Anyone Forego Chemo?

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Permalink Reply by Whole_Body_Healer on March 24, 2008 at 6:55pm

1st I gotta say GREAT that you've been doing well for 2 years. In my case, my initial encounter with chemo resulted in an acute allergic life threatening reaction to one of the drugs, so no chemo. My oncologist at the time wanted to try a desensitization protocol for a drug that was very similar to the original problem drug. This drug could have similar reactions since it was fundamentally the same base drug & would require hospitalization for them to monitor me. My oncologist was totally unfamiliar with the protocol (had never done it) & knew very little about it. He was not consulting with any colleagues (even at other hospitals) who had successfully done this protocol. This made me extremely nervous & kind of sealed the deal for me to go for alternative approaches.

I had a colostomy, which healed sufficiently through a macrobiotic diet to be reversed. When they went in for the "take-down" surgery they found a bit of cancer. A couple of months later & the cancer was on the move & visible on a CT scan. It kinda made me wonder if the surgery had disturbed the small amount of cancer that was present.

At the time they discovered the lesions, I thought I was out of alternative options. I decided to do the chemo (a 2nd line of drugs) to stay alive. The lesions pretty much disappeared, so I am grateful for that. However, my immune system was severely suppressed, so I have spent a lot of time rebuilding it. I have been doing well so far. I focus on many dimensions of healing & eat primarily a raw/living foods diet with regular detox.

So on the one hand, I am grateful I had the tool of chemo to give me more time & opportunity to heal. On the other, I don't want to go there again, if I can avoid it. So any time I have to do an enema & I feel like "I don't wanna", I think, "well it's better than chemo ANY day!"

I fundamentally believe that healing involves our whole mind body spirit & as such we need to utilize healing tools which will help get us there. In my case, I felt like chemo bought me some time. I also feel that transformation needs to take place in many dimensions of my being for healing to occur. Healing is a Holistic endeavor.

I think one needs to make the best choices one can at any given point in time, believe in whatever you are doing, and never look back. Keep your point of focus on your intention. Mine is healing & wellness. Also, trust that you will be guided to the next appropriate step, whatever that might be...when you need it.

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Permalink Reply by K&B mom on March 25, 2008 at 1:15pm

I also did not do the chemo thing. The first doctor I saw did recommend it, but insurance denied it. I saw a second dr. & he said that my tumors are so spread throughout my liver - don't bother. It has only been about 9 months for me, but still haven't had any. I am going 1500 miles for my 5th opinion next month. We will see if he's a good fit & what he recommends.
I truly believe you have to do what you feel is right for you - even if it's scary or not what others would do.
I will keep my fingers crossed for you also ;-)

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Permalink Reply by Caroline on March 25, 2008 at 3:32pm

If it is purely financial that you are not doing chemo, I would make that clear to your onc that is why. Sometimes they can get you into clinical trials where the drugs are paid for or the drug companies will reduce your costs significantly. If your onc has no help, ask for a social worker where you are being treated.

Congratulations on making it to 2 years!

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Permalink Reply by pendlewitch on March 25, 2008 at 4:43pm

My husband was offered chemo but decided to take surveillance instead - cisplatin was one of the cocktail of 3 he would have been given. All the side effects scared the whatsits out of us to be honest, especially having talked to a couple of nurse friends. At the end of the day though everyone has to do what they think is best. Quite a few people thought we were mad for turning it down, but an awful lot of others were really supportive and said they'd do the same. I think you've just got to listen to your instincts but it's really crap if you can't do that because of insurance. For all we in the UK moan about the NHS we have been really grateful for it since DH's diagnosis, especially hearing how the system works over there in the States. I hope something gets sorted for you all soon so that you don't have all this financial stuff to deal with on top of ill health.

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Permalink Reply by Sheila Wisdahl on March 25, 2008 at 5:11pm

Kateri-
I did not do the recommended chemo or radiation because both are known to cause cancer. Also, at the time they were recommended (sept. 07), I was so weak already that I knew I wouldn't survive the toxic side effects. I had chemo 5 years ago and it was hell- I think I suffered from just about every side effect except for menopause and death (yes, death is a potential side effect of chemo) Feel good about your decision, I know I do. I have been making good progress against my cancer the natural way. Not only are chemo and radiation toxic, they do not address dietary/lifestyle issues that may have led to the cancer in the first place. That's just my opinion. That being said, I do agree with the other commenters- you have to do what you feel is right. I'm starting to think that the effectiveness of any method is 80% psychological. So believe in whatever decision you make.

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Permalink Reply by Jill on March 25, 2008 at 5:30pm

I also decided to forego chemo in favor of an alternative approach. I have stage IV breast cancer with mets to my liver and bones and after much research I found that in my situation chemo doesn't extend life. I'm not interested in tumor shrinkage- I want to live to a ripe old age!
I truly believe that we need to treat the cause of the cancer and that means bringing the body back into balance through diet and detoxification, and working on the psychological aspects.
Whatever you choose to do, I think it's important to be at peace with your decision and remain positive. The mind plays an important role in healing!

