Has anyone ever quit before 12?

SandyL
SandyL Member Posts: 218
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
Just wondering if anyone has ever quit treatments before they were to 12? When we saw the dr. this week he mentioned "bet you are wondering why 12". He said it's a French thing. Just a number. NOW, we are wondering did he mean to say "you can quit now if you want to". Husband has stage III, one lymph node out of 15 malignant. No mets in liver or in lungs. Do you think that's what he meant? How sweet would that be?

On one hand we're considering it but on the other-he hasn't had any awful side effects of chemo and they (drs.) say he is sailing thru the treatments. However, if we could be done with this and feel safe....just curious. What do you all think?

Comments

  • kimby
    kimby Member Posts: 797
    #2
    Magic Numbers
    Sandy,

    That is exactly what he was saying. There isn't a magic number of treatments, 12 is an educated guess. For some, 10 may be enough - for some, 6. Maybe 15? 12 is what they used in clinical trials so it's really all they have the numbers for. Here's my question: If he stops now (since he isn't having any serious side effects) and then has a recurrence, will he blame himself? Will you blame him? Will he always be worrying about recurrence? Sometimes what it does to our heads is more severe than what it does to our bodies or this stupid disease. It is such an individual choice, and no, the doctor doesn't know either. No crystal balls, though.

    Hugs,

    Kimby

    P.S. I'm assuming that you were talking about adjunct systemic chemo? BIG assumption!
  • PhillieG
    PhillieG Member Posts: 4,866 Member
    #3
    I agree with Kimby
    12 is what they came up with in clinical trials.
    I would do all 12 just to rule out any "what if's" later on.
    -p
  • PamPam2
    PamPam2 Member Posts: 370 Member
    #4
    Quit early
    Hi Sandy.
    I quit my chemo early (against advise of doctors) because my colostomy prolapsed and needed surgery, which they would not do unless I was off chemo for a couple months. Every time I stood up my intestines all came out and filled the bag and had to to to ER to have them shoved back in-very painful. I had 7 out of the 12 they had planned. Was stage 4 colon ca with perforated colon, tumer engulfed overy and in 3 lymph nodes. Hitting my 5 year mark since all started, so still here. I had planned on resuming the chemo after surgery, but the doctor said after stopping the benefits of resuming for just 5 more treatments were doubtful. I am not advocating quitting early, just relating my experience. So far, good, keeping an eye on spot on liver, other than that doing and feeling fine. I think as far as "statistic" go, they have decided that 12 is the number and time that has the best chance of killing the most stray cancer cells that may be there, that that many gives the chemo a chance of building up in the system strong enough.
    Pam
  • daydreamer110761
    daydreamer110761 Member Posts: 487 Member
    #5
    kimby said:

    Magic Numbers
    Sandy,

    That is exactly what he was saying. There isn't a magic number of treatments, 12 is an educated guess. For some, 10 may be enough - for some, 6. Maybe 15? 12 is what they used in clinical trials so it's really all they have the numbers for. Here's my question: If he stops now (since he isn't having any serious side effects) and then has a recurrence, will he blame himself? Will you blame him? Will he always be worrying about recurrence? Sometimes what it does to our heads is more severe than what it does to our bodies or this stupid disease. It is such an individual choice, and no, the doctor doesn't know either. No crystal balls, though.

    Hugs,

    Kimby

    P.S. I'm assuming that you were talking about adjunct systemic chemo? BIG assumption!

    good answer
    As I said in my other post - my onc said he would discontinue the oxy for the last treatment, but although the side effects drive me nuts and not having it would be great, i would be afraid. 12 is the recommended number, so I will do 12. If I didn't, and something came back, I would be blaming myself, as I wouldn't have done all I can do, so I am trooping on....
  • nudgie
    nudgie Member Posts: 1,478 Member
    #6
    Treatments
    I was DX in 2006 with Stage II Colon Cancer with no lymph node involvement and no signs of spreading. My Onc discussed the "industry" standard for my particular type of cancer which was 12 treatments of FLOFOX (lecovorin, 5FU and oxy) on a every other week basis.

    I decided to stop at 6 treatments only because I had already had my regime reduced and at the 6th treatment I had an allergic reaction which told me by body had had enough. I have been NED since Dec 2006.

    Keep in mind that each individual's DNA plays a role in their treatment as well as the type of cancer they are battling.

    This is a decision that only the individual patient can make and once made should never second guess themselves.

    I would dicuss this further with your Onc to see what they can bring to the table.
  • SandyL
    SandyL Member Posts: 218
    #7
    nudgie said:

    Treatments
    I was DX in 2006 with Stage II Colon Cancer with no lymph node involvement and no signs of spreading. My Onc discussed the "industry" standard for my particular type of cancer which was 12 treatments of FLOFOX (lecovorin, 5FU and oxy) on a every other week basis.

    I decided to stop at 6 treatments only because I had already had my regime reduced and at the 6th treatment I had an allergic reaction which told me by body had had enough. I have been NED since Dec 2006.

    Keep in mind that each individual's DNA plays a role in their treatment as well as the type of cancer they are battling.

    This is a decision that only the individual patient can make and once made should never second guess themselves.

    I would dicuss this further with your Onc to see what they can bring to the table.

    We do agree
    with the comments you've presented. I offered the same comment to him when he was considering stopping now. He's come so far and doing so well with the treatments in comparison to what many of you report(easy for me to say) that I feel that he will continue. After all he only has 3 more now. I do appreciate all your comments and will relay each and every one of them to him. I am thinking the dr. would say, as he did at the first visit, the number is 12.

    The associate in the same practice said that another trial involved only 8 treatments with success. And I asked why not 8 then? He said the trial was handled differently in the beginning phase. So, I guess that one doesn't count! I am thinking that 12 will be our number and then let the party begin. Thanks again for your insight and willingness to share your stories.

    Sandy
  • kmygil
    kmygil Member Posts: 876 Member
    #8
    Nine
    I quit at 9--side effects were literally killing me. So since the object of chemo is to survive, it was counter-productive at that point. Also, there is talk about fixing the number at 9 instead of 12, because no real measurable amount of improvement has shown to be the case, especially in Stage II and early III.

    Kirsten
  • taraHK
    taraHK Member Posts: 1,952 Member
    #9
    good question
    It's a very good question. Until systematic studies are done comparing, say, 12 vs. 8 (or 9 or whatever), I try to stick with the suggested number. That being said (I've had chemo 4 times now), there have been times when I quit early -- when I had an allergic reaction or just couldn't tolerate anymore. I guess my gentle advice would be to hang in there (given that he is tolerating pretty well). But of course it is a very personal decision.

    Tara

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