Permission to stop chemo

QQN4answers said:

Wow.... To say that I am impressed that you have been battling with this for 7 years is an understatement. It shows just how strong you are.

One thing you should remember is that you don't need permission from your Dr or your family to stop treatment. It is a very personal decision, one that only you can make. No, you are not a wimp or less then another. You have been fighting (both physically and emotionally) for a long time. Treatments take a lot out of our bodies and souls and those who have not experienced cancer just don't understand. This includes Oncologist, who should experience a round of chemo before they start treating patients. It would be interesting to see if their attitudes towards treatments change. I'm kidding of course, but Oncologist have tunnel vision. It is their job to treat the cancer and the rest is up to you. The term "Quality of life"is not always in their vocabulary. Families can be the same way too. They feel scared and helpless and sometimes guilty because there is nothing they can do. They want you to continue to fight, even when they can see how sick and tired you are.

As for being negative how many times have your heard the saying "Having a Positive Attitude" makes all the difference. Well, I don't always agree with that. I say you've earned the right to feel however you want to on any given day. Feel what you need to feel.

Like some of the other posts suggested try to find a psychologist who will LISTEN. They are impartial and can be a great sounding board when it comes to making your decision. Good Luck and take care ..... Liz

hummingbyrd said:

Liz, great idea, if it was mandatory for every onc to take a round of chemo we'd have another treatment option, I guarantee! LOL

Glow, in answer to your question, NO YOU ARE NOT A WIMP! You don't need permission either honey, do what you think is right. My tumor markers have been going up since Dec 2001. I haven't had any chemo sinced finished what was first diagnosed 6/00 (4 AC, 4 taxol) completed 4/01. My doc told me a couple of months ago, "You look really good for someone with metastatic disease, especially considering you haven't had much chemo. You don't even look like you've got cancer."
I said, "Thank you. Did you ever consider maybe it's BECAUSE I haven't had a lot of chemo?"
Well, that ended that conversation. LOL
My CEA is 399, my CA 27.29 is 180something.
Everyone is different, and I'm not saying stop your treatments. I am saying it's a personnal decision, so do what you feel is right.
If you want to talk email me at tbyrd2@sbcglobal.net
God bless (((HUGS))) hummingbyrd

We can never tell anyone else what to do, regarding stopping chemo. (Also, I don't think you need your doctor's or anyone else's permission to just stop)

If you just need a break, then that would need coordinating with your onc, as for how long and when to resume, etc..  Please talk with him/her about it as they can best guide you regarding a break. 

Just wanted to share my thoughts, and encourage you in making your best decisions about continuing tx and applaud your courage and endurance, this far!  Wishing you a good respite and all the best!

Love, light & laughter,

Ink

EDIT:   Pls note that the starting post is 2004.  Made my post in the mistaken assumption that it was recent, but will leave it in case it helps.

*********************************************************************

You are the decider. 

If you do not have someone on your medical team to deal specifically with side effects you should consider it.  Paliative care along side of oncology has been shown to result in better outcomes.   A paliatve care specialsist can also help you and the oncologists make better decision about when or when not to use chemco or radiation.   

Also, if you have not considered dietary measures it's something you might consider as certain regimes have promis as adjuncts to standard of care:     

There has been limited clinical testing and some small trials which indicate that low carbohydrate diets, ketogetic diets in some cases, and short term fasting can lower side effects of chemo and radiation and may have a growth stunting effect on the cancer by itself.      

Here are a few video lectures by oncologists and researchers which might be of help.   

Oncologist - Dr. Lemanne provides a good overveiw and some of the findings:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_diITmOeCM

Professor Seyfried has been studying the metabolism of cancer for years.  His refined technique, Press-Pulse, is explained starting at about 13 minutes:

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3TZnjC7SR_w 

Professor Longo is doing important work applying limited fasting regimes to cancer treatments.   Here, he explains some of the background research:

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4ame4E1rtE

To summarize - 

Carbohydrate restriction (no simple carbs and sugary foods) is the base.  Also, moderate to low protein 

More agressive diets use much lower carbohydrates and supplement calories with quality fats.

Limited fasting for 2 or 3 days leading into treatment may lower side effects, allow for lower doses of chemo and radiation, and make chemo and radiation more effective.  Fasting can be done with small amounts of food totaling around 700 calories per day (of which 50% is fat).   

Avoid high protein.  Avoid excess calories.

Adding hyperbaric oxygen treatment along with glutamine inhibitor to treatment may fiurther kill off cancer.  

The big advantage to all of these options is that they are non-toxic. They can be done if you decide to take a break from chemo with some hope that they will slow cancer growth and make you feel better.  Or they can be done with reduced chemo dosage. 

Good luck with whatever path you take....