to chemo or not to chemo

jerzpilot

I am 36 and in Nov. 09 I was dx with FNHL stage 4A. The tumors are small in size and no pains are yet felt. I am just looking for opinions if I should start chemo now or wait until the tumors are bigger or start feeling pains. Thanks and God bless.

Edwin

merrywinner

That is the question!
I will probably be just the first of many to ask..What is your MD recommending?
Mary

jerzpilot

merrywinner said:

That is the question!
I will probably be just the first of many to ask..What is your MD recommending?
Mary

Hello Merry
First of all I hope you are doing great and on your way to recovery. My Onco. said it was up to me either I could do it now or wait a little longer until the tumors get bigger or it starts affecting my daily life. I try to not think about it but when I read about other people getting it done it makes me wonder if I am doing the right choice. Thanks for replying and God bless.

Edwin

merrywinner

jerzpilot said:

Hello Merry
First of all I hope you are doing great and on your way to recovery. My Onco. said it was up to me either I could do it now or wait a little longer until the tumors get bigger or it starts affecting my daily life. I try to not think about it but when I read about other people getting it done it makes me wonder if I am doing the right choice. Thanks for replying and God bless.

Edwin

OK
I understand better now. So basically they are leaving it up to you which probably means that it doesn't matter one way or the other. That was the same situation I was in and then the only visible lump I had in my neck started getting bigger and that area turned into stage 1-2 instead of 1 so it was recommended I start the chemo. As long as you are being seen regularly I think you will be fine but if mentally its bothering you then you may want to consider that. All went well for me so far. Had my last round of R CHOP on 1-26-10 so am still recovering from that but I am done. For me the whole thing was totally doable but you have to get through it. You feel tired and there's ups and downs but worth it. I went into remission after TX2 so that was good news. I go back for a PET scan on 3-9-10 to see if everything is still gone and then will have maintenance Rituxan every 3 months. It's not easy trying to make all these decisions but trust how you are feeling and act accordingly. Best of luck.
Mary

mariar1458

treatment
Hi, In my opinion I wouldn't wait to get treatment. It is easier on the body and the chemo can be more effective. If you wait until the lumps get bigger they may have to be surgically reduced in size so that the chemo can work more safely on them.

sambello

jerzpilot said:

Hello Merry
First of all I hope you are doing great and on your way to recovery. My Onco. said it was up to me either I could do it now or wait a little longer until the tumors get bigger or it starts affecting my daily life. I try to not think about it but when I read about other people getting it done it makes me wonder if I am doing the right choice. Thanks for replying and God bless.

Edwin

to take it or Not
Well , its your choice, I had this primitive treatment 22 years ago, now they say you might have a 65% chance of getting other cancers because of the past treatment. Do something different, move from where you live , (could be a chemical or electrical field where you sleep), stay away from things that anoy you., change your diet. (if you eat meat, eat fish,, different fruites)
Your immune system is on full false alert now.
Things they did not tell when I took the treatment : Everything in your body becomes fragile, your muscles die where radio therapy is done, neck, shoulders, and middle chest muscles are effected most, but in the inside its the heart that is damaged in the inside, its muscles, and the heart muscles (where hit by radiation) get weaker and weaker by time, also the electricity of the heart is damaged , since 2 years, my heart stops for a few seconds, in which it causes pass out, and on occasion it slows dowm to 38 beats a minute for 3 hours or so then it goes up to 88 beats suddenly. the viens and arteries are hard and fragile, danger of death in an operation in an artery.
Ask your doctor if there is any possibility of getting better without Chemo or radiation?
I have a constant pain in my neck muscles that are weak. If i had the choice again , I would just enjoy what is left without this primitive treatment, now, I feel that they are experimenting with us, and its a business. They should tell the truth and give us the choice, the damages i wrote about are permanant, I was athletic with a heart beat of 55, after the first Chemo it was 88 a minute,
Its your choice, let them tell you the truth.