what is interferon?
Interferon is a protein that your body makes in very small amounts. It can also be made as a medicine for treating some types of cancer. It's also used to treat some diseases that aren't cancer.
Interferon stimulates the body's own immune system to fight some types of cancer. We don't fully know how it works but it may do one or more of the following:
- slow down or stop cancer cells dividing
- reduce the ability of cancer cells to protect themselves from the immune system
- strengthen the body's immune system.
how it's given
Interferon is given as an injection just under the skin (subcutaneously) usually in the thigh or tummy. You, or someone in your family, can be shown how to give the injections so that you can have the treatment at home. If you'd rather not do the injections then a district nurse or GP practice nurse can do them for you.
Your doctor or specialist nurse will explain how often you will have the drug and how long your treatment will last.
side effects
The amount of interferon that your body makes is very small. When you have interferon injections, the amount in the body increases a lot. So - even though it's a natural substance - it causes side effects. People react to drugs in different ways, so we can't say which side effects each person will have. But these are the most common ones to look out for:
flu-like symptoms
Some people have flu-like symptoms, such as high temperature, chills, muscle and joint pains. These are more likely to happen at the start of your treatment. Your doctor might prescribe paracetamol to help with these symptoms. It can help to have the injection just before you go to bed, so that you don't really feel this side effect.
tiredness
Tiredness can be a problem and sometimes it gets worse over the course of injections. Try to get plenty of time to rest.
feeling sick and loss of appetite
You might feel sick or go off your food. Your doctor can prescribe anti-sickness medicine to help.
other info
You should keep your interferon in a fridge.
You'll have regular outpatient appointments to check the effects of the interferon on your body. At the appointments you will:
- be asked to give a blood and/or urine sample
- have your temperature, pulse and blood pressure checked.
