4 cycles vs 6 cycles of treatment

joeline12
joeline12 Member Posts: 53
in Head and Neck Cancer #1
hi there..
my dad intend to stop treatment after 4 cycle. just wonder anyone had only 4 cycles and cancer response completely? his last scan shows tumour shrink about 50%
thanks

Comments

  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #2
    Weeks or Cycles
    I haven't really heard of anyone having 4 or 6 "cycles" of threatment, that I can remember...

    Myself and several others have had nine weeks of chemo (cisplatin, taxotere and 5fu for me) that consisted of three three week cycles. First Monday of the first, fourth and seventh weeks were chemo. The second, fifth and eigth weeks Mondays for me was Neulasta and hydration. The third, sixth and ninth weeks were continued recovery.

    Then after that I had seven weeks of concurrent. Weekly chemo (carboplatin for me) each Monday and daily rads for 35 days (M-F).

    Some only had two cycles because of complications, or chemo changed from cisplatin to carboplatin for example.

    JG
  • jim and i
    jim and i Member Posts: 1,788 Member
    #3
    cycles?
    Do you mean cycles of cisplatin or erbotox, etc.? My husband was scheduled for 3 cycles of cisplatin but could only do two because of kidney problems. They finished him with 3 cycles of Erbatox. Erbatox is usual 6-9 treatments. He has not had a follow up scan yet but sees the Rad doctor and ENT next week. After the two cisplatin cycles the ct showed lymph nodes back to normal and tumor significantly shrunk. Did not give us a percentage.

    Can I ask why your dad wants to stop the treatment?

    Debbie
  • joeline12
    joeline12 Member Posts: 53
    #4
    jim and i said:

    cycles?
    Do you mean cycles of cisplatin or erbotox, etc.? My husband was scheduled for 3 cycles of cisplatin but could only do two because of kidney problems. They finished him with 3 cycles of Erbatox. Erbatox is usual 6-9 treatments. He has not had a follow up scan yet but sees the Rad doctor and ENT next week. After the two cisplatin cycles the ct showed lymph nodes back to normal and tumor significantly shrunk. Did not give us a percentage.

    Can I ask why your dad wants to stop the treatment?

    Debbie

    Because he not able to take the side effect.. tiring..ect.. :(
  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #5
    joeline12 said:

    Because he not able to take the side effect.. tiring..ect.. :(

    Presumptions
    I'd presume the medical professionals and facilities derive their protocols based on successful treatment and history.

    It's a tough treatment, but the results are worthwhile. If you only take half the treatments, you might only get half the benefit....

    Communicate with the MD's and more than likely they can prescribe something to help...but it's never easy.

    Best,
    John
  • Pam M
    Pam M Member Posts: 2,196
    #6
    It Can Be Rough
    It can be rough, but I'd be very tempted to try to talk him into continuing. There were some people at my treatment center who became so weak, they couldn't even walk in on their own power. But it's temporary. I would count down, and tell myself "It's just ten more days - what's ten days compared to years and years?" I'm not saying you can't beat cancer with 2/3 of a treatment regime. But I'm assuming that docs set up the "standard" regime and "standard" timeline because that is what is most successful for most people. Some people here became unable to feed or care for themselves - they spent alltheir time zonked out on meds, getting treatment, being fed by someone else through their feeding tube and sleeping. It can be a grueling treatment. But it's for a limited time only for the vast majority of us. I really hope that your dad reconsiders, and finishes all his cycles. If he can't manage on his own, and doesn't want to burden his family, he can let his doctor/hospital know, and they can help him get a temporary placement in a nursing home.
  • joeline12
    joeline12 Member Posts: 53
    #7
    Pam M said:

    It Can Be Rough
    It can be rough, but I'd be very tempted to try to talk him into continuing. There were some people at my treatment center who became so weak, they couldn't even walk in on their own power. But it's temporary. I would count down, and tell myself "It's just ten more days - what's ten days compared to years and years?" I'm not saying you can't beat cancer with 2/3 of a treatment regime. But I'm assuming that docs set up the "standard" regime and "standard" timeline because that is what is most successful for most people. Some people here became unable to feed or care for themselves - they spent alltheir time zonked out on meds, getting treatment, being fed by someone else through their feeding tube and sleeping. It can be a grueling treatment. But it's for a limited time only for the vast majority of us. I really hope that your dad reconsiders, and finishes all his cycles. If he can't manage on his own, and doesn't want to burden his family, he can let his doctor/hospital know, and they can help him get a temporary placement in a nursing home.

    Thanks
    In acutal fact i also feel that he should contiune as long as possible. In his 1st dx of NPC, out of 6 cycle he only took 5. Doc gave him green light to stop at 5. He will be having his 2nd scan on 4th Oct to see how the treatment working. please do note that he has met to his lung and some in liver. hopefully we are able to get some good news.
  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    #8
    joeline12 said:

    Thanks
    In acutal fact i also feel that he should contiune as long as possible. In his 1st dx of NPC, out of 6 cycle he only took 5. Doc gave him green light to stop at 5. He will be having his 2nd scan on 4th Oct to see how the treatment working. please do note that he has met to his lung and some in liver. hopefully we are able to get some good news.

    No Stopping yet
    Hi joeline
    I also am NPC, he needs to finish the complete 5 treatments please don’t let his stop now. Yes the side effects are bad but if it keeps the tumor from coming back that is what you want. My NPC came back a few times because my doctors did not give me all the chemo I needed to kill it completely. Believe me NPC is no fun to go through a second or third time. One more treatment of chemo he can do it. If you need PM me and I will send you my phone number so I can talk with him.

    Wishing you the best
    Hondo
  • Dav1965
    Dav1965 Member Posts: 132
    #9
    Hondo said:

    No Stopping yet
    Hi joeline
    I also am NPC, he needs to finish the complete 5 treatments please don’t let his stop now. Yes the side effects are bad but if it keeps the tumor from coming back that is what you want. My NPC came back a few times because my doctors did not give me all the chemo I needed to kill it completely. Believe me NPC is no fun to go through a second or third time. One more treatment of chemo he can do it. If you need PM me and I will send you my phone number so I can talk with him.

    Wishing you the best
    Hondo

    Keep at it
    I had cisplatin and it kicked my butt. It was by far the hardest part of the treatment for me. Stay with it. It is worth it in the long run.
  • joeline12
    joeline12 Member Posts: 53
    #10
    Dav1965 said:

    Keep at it
    I had cisplatin and it kicked my butt. It was by far the hardest part of the treatment for me. Stay with it. It is worth it in the long run.

    thanks for the encouragement
    thanks everyone for the encouragement and reply. especially Hondo. i will try to talk to my dad again..for now praying for good news for the up coming scan.

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