my dad might need to be treated with it for a malignant melanoma. i've been doing a lot of websurfing on various sites, but would love some feedback from someone who's been through it or supported someone else.
2006-11-01 13:42:23 · 3 answers · asked by ally 6 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Cancer
I am currently on Interferon for Melanoma. The correct name is Intron A. There are different formula's for different problems.
There are many side effects for interferon including severe depression, flu like smpton which incude aching muscles and joints, itchiness, weight loss,decreased cognitive ability.You can read about those on any website.There of course lesser known ones like dr mouth and sleepiness. Average weight loss is 25 pounds from what I have heard. I have been on it for 6 months and have lost 30 pounds. I am not fat AT ALL and never was. It makes you week.
When you are prescribed intereferon, the first month is at the hispital. You go five days on and 2 off. They give it to you intervenously. That is the toughest part. It is not like an aspirin where you take it and next day it is out of your body so you take another. It accumulates in your body so as the days go by the symptoms get worse but eventually you plateau. By the third week out of the 52 (protocol) you basically get up go to the hospital and come home and go to bed. At the end of the 4th week you have a break of 5 days or so then you give yourself shots 3xs per week MWF. The needle is hard to get used to at first but the solution is premixed and comes in a pen like syringe. It is a very tiny needle smaller then a pediatric blood needle.It pinches but it could be worse.
You have to think positive. Althought they only can duplicate the sucess rate in 20% of the people who actall take it, you have to make the best decesion for you. For example if your father is 85, interferon will rob him of a year of his life. Is it worth it to him whereas someone like me who is 31 has many many years to loose. The good thing about interferon it does not have an lasting side effects once the drug has stopped being taken unlike chemo.
I hope your doctor is a goodone. Is he a stage 3 or 4? Good luck with your dad. This is a ver scary time because he doesn't know what to expect. It is not as bad as one wouuld think. The fear of the unknown os worse
Some people on interferon work and their life doesn't change much others are knocked out completely. Those are 2 extremes.. For me, I tend to my family and small children and that's it. It wipes me out but I do it and that's the important thing. On this med, you have to make changes in your life to slow down. you can't have the same activity level you had.
2006-11-03 14:45:46 · answer #1 · answered by Alexis 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes in 2007 7 on the Richter Scale
2016-05-23 10:11:14 · answer #2 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes i've been on it know for 8 months and i hate it and my dr told me a week ago i have to continue for another 72 weeks. you can go to hepnet.com it has answers for any questions you have it also go's by the manufactors name pegatron they have a web site also. You can also go to the site mayo clinic.com it's an awesome site for any medical questions
2006-11-01 13:48:11 · answer #3 · answered by hookshot2001ca 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