Interfefon Treatment

Allie001
Allie001 Member Posts: 8
edited March 2014 in Skin Cancer #1
I am 21 years old and was diagnosed with melanoma. It was in my foot, this past September I had the tumor removed, along with a portion of my foot. I also had a skin graph and some lymph nods removed. The cancer spread into my lymph nods, so now I am going through Interferon (Intron A) which is a year long treatment. I'm just looking for someone to talk with about cancer, Interferon and also to give my support. Thank you for reading my story, I hope to hear yours!

Comments

  • Carvs
    Carvs Member Posts: 30
    Hi Allie,
    I also have stage III melanoma but chose not to do interferon. However, I go to another site for people with melanoma as well as to this one. That internet board has many people who have done interferon. The address is http://mpip.org/bb/bbindex.html and if you post there you will find many others who will share their experiences with interferon with you. You can also search the archives on that site and will find many discussions about interferon. Best of luck.
  • Allie001
    Allie001 Member Posts: 8
    Carvs said:

    Hi Allie,
    I also have stage III melanoma but chose not to do interferon. However, I go to another site for people with melanoma as well as to this one. That internet board has many people who have done interferon. The address is http://mpip.org/bb/bbindex.html and if you post there you will find many others who will share their experiences with interferon with you. You can also search the archives on that site and will find many discussions about interferon. Best of luck.

    Thank you so much for replying and also for leaving that site for me. Know it is very much appreciated!
  • luvnlife
    luvnlife Member Posts: 7
    Hello there! Just wanted to send you a BIG note of support as a fellow melanoma survivor! I have had 3 primary mels (all stage I) since 1997, and last month I had surgery for cervical cancer (radical hysterectomy with all the trimmings!). Unrelated cancers, so I'm told. Anyway, I don't have any personal info. re: interferon to share since all my mels were treated surgically (I'm waiting on another skin biopsy result as we speak). I just wanted you to know there are many of us out here cheering you on -- keep the faith -- you truly are not alone. Fight! Fight!! Fight!!!

    Stay Strong,
    luvnlife
  • scarcello
    scarcello Member Posts: 1
    Has anyone had IL-2 with Interferon-a?
  • suzannemc
    suzannemc Member Posts: 3
    Carvs said:

    Hi Allie,
    I also have stage III melanoma but chose not to do interferon. However, I go to another site for people with melanoma as well as to this one. That internet board has many people who have done interferon. The address is http://mpip.org/bb/bbindex.html and if you post there you will find many others who will share their experiences with interferon with you. You can also search the archives on that site and will find many discussions about interferon. Best of luck.

    Hi there, I read your response to Allie and bookmarked the site you mentioned. I'm wondering why you chose not to go with interferon. My mom had a Clarks 6 melanoma removed from her thigh as well as the lymp nodes in her groin, she then recieved 2 months of interferon treatmnets before they had to be stopped due her deteriorating mental condition. They told us it was agitated depression and once the interferon disipated in her system she would ok. So far this has not been the case. My mom is currently in a psychiatric ward in a very confused state. Before the treatmnet she was a fully functioning woman who worked full time in real estate and enjoyed her grandkids. Thanks for your ref.
  • shellbells
    shellbells Member Posts: 3
    scarcello said:

    Has anyone had IL-2 with Interferon-a?

    Scarcello,
    My fiance right now just registered himself for a clinical trial which he will be randomly put into one of two groups. One group is standard interferon, the other one is a mix of IL-2, interferon, cisblatin, vinblastine, and DTIC. We don't know which one until probably next Friday, and then he'll start treatment three days later on the Monday. I've heard great things about IL-2 (except of course for the horrible side effects) but it sounds like it could be a revolutionary drug to increase survival rates of cancer patients. Are you in a similar situation or do you know someone that is. I'd love to hera your story if you'd like to share.
    Shellbells I
  • Liss03
    Liss03 Member Posts: 1
    Hi - i'm 20 and was diagnosed with stage 2 melanoma in the beginning of the year on my neck. it prevented me from starting my school semester and studying abroad. i just got 11 moles removed yesterday - waiting to hear back on those.

    after lots of fights between my parents i decided to start interferon. i'm already done the first month and now im in the middle of the second month where i give myself shots 3 times a week. i absolutely HATE it. i start the pen injections next month but for now i absolutely HATE mixing the solution and sticking myself with a syringe. im tired all the time and i dont particularly like needles. yesterday i was giving myself the shot and i couldn't get the needle to go in. i switched needles thinking maybe one was dull, but i ended up giving myself 3 sticks and bruises in my leg. at that point i was so frustrated that i emptied out the syringe in the sink! how have you gotten through to 5 months of this? i dread mondays, wednesdays, and fridays and although i should be giving myself a shot today since i technically skipped yesterday, im not because im so frustrated and not happy about it. any advice for getting through it?
  • Kate1
    Kate1 Member Posts: 1
    Hi I read your message posted in 2005. My husband was diagnosed with a malignant melanoma between his toes last year and had to have half of his foot removed. He is taking interferon and has been for about 4 months (injections 3 times a week) He feels worse now that when he started and I was wondering if you could let me know how you felt when having this treatment. thanks