Interferon? - Cancer: Skin Message Board

cjammom · 08-20-2007, 11:56 PM

Hi all, Just wondering if any of you have taken this chemo...a friend of mine has malignant melanoma with mets..Does anyone have any success stories for me...Im a cancer survivor myself, but feeling very scared for my friend..
thanks,
cj.

Ladypepper · 08-21-2007, 09:28 AM

I am sorry to hear about your friend.

I sort of did Interferon. I say sort of because I had a very bad reaction to it and could not continue. I only did 6 full high dose treatments and then I had to quit.

LOTS and LOTS of people do Interferon with only the normal side effects which include mainly fatigue, body aches, head aches, etc... There are a lot of studies on Interferon... some that say that it does not do all that they would like - but it is the only treatment there really is so that is why they push it.

There is a lot of info out there - do some searches. I wish, wish, wish I could give you another site to go to that could give you a LOT of Melanoma Patient Information... But they don't allow that on here.

I wish I could be more helpful - but Interferon nearly killed me, so I could not continue the treatments. I wish your friend the best!

aimees71 · 08-21-2007, 08:20 PM

Dear cjammon,
I am so sorry to hear about your friend. I do not have any experience or advice to offer you. All I can say is that I have heard of a great number of people with metasticized melanoma that have survived and lived happily for quite a lot of years. My grandmother is one of them (at the time of detection hers was late stage, and she still had many years), as is a coworker's friend currently (like lots and lots of good years!). I will be holding you and your friend in my thoughts and prayers.

And dear Ladypepper,
I realized upon reading your response that I know so little of your melanoma story. Given that you were on Interferon, I am assuming you had mets as well (this whole time I've been thinking you had the excission and were cured)? I don't want to pry... but I will say that I am humbled by your selfless and caring words to myself (who stuggles so little comparitively) and to others. Thank you for being here!

Ladypepper · 08-22-2007, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aimees71

And dear Ladypepper,
I realized upon reading your response that I know so little of your melanoma story. Given that you were on Interferon, I am assuming you had mets as well (this whole time I've been thinking you had the excission and were cured)? I don't want to pry... but I will say that I am humbled by your selfless and caring words to myself (who stuggles so little comparitively) and to others. Thank you for being here!

Hi Aimees - thank you for the kind words...

You are very sweet.

But I actually do not have mets - I was put on Interferon because they consider my melanoma as very high risk. One reason is that it was very invasive - 5.0 mm breslow. Second, it was on the bottom of my foot. Supposedly statistics for melanoma on the foot shows a poorer prognosis than elsewhere on the body. I think mainly because people do not think about getting it on the bottom of their foot and don't pay attention to it for a long time. Also the palms of their hands is more dangerous as well.

I am actually at stage 2b so I am still good. I just have to keep a closer watch for in-transits and stuff since my primary was so deep. What is weird is that "statistically" I am worse off than a stage 3a... that is why I try not to pay any attention to statistics.

cjammom · 08-22-2007, 07:02 PM

To Ladypepper and aimees..thanks so much for offering me your kind words, thoughts and prayers..I have tried to sort through the internet for any info that I can for my friend..right now he and his wife are looking for clinical trials that might offer him a better prognosis..From what I know of interferon, and what I read, it sounds like a very, very tough drug..I have learned of many people with the same side effects that you had..his doctors have only said that he has a 2% chance of the interferon working..
This is all just too sad for me..he is a great man, great husband, and wonderful father...and has been a great friend for so many years..I keep praying for a miracle..
I hate cancer..I will keep you in my prayers too!!,
hugs,
cj.