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Permalink Reply by Jennalou on March 26, 2008 at 5:17pm

My step-dad was diagnosed with breast cancer two weeks ago. They immediately scheduled him for a mastectomy followed by 6 month of chemo. He has decided to forgo all of it in favor of natural treatments. We are still learning about ways to naturally deal with cancer, but I feel very positive that he will overcome as I believe the power of nature far outweighs chemicals and doctors.

A lot of my family is having a hard time accepting his decision. They think it's naive and stupid of him. I suspect they are just scared and that they don't understand that people have the power to heal themselves.

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Permalink Reply by Lori on March 28, 2008 at 12:24am

Hi!

I have a primary brain tumor. Almost everyone, including myself, has brain surgery to remove as much as the tumor as possible. In my case, the surgeons were not able to remove the tumor completely as it is too large and in a position that would leave me quite disabled. Following surgery, the treatment of choice has been radiation. Previously chemo was not an option as it did not penetrate the blood brain barrier. That is changing somewhat, and now brain cancer is being treated with Temodar in some situations.

It was recommended to me that I receive radiation. While radiation was recommended, the doctors conceded that radiation does not extend life. Sooo, if radiation is known to cause cancer, and they admit it won't extend my time on this beautiful earth... why do it other than line the pockets of the medical establishment? Chemo was also a possibility, but I was not willing to put my immune system on the line for an untested treatment, which also was not going to extend my life. In addition to radiation not extending my life, it is becomine more and more clear that radiation to the brain causes some short and long term damage. The good news is that people are living longer with brain tumors, but because of that, the damaging effects of radiation are becoming clear.

I am a mom of two kids- 10 and 12.5. I was tremendously blessed that I emerged from brain surgery without deficits of any kind. I want to be the mom I have been, for as long as possible. Radiation threatened that. While I do what is called "watch and wait", I am doing all I can, through this Crazy Sexy lifestyle, to heal myself.

When I told people close to me what my options were and what I had decided, no one called me crazy or looked at me as if I was making the wrong decision. Actually, a lot of people that I talked with stated they would do the same thing, which I did not expect at all! Not everyone would go as "extreme" as being raw, incorporating all the "different" healing modalities that many of us try, but a good number of people would also not go the traditional method, either. This is hopefully the wave of the future- questioning medical establishment, big pharma,and big medicine, and searching out true healing!

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Permalink Reply by lisainsf on April 4, 2008 at 1:55am

I was given a full course of chemo for Stage 3 colon cancer, and it was pure hell. I suffered greatly and then less than 6 months later I was told that the cancer had spread to my liver. When the oncologist told me his plan at that point- to give me even stronger drugs, for a longer period- I knew i had to say no. I no longer believed in chemo as an effective treatment. I had a liver resection and rejected the chemo (and would do so again). I instead changed my diet and lifestyle. Now I am ten months past the liver resection surgery and I have no sign of cancer.

Do not ever assume that chemotherapy is going to be the answer, that only with chemo will you survive. For many people it is NOT a cure, it actually makes your immune system much weaker and hence you are more vulnerable to a recurrence. Doctors give you the drugs because they don't have anything else to give you; or rather, they ignore many other kinds of therapy and insist that chemo is the only way. Consider yourself lucky in a sense that you don't have to go through that.

Incidentally, cisplatin is similar to a drug that I got (oxaliplatin) which has resulted in permanent nerve damage to my feet. If you decide to take that drug, do serious research in advance and do whatever possible to avoid nerve damage.

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Permalink Reply by the gaudy goddess on April 4, 2008 at 2:12am

I made the choice to do chemo.  I was 30 at the time with advanced metastatic breast cancer and everyone in my family the generation before me died of cancer even with treatment.  I made the decision early on, after watching my mother die, that I would not get in the final days whether sooner rather than later, and say "I wish I had tried harder"  I am a very stubborn person and I will not let anyone make decisions for me.  I incurred alot of debt and had alot of out of pocket expenses. I found alot of help through my cancer center to help pay for treatment and after treatment, when I still had debt out the wazoo....I filed for bankruptcy to get rid of it. Some may ask why? My good credit isn't going to do me a bit-o-good if I'm dead. After treatment, I told my family I would never do it again....that it was just too hard to go through....alas, I am here again. I found a different cancer center that has offered me so much more and has made this so much easier this time around.

Choosing chemo/not choosing chemo is a very personal choice. Alot of people have really stong opinions about it. From the looks of your last sentence, you are obviously not totally convinced of your decision. I just would say, do not, under any circumstances, be it money...or anyones opinions, stand in your way of doing what you want to do deep down in your heart. A saying in my house is "live without regrets."

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