My brother may get treated with Interferon

[bif]

He had a cancerous melanoma removed. And it's gotten into his lymph nodes, which were also removed. Interferon sounds like a last ditch effort to save him. Jeezo-Pete.

[seemunkee]

1. Good luck to him

http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/types/melanoma
I hope he has an oncologist that he is confident with and can trust.

[LeftyFingerPop]

2. Bif, best wishes for better health to your brother. n/t

[bif]

3. Thanks

His prospects don't look too good. He lives in Oregon and he's trying to get on their version of Medicare so it'll be paid for. He thinks the Interferon therapy costs $60,000. And he has to get it every other day for a year.

[Zookeeper]

4. Oh, Bif, I'm sorry to hear that!

My best wishes to your brother and to you and your family.

:hug:

[Suich]

5. So sorry to hear that, bif.

Best wishes for a successful treatment for your brother.

:hug:

[TZ]

6. FYI on interferon

Its a well tested and very potent cancer therapeutic (I actually do some testing with a related compound). Its actually a little better than chemo in terms of effects on the body, but it will probably make him feel like he has the flu. I don't think this is a last ditch effort, interferon is a very common therapeutic. Radical chemo or radiation would probably be last ditch. I know people who have chronic conditions that have taken a form of interferon for years...
Hope it goes well.

[bif]

7. Thanks for the info!

Makes it seem a little more hopeful.

[Blue Diadem]

8. Prayers being said and good thoughts being sent for your brother.

:hug:

I hope & pray the interferon treatment is successful bif.

[Midlodemocrat]

9. Interferon is a pretty powerful drug and given a lot of times to cancer patients.

It might not be a 'last ditch', but just next in the line of protocol for his particular cancer.

Good thoughts and prayers to you and your brother, bif. :hug:

[Heidi]

10. bif, I'm very sorry to hear this.

Do you mind if I light a "good vibes" candle for your brother and your family? :hug:

[La Lioness Priyanka]

11. i am really sorry to hear that. my brother and i are very close, and i imagine that is immensely

painful to you.

hugs, love and best wishes

[auntAgonist]

12. I don't know anything about

cancer treatments other than the treatment/chemo my Mother was given for colon cancer. I hope your brother has great success with the interferon.

My best wishes go out to him and to your family.

:hug:

aA

[av8rdave]

13. Sending my best vibes

I hope the treatment does the job!

[seemunkee]

14. Look into clinical trials

I hope I don't end up sounding like a broken record on this but I do push it a bit since that is what my wife does. If he can't afford the treatment look to see if there is a trial that he qualifies for and can then get free treatment.
A clinical trial doesn't mean its a weird and untested treatment. It could be comparing efficacy of two standard treatments.
I hope whatever he gets works.

[Ellen Forradalom]

15. Oh no.

May you and your brother be strong.

(This subject hits a little close to home.)

[Whoa_Nelly]

16. So sorry, bif

Have a friend here who went through cancerous melanoma, lymph node removal and chemo.

She's now clear.

Here's hoping the new treatment will work for your brother.
Many :hug: :hug: :hug:

[Whoa_Nelly]

17. Kick for bif

:hug: