Chemotherapy or natural?

Hi Sandra . Just wanted to add that chemo is not hell for everyone. Chemo is not a picnic for everyone either. But it is doable. In the beginning it seems like such a long time to go through treatment, but it really does go past very quickly. Like Kath (PrimeK) I didn't have a walk in the park with chemo but I know that if I ever were to need to have it again I could get through it. Pls don't be put off by the bad experiences of someone you know who had a different type of cancer to you. Be guided by your medical team. Ask questions. Tell them about your concerns and fears and allow them to address those. Then weigh everything up against your desire to beat cancer. We are stronger than we feel when we are first diagnosed. And you will have all of us here for you. Good Luck

Nadine

primek said:

My decision making was this...I never wanted to look back in 2 years with regrets that I hadn't done everything to be cured. There are no guarantees but I gave it my best shot at it. I wasn't grest on chemo...but six months on I say ...yep...I could do it again if I needed to. I just really hope I don't.
Chemo for stem cell transplant is just soooo different than bc treatment. It's  like comparing  bananas with arsenic. 
Most chemo is derived from natural plants. ..just thought I'd let you know that (look up taxanes)

I was just checking up on taxol and the Pacific Yew two days ago lol..

Hi, the ladies here are so awesome. I was very scared to come here but now that I am here, I actually found strength to be among you ladies. This is such a supportive place.

If you click my username you can read my posts. I struggled with going for chemo, from the first and even worse with the last. I was very inclined to use only alternative but i could not find the courage esp when what I saw are only people online, but i have several friends who went through BC and went through conventional treatment, and they are alive around me, real people you know what I mean? I was very frightened of the side effects of chemo before it started. I was imagining the worst. I planned - I bought my wig - I cut my hair so short before chemo as I did not want to see my hair fall out - I went to the dentist to have a clean out (I have gum issues and I know chemo possibly will affect my gums and I may not be able to floss my teeth the same throughout chemo and may have gum bleeding issues...)... so I planned whatever I could before chemo started.

I chose chemo in the end as I want to do what I could to be with my family years down the road. It helps to have supportive family members and friends. I found with all the support I have from them, it makes this journey easier. I am able to chat with friends any time I want and it's amazing how supportive they have been, especially when I was in emergency the hosp stay for chemo cycle 1 due to a throat infection and low grade fever, and had bad rashes in cycle 3. When unexpected things happened, the support you can get will make it easier.

I almost quit chemo 4. The ladies here helped support me with advice and their stories. I know I still have to be the one who makes the decision. My husband and brother were able to speak sense into me and helped me decide that i would complete it. I think I have made the right decision. One step at a time. One day at a time.

During chemo these few months, I made sure I get good nutrition to recover for the next cycle. I must say amazingly my appetite has been fantastic. Even though now (after the 4th cycle) my taste buds have been affected, I still get hungry easily and eat several small meals daily. I need to eat well to get well. My mum flew over to help look after me and my family. she's been my best friend. And I never once had nausea which was listed as a side effect. I realized every one may get different side effects listed. I had sore nails towards start of 4th cycle but two of my friends did not have that. Some have shivers and chills but i did not. One of them had bad nausea and poor appetite but I did not. One had bad tummy pain I did not. I had side effects that they did not have. I broke out in bad rash in 3rd cycle. All affected differently. So you may get some but not some. Make sure you take good care of yourself during the chemo period. Come in and ask and we will all help along if you are going to be prescribed chemo. :) When my breast surgeon came in after after my surgery and told me I needed 4 chemo and herceptin for 12 months, I broke into tears. But now I may even explore radiotherapy. One step at a time, I do not know how I manage to go through 4 hospital stays, numerous scans and so many blood tests, all the way from Adelaide where I was diagnosed to surgery chemo back in Melbourne...but I did. You will get through this too. I also complement chemo with good healthy diet full of organic produce. It makes me feel better eating organic to reduce the burden to my body. I am going to continue eating organic as much as i can.

I find getting informed and prepared helped me, plus all the support I get helped tremendously. :)

Sorry for the long post, typing as I go..time for bed. LOL. xxx

My decision making was this...I never wanted to look back in 2 years with regrets that I hadn't done everything to be cured. There are no guarantees but I gave it my best shot at it. I wasn't grest on chemo...but six months on I say ...yep...I could do it again if I needed to. I just really hope I don't.
Chemo for stem cell transplant is just soooo different than bc treatment. It's  like comparing  bananas with arsenic. 
Most chemo is derived from natural plants. ..just thought I'd let you know that (look up taxanes)

I suppose it would depend how much of a gambler you are, If I was playing a gambling game, where there was a double your money, or lose your money, and the amount was, say $20.00, I might have a punt. If, however the money was $20.000 double or nothing...no way would I gamble it. Similarly, if my health problem was a wart, I might try a natural remedy first...what's to lose? For me, my very life is on the line now, and so for me, there's simply no way I'm prepared to gamble with it. However, this is a decision that you alone can make for yourself.

You only get one chance at a 'cure' with breast cancer. That's why doctors do surgery and chemo and throw every thing they have at it. If it manages to survive it progresses into secondary cancer for which treatment is life long and you really don't want that. Don't muck with it, if they say chemo is needed just get it done and hopefully one day you can be declared cancer free. <3

Sandra absolutely and I think we all struggle I know I do 6yrs on never had a lump but had Cancer twice and never felt sick at all...so I get you.   X

Thanks ladies.  I think because it's all such a whirlwind from diagnosis to surgery Etc and such a shock being thrown into the unknown with no prior knowledge or time to come to terms with it all coupled with the fear and dread of chemotherapy I'm grasping at straws hoping there's an alternative THATS AS GOOD OR BETTER but it's just facing reality and accepting it. 
"And I feel so good and perfectly healthy, I don't feel like I've got cancer, so why go through hell? ". All things my brain is telling me seems all part of the acceptance/non acceptance of having cancer and needing chemotherapy.  
Thanks for "listening"   ❤️❤️✔️

Hi sandramji wait and see and be guided by your team. not everyone has chemo any more, and those who do need it.  I had lots of "kind people" share their horror stories, but non of those applied to me.  
Good luck, 
Aine

sandramji this story is all well and good, some people do go into spontaneous remission . There is also a book out where this woman ate raw fruit and vegetables only and survived. Yes there are true stories out there.
 Would I do it instead of chemo NO! Why? There is not enough factual data to back up alternative claims. 
I choose to live. I do not dismiss alternative claims however the majority of people I meet or read about survive cancer doing radiotherapy and chemo.  
We have antibiotics,injections to stop whooping cough, measles etc We have surgery blood transfusion. See natural methods are all well and good but sometimes they are not enough. 
There really is no need to fear chemo..... I had side effects..I went to emergency twice...i did have some problems
A year on I am cancer free. Would I do it again YES!