Forum Discussion
Has Anyone Given Up on Chemo?
Hard Question that I am having.
I was diagnosed with IDC stage 2 ER-PR- and HER2+VE. Mastectomy done a week after diagnosis clear surgical margins. Cancer lump was 2.5cm with 1.5cm surrrounding DCIS. No radiation prescribed. 3. lympn nodes taken were clear. CT and PET scans clear.
My chemo cycle one and two went fine. I was on Taxocete and cyclophosphamide and antibody Herceptin. On third cycle I developed a horrible rash on day 8 which was itchy and I almost thought I was going to die. I was also constantly feeling warm when I am sleeping at night even with air con on.
I am contemplating quitting the last chemo. I feel really awful trying to 'destroy' my immune system just because I have been prescribed this protocol for me. I know the chemo is preventative treatment but I feel like I am doing my body such injustice pumping it with toxins and causing it be in an compromised state especially between day 7-12. My oncologist kind of left the choice to me saying the standard is 4.
Other than chemo, I am feeling well and eating very well and I feel that my body can do better with a nutritional diet to help my immune system, than chemo!
Just wondering if anyone out there have been through my stage? And what did you choose to do?
Thanks.
I was diagnosed with IDC stage 2 ER-PR- and HER2+VE. Mastectomy done a week after diagnosis clear surgical margins. Cancer lump was 2.5cm with 1.5cm surrrounding DCIS. No radiation prescribed. 3. lympn nodes taken were clear. CT and PET scans clear.
My chemo cycle one and two went fine. I was on Taxocete and cyclophosphamide and antibody Herceptin. On third cycle I developed a horrible rash on day 8 which was itchy and I almost thought I was going to die. I was also constantly feeling warm when I am sleeping at night even with air con on.
I am contemplating quitting the last chemo. I feel really awful trying to 'destroy' my immune system just because I have been prescribed this protocol for me. I know the chemo is preventative treatment but I feel like I am doing my body such injustice pumping it with toxins and causing it be in an compromised state especially between day 7-12. My oncologist kind of left the choice to me saying the standard is 4.
Other than chemo, I am feeling well and eating very well and I feel that my body can do better with a nutritional diet to help my immune system, than chemo!
Just wondering if anyone out there have been through my stage? And what did you choose to do?
Thanks.
27 Replies
Thanks for sharing. May I know what alternative did you try?Tracey B said:I developed a rash from taxol, mainly on my hands and it was within the hour of finishing my chemo treatments. Unfortunately, my oncology unit is an hours drive away from home. Ice helped, but the rash peeled after about 10 days, like a bad sunburn. Kept going with the chemo though as the alternative wasn't wonderful for me. Get some advice from your oncology nurses, and make an informed decision. Sending you a big cyber cuddle, Trace xxxx
Sam09, did you have your surgery done at all? I hope you are now okay.Sam09 said:You poor darling. Yes me I didn't want to have chemo because I believe it kills the very thing you need in life your immune system. I relented after my her 2 pos bc spread. I was scared and felt pressured. I instantly regretted it. Chemo kills the very thing we so desperately need our vital healthy immune system. Lisin to your heart and do what you decide is right. I believe poisoning to heal is toxic and cruel. If that's the path some want to take and suffer the side effects well that's their decision but only theirs. We all should do what we truly believe is right for us. I'm sure you'll do what is best for you. But I'm so hearing what you say.- You poor darling. Yes me I didn't want to have chemo because I believe it kills the very thing you need in life your immune system. I relented after my her 2 pos bc spread. I was scared and felt pressured. I instantly regretted it. Chemo kills the very thing we so desperately need our vital healthy immune system. Lisin to your heart and do what you decide is right. I believe poisoning to heal is toxic and cruel. If that's the path some want to take and suffer the side effects well that's their decision but only theirs. We all should do what we truly believe is right for us. I'm sure you'll do what is best for you. But I'm so hearing what you say.
- I developed a rash from taxol, mainly on my hands and it was within the hour of finishing my chemo treatments. Unfortunately, my oncology unit is an hours drive away from home. Ice helped, but the rash peeled after about 10 days, like a bad sunburn. Kept going with the chemo though as the alternative wasn't wonderful for me. Get some advice from your oncology nurses, and make an informed decision. Sending you a big cyber cuddle, Trace xxxx
- @au0rei I was told to aim for 6, but it depended on how well I was going at 4 because I could "get away with" not doing them all. I completed the fourth and chose not to proceed with the additional 2. But I feel like I should have stopped at 3.
- I developed a rash from taxol and was always hot for a number of days post treatment. I finished my 12 cycles (weekly) and the rash cleared up quickly. I stopped wearing all metal. Showered with cooler water and moisturised a lot.
- @au0rei yes I agree with you, that seemed to be a reaction to the Chemo. It is alot for our bodies to take the Chemo regime they individually set for us. I think you are right you have to weigh it all up. You are only talking the 1 infusion, you have already had 3 so you certainly can rest with that in yourself. I remember my Oncologist saying to me I can choose to not do 4 FEC the red devil! and he'd accept I did Taxol 8 times. Though he said to me he does these in conjunction, so I opted uuugh for both. Thing is you have done most of it,so its not like you havent. I know Id sit quietly and ask yourself....should I do it...see what comes out..trust yourself you know whats best for you. Hugs Melinda xo
- InkPetal said:Here's something rash related that happened to me: I broke out in a rash all over my chest, arms, and down my back. Because my immune system had depleted straight off the bat, and the chicken pox virus stays in your body (even from the vaccine) it wasn't suppressed and I had a sudden onset of shingles.
We have a lo of different circumstances, but this was my experience: There was a plan for me to continue through 6 rounds depending on how I reacted. By round 3 the side-effects were so intense that I decided that 4 would be the last, and I still feel like I fit into that bracket of over-treated patients. Like you, I felt I was doing much more damage than good.
It sounds like you've been talking to your oncologist about it and are probing out here for some reassurance? :heart: All we can do is what we believe is best for us with the information that we have. It's very important you be confident in the decisions you make. They are yours to make. Treatment is such a personal thing.
So did you finish your rounds of treatment prescribed then? Oncologist just told me the choice is up to me, so not helpful lol. - Here's something rash related that happened to me: I broke out in a rash all over my chest, arms, and down my back. Because my immune system had depleted straight off the bat, and the chicken pox virus stays in your body (even from the vaccine) it wasn't suppressed and I had a sudden onset of shingles.
We have a lo of different circumstances, but this was my experience: There was a plan for me to continue through 6 rounds depending on how I reacted. By round 3 the side-effects were so intense that I decided that 4 would be the last, and I still feel like I fit into that bracket of over-treated patients. Like you, I felt I was doing much more damage than good.
It sounds like you've been talking to your oncologist about it and are probing out here for some reassurance? :heart: All we can do is what we believe is best for us with the information that we have. It's very important you be confident in the decisions you make. They are yours to make. Treatment is such a personal thing.
