Hi I have been on pegylated interferon for 8 months. I am on 90 mu/ week. The only side effects that I have had so far are fatigue, and bone pain, which I had both of on Gleevec and Sprycel. Interferon is by far the best medication I have had to date-remember we all react differently. I have not had any of the horrendous side effects others had in the past-but those were mostly with the "old interferon". The newer pegylated injection is not as bad for most. All the best.
On Jun 29, 5:53 pm, Vivi <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > I, too, began treatment with Interferon in 1999. They used Pegalated > Interferon in a once a week injection. The dosage was huge and I had > the same peripheral numbness you are experiencing now, plus other side- > effects that were extremely toxic. In any case, after a year of hell, > we found that the Interferon had not touched the CML and I was as in > bad shape as a year earlier. Luckily, at that very moment I joined > the Gleevec trial and within six months was up and about and getting > on with my life. I do believe the dosage of Interferon being tried > today, in an effort to juice up the immune system, and in conjunction > with Gleevec, is much lower; the side-effects should not be > catastrophic as they were with the high-dose, Pegalated form. It > would be very interesting for all of us to know the results of Gleevec > +Interferon on even one person. I am a firm believer in anecdotal > reports of reactions to various drugs. Anecdotal reports very often > lead to serious investigation in the laboratory. For instance, the > use of calcium for leg and foot cramps began with an anecdotal > report. Later investigation confirmed the action of Gleevec on > calcium in the system and led to general instructions to CML patients > about electrolyte balance and so on. Courage! And please do keep > all of us informed. Vivi > > On Jun 28, 8:51 pm, Ken Roberson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > > > Hi Livia, > > > Sorry you are experiencing problems. Not from a scientific approach, > > but I would like to provide you with my personal experience with > > Interferon. I have been battling CML since 1998. Prior to the > > availability of Gleevec, my doctors were trying to control my CML with > > Interferon which was one of the standard treatments at that time. It > > works for some, but for others it does not work. I was up to 7MU of > > self injected Interferon daily until my feet and hands started > > experiencing numbness. We are all different, but my body rejected > > Interferon. The numbness left my hands, but a large amount of > > neuropathy was left in my feet and legs. I now take medication three > > times each day to control the pain, and I walk with a cane. > > > Thankfully with a lot of prayers I was one of the test subjects in the > > drug trials for Gleevec at Johns Hopkins Hospitals in Baltimore. > > Gleevec has worked wonderfully for me and CML cannot be detected by > > PCR. Life is good! > > > Just be very careful in the use of Interferon as it does have very > > negative effects in some patients. > > > The very best wishes on your CML journey, and may life be good to you. > > > Ken > > A cancer survivor and living with cancer.- Hide quoted text - > > - Show quoted text - --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ [CMLHope] A support group of http://cmlhope.com ------------------------------------------------- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "CMLHope" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/CMLHope -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
