Chemo

smokeyjoe
smokeyjoe Member Posts: 1,425 Member
in Colorectal Cancer #1
How long do the chemo drugs stay in your system?? Does anybody know. Does your body flush them out after a couple of days. I know you can feel the side effects for some time, but are the drugs still in your system long after?

Comments

  • John23
    John23 Member Posts: 2,122 Member
    #2
    smokeyjoe -
    Chemical therapy (chemo) has serious health and neurological
    ramifications for some people, and for others, no ramifications.

    It can't be explained easily, why it damages some people more
    than others, but life can be like that.

    Generally, some chemicals can remain in fat cells for months,
    but the problem isn't "how long the drug lasts", the problem is
    what damage it might do.

    Some neurological problems caused by the toxic chemicals can
    last forever, and "second cancers" can be generated by the
    arbitrary cell-killing ability of the drugs used.

    As with anything in life, the good has to be weighed against
    the possible damage. That's something that should be addressed
    to the oncologist that's prescribing the chemicals, for an answer.

    If I found a cancerous tumor was about to kill me in short time,
    I would opt to do anything it takes to stop it in it's tracks. If the
    side effects would leave me unable to do things I'm presently
    doing, or in pain, I would have to weigh my options; do I want to
    die now, or live with pain or with a permanent disability.

    So the problem isn't really how long it takes for the drugs to be
    purged from your body; the important concern should be how
    much permanent damage will you suffer (if any).

    Give your oncologist a call, and demand truthful answers.

    Best wishes to you,

    John
  • luvmum
    luvmum Member Posts: 457 Member
    #3
    6 months
    my mum's oncologist told her it's about 6 months for the drugs to stay in her body...
  • smokeyjoe
    smokeyjoe Member Posts: 1,425 Member
    #4
    luvmum said:

    6 months
    my mum's oncologist told her it's about 6 months for the drugs to stay in her body...

    Thanks guys. John, I was
    Thanks guys. John, I was just wondering do you still get scans of any kind?
  • abrub
    abrub Member Posts: 2,174 Member
    #5
    I was told that the
    I was told that the half-life of 5FU is very short (recall says about 10 minutes) which is why they like to give it by pump over a few days. Other drugs - I don't know. However, the effects of the chemo are longer lasting, because it damages or kills the cells.
  • belindahill
    belindahill Member Posts: 144
    #6
    chemo after finish
    hi, we were told up to 3mth after finishing chemo. which was on the 18th of march. We never had many side effects, xeloda for 8 cycles. Hope its the same for you.
  • John23
    John23 Member Posts: 2,122 Member
    #7
    smokeyjoe said:

    Thanks guys. John, I was
    Thanks guys. John, I was just wondering do you still get scans of any kind?

    smokeyjoe -

    Re:
    "John, I was just wondering do you still get scans of any kind?"

    I have a GP, Gastroenterologist, Colorectal/General Surgeon,
    and an Oncologist I can use at any time. I get blood tests once a
    month since my last operation, and I just had a CT and x-Rays
    last month. I've been getting CTs at six month intervals since 2006.

    There's been a lot of misconception regarding alternative medicine,
    and a belief that one using an alternative medicine forgoes all of
    the usual western medicine tests and procedures. That's not the
    way it is, however. The only difference, is that the alternative is
    used medicinally instead of the usual prescribed drugs, to achieve
    the same effect without the usual side effects, interactions,.and
    withdrawal problems..... And, depending on the alternative used,
    the alternative will address the underlying problem, not simply
    eliminate the symptom of the underlying problem.

    But to answer your question - Yes, everything else is required
    just as it is in western medicine's practices.

    Back in 2006, my TCM doc was the first to tell me that I had a
    large intestine blockage that was likely due to a tumor. He advised
    me to go to the ER and get a scan and tests..

    The GP I had at the time, said it was IBS, and suggested over-the-counter
    remedies; I no longer use that GP. It took the ER a few scans and
    X-Rays, but couldn't locate the obstruction precisely. Finally a gastro gal
    asked me if she could do a colonoscopy to try to pinpoint where the
    obstruction was, in spite of the surgeons and radiologist saying I had
    obstructions on both small and large intestines, and that a colonoscopy
    would be of no use. The gastro doc located it correctly in the large
    intestine, in precisely the same spot my TCM doc said it was.

    It cost my insurance company a bundle to figure out what my exact
    condition was. The insurance doesn't pay for TCM, even though
    he located the problem in half the time for a fraction of the money.

    So that's the scoop! If you do TCM, you still get the usual checkups
    from whatever WM doctors you presently use. But regardless of the
    alternative medicine used, tests and scans are still necessary.

    If I didn't experience TCM first-hand, and meet the patients that
    are using TCM (or had been using TCM)...... Having heard their
    stories, and after having witnessed for myself various patient's
    progress from very bad to excellent... I probably would be very
    skeptical of TCM.

    If I can help you in any way regarding TCM, just ask.

    Thanks for your interest in my condition, btw!

    Best of health to you,

    John

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