Cali, they suggested the most aggressive form of treatment, that was also the most thorough form of treatment, which was to start Interferon.

                  JC
                  Participant

                    "They sent off my lymph nodes that were "clear" from the local path that was done, but showed signs of pre-cancerous cells in Cali"

                     

                    Is this something that is supposed to be done?  My nodes were "clear" but they didn't get sent off and tested for pre-cancerous cells.  Should they have?

                    JustOnceCubbies
                    Participant

                      My surgical oncologist was involved in the study at John Wayne………so only if you were enrolled in that study would there be a need for further evaluation of the nodes.

                      JustOnceCubbies
                      Participant

                        My surgical oncologist was involved in the study at John Wayne………so only if you were enrolled in that study would there be a need for further evaluation of the nodes.

                        JustOnceCubbies
                        Participant

                          My surgical oncologist was involved in the study at John Wayne………so only if you were enrolled in that study would there be a need for further evaluation of the nodes.

                          JC
                          Participant

                            "They sent off my lymph nodes that were "clear" from the local path that was done, but showed signs of pre-cancerous cells in Cali"

                             

                            Is this something that is supposed to be done?  My nodes were "clear" but they didn't get sent off and tested for pre-cancerous cells.  Should they have?

                            JC
                            Participant

                              "They sent off my lymph nodes that were "clear" from the local path that was done, but showed signs of pre-cancerous cells in Cali"

                               

                              Is this something that is supposed to be done?  My nodes were "clear" but they didn't get sent off and tested for pre-cancerous cells.  Should they have?

                              JustOnceCubbies
                              Participant

                                I was in a study that was based out of the John Wayne Cancer Institute in Cali.    They sent off my lymph nodes that were "clear" from the local path that was done, but showed signs of pre-cancerous cells in Cali.  I then went to MD Anderson for a second opinion, and after they looked at the results from Cali, they suggested the most aggressive form of treatment, that was also the most thorough form of treatment, which was to start Interferon.

                                JustOnceCubbies
                                Participant

                                  I was in a study that was based out of the John Wayne Cancer Institute in Cali.    They sent off my lymph nodes that were "clear" from the local path that was done, but showed signs of pre-cancerous cells in Cali.  I then went to MD Anderson for a second opinion, and after they looked at the results from Cali, they suggested the most aggressive form of treatment, that was also the most thorough form of treatment, which was to start Interferon.

                                  JC
                                  Participant

                                    "markers" in a lymph node?  I'm stage I, I don't think I ever had that tested, should I have?  Should I have been on Interferon too for Stage I treatment?  I was given nothing, just surgery.  Now it seems as if some people are offered more.  Why not everyone?

                                    JC
                                    Participant

                                      "markers" in a lymph node?  I'm stage I, I don't think I ever had that tested, should I have?  Should I have been on Interferon too for Stage I treatment?  I was given nothing, just surgery.  Now it seems as if some people are offered more.  Why not everyone?

                                      Janner
                                      Participant

                                        Were you part of the Sun Belt Trial?  That's the only study I can think of where stage I received interferon.  Apparently, it's still an ongoing study (closed to new recipients).  However, I thought a while back that some had received data that said the PCR-RT wasn't the marker they had thought it would be?  I could be remembering incorrectly, though. 

                                        And for the other poster, no.  Nothing is proven and Interferon doesn't actually show increased survival rates.  Still not indicated for stage I.  The trial was for Stage IB (old staging criteria) at the time of the trial — primary greater than 1mm.

                                        JustOnceCubbies
                                        Participant

                                          It was the Sun Belt Trial…………..after 2 months of being miserable, and 6 months of marginally better (and losing 40 pounds) I stopped the Interferon.   But we also looked at the statistical benefits of continuing the Interferon, and learned there was VERY little benefit compared to the downside of the side effects.   That is why I'm wondering if there is a statistical study with Sylatron, because if there is a 5% improvement in life expectancy, then I question the quality of life from the side affects.

                                          JustOnceCubbies
                                          Participant

                                            It was the Sun Belt Trial…………..after 2 months of being miserable, and 6 months of marginally better (and losing 40 pounds) I stopped the Interferon.   But we also looked at the statistical benefits of continuing the Interferon, and learned there was VERY little benefit compared to the downside of the side effects.   That is why I'm wondering if there is a statistical study with Sylatron, because if there is a 5% improvement in life expectancy, then I question the quality of life from the side affects.

                                            JustOnceCubbies
                                            Participant

                                              It was the Sun Belt Trial…………..after 2 months of being miserable, and 6 months of marginally better (and losing 40 pounds) I stopped the Interferon.   But we also looked at the statistical benefits of continuing the Interferon, and learned there was VERY little benefit compared to the downside of the side effects.   That is why I'm wondering if there is a statistical study with Sylatron, because if there is a 5% improvement in life expectancy, then I question the quality of life from the side affects.

                                              Janner
                                              Participant

                                                Were you part of the Sun Belt Trial?  That's the only study I can think of where stage I received interferon.  Apparently, it's still an ongoing study (closed to new recipients).  However, I thought a while back that some had received data that said the PCR-RT wasn't the marker they had thought it would be?  I could be remembering incorrectly, though. 

                                                And for the other poster, no.  Nothing is proven and Interferon doesn't actually show increased survival rates.  Still not indicated for stage I.  The trial was for Stage IB (old staging criteria) at the time of the trial — primary greater than 1mm.

                                                Janner
                                                Participant

                                                  Were you part of the Sun Belt Trial?  That's the only study I can think of where stage I received interferon.  Apparently, it's still an ongoing study (closed to new recipients).  However, I thought a while back that some had received data that said the PCR-RT wasn't the marker they had thought it would be?  I could be remembering incorrectly, though. 

                                                  And for the other poster, no.  Nothing is proven and Interferon doesn't actually show increased survival rates.  Still not indicated for stage I.  The trial was for Stage IB (old staging criteria) at the time of the trial — primary greater than 1mm.

                                                  JustOnceCubbies
                                                  Participant

                                                    I was stage I 5 yrs ago, but participated in a John Wayne study that showed "markers" in a lymph node in my neck.   After consulting with MD Anderson for a second opinion, the consensus was to start Interferon.

                                                    JustOnceCubbies
                                                    Participant

                                                      I was stage I 5 yrs ago, but participated in a John Wayne study that showed "markers" in a lymph node in my neck.   After consulting with MD Anderson for a second opinion, the consensus was to start Interferon.

                                                    Janner
                                                    Participant

                                                      I'm a bit confused.  You said you were stage I but did Intron A right after surgery 4 years ago?  Did I read that correctly?  They don't use Interferon (any type) for stage I so that doesn't make sense.  They sometimes do Intron for high risk stage II, however, but it is never indicated for stage I.  Can you fill out a profile with more details?  Breslow depth, SNB results?

                                                      As for Sylatron, other than doing a search, why not ask your doctor?  If they are prescribing it, they ought to have some indication of the "recurrence", "disease free survival" and "overall survival" rates and how Sylatron impacts them.

                                                      Janner
                                                      Participant

                                                        I'm a bit confused.  You said you were stage I but did Intron A right after surgery 4 years ago?  Did I read that correctly?  They don't use Interferon (any type) for stage I so that doesn't make sense.  They sometimes do Intron for high risk stage II, however, but it is never indicated for stage I.  Can you fill out a profile with more details?  Breslow depth, SNB results?

                                                        As for Sylatron, other than doing a search, why not ask your doctor?  If they are prescribing it, they ought to have some indication of the "recurrence", "disease free survival" and "overall survival" rates and how Sylatron impacts them.

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