I NEED HELP!

Knowing what I know now? I
Knowing what I know now? I would still chose chemo.

chemo
I would choose chemo but not radiation. I would have gotten a second opinion before I consented to surgery. I had mild side effects from chemo and I was on oxiplatin. I was able to stay active the whole time. This may have been due to the fact that I had a mediport and a pump on, releasing chemo 24/7. It was probably a lower dosage. I am cancer free since Feb 2007. I still have very hard days mentally. I had a ileostomy reversal Dec 2007, this has been harder to deal with mentally and physically than all of my treatment. Remember that it is your decision, in what you choose to do.

Depression?..Is that all?
Depression?..Is that all? What became of the fear, Anger, Resentment, and Self Pity that are also part and parcel of this insidious disease.
Of course you feel bad, of course you're fearful, and of course you want to take the easiest route to get past this and put it into the History book of your life, we all do, but DO the Chemo if it's recommended and the radiation as well. We only get one (or maybe 2) chances to do this right....and we don't get a refund or another opportunity if we guess wrong.
If your cancer was resectable, consider yourself fortunate, the next time you may not be so lucky and Chemo & radiation may not be fast enough.
Chemo is difficult, so is radiation, you get sick, you get over it, then you do it all again until the cancer is killed and gone from your body.
The side effects aren't all that bad, I've had every one of them numerous times, I got over it and the cancer is gone. You're a strong willed person, take charge of this little obstacle and overcome it with the same determination you rely on for every other aspect of your life. You CAN do it|
DennisR

DennisR said:

Depression?..Is that all?
Depression?..Is that all? What became of the fear, Anger, Resentment, and Self Pity that are also part and parcel of this insidious disease.
Of course you feel bad, of course you're fearful, and of course you want to take the easiest route to get past this and put it into the History book of your life, we all do, but DO the Chemo if it's recommended and the radiation as well. We only get one (or maybe 2) chances to do this right....and we don't get a refund or another opportunity if we guess wrong.
If your cancer was resectable, consider yourself fortunate, the next time you may not be so lucky and Chemo & radiation may not be fast enough.
Chemo is difficult, so is radiation, you get sick, you get over it, then you do it all again until the cancer is killed and gone from your body.
The side effects aren't all that bad, I've had every one of them numerous times, I got over it and the cancer is gone. You're a strong willed person, take charge of this little obstacle and overcome it with the same determination you rely on for every other aspect of your life. You CAN do it|
DennisR

Some being nice and some being stern ....
When we discuss the possibilities of whether or not to do chemo it becomes a little touchy for some of us. You see all of the people in here are friends of ours and close friends. As friends face this we hate losing them so when the situation arises to answer a question like this it gets to be close to the heart for us. We don't mean to sound mean, but we are adamant about keeping all of our friends alive for as long as possible. You my friend are a part of us also, you became part of our family here when you signed in, so in that respect we will answer like a brother or a sister and tell you exactly how we feel about what we think might help in saving your life. Please take our advice as you need it, but know that any answer here is from your closest friends and we only think of our brothers and sister best well being....My opinion, do the chemo, why go this far and get off the train before its stopped rolling ?......Your buddy, Buzzard

Buzzard said:

Laureen......
We have all been where you are now so we understand depression, we understand the feelings like loss of control, fear of dying , the relentless thoughts that go on and on about the disease, but we all get through, because we won't let each other down, we do not fail here, we persevere so that others someday will not suffer from this. That is the satisfaction that we take for the mess we go through. Our admiration for you is the same, we all fight the same fight, we all stand behind each other in our fights. Thats what makes us strong. We have plenty of people behind us...Clift

stage 3 a, hmm
chances are there are a few cells already growing in distant places or were dislodged during surgery and will be growing soon. I won't lie and say chemo doesn't suck, but you will get used to feeling bad and then it's not so tough. If I were you, I would definitely look into at least 6 cycles of folfox 6 with avastin. They will probably try to prescribe 12 cycles. You should see how far you can go but do at least six. Six cycles is three months that will pass pretty quickly and you can consider it a trade for the rest of your life.

chemo
I also had a lot of concerns about the chemo. Way more than the surgery. Starting chemo was very emotional and depressing. I am glad to say, however, that I was able to complete 12 rounds of oxy and 5fu with minimal side effects. I can't say that it was great but after finishing it and getting a positive outcome I know that it was worth it. I also know hiow you feel about those closest to us and their inability to understand. That makes it tough, no doubt. But even though my wife didn't seem to get it either I hope that she never does have to understand.

On the other side of the coin?


Western medicine can only offer chemotherapy, radiation, or surgery.
What else can anyone expect to be directed to by their doctor, than
what the doctors are "allowed" to prescribe?

But there isn't one doctor that will guarantee that chemotherapy or radiation
will -absolutely- work, or that it will -not- cause other serious problems.

There are many,many cancer victims that have died from cancer in spite
of taking full courses of radiation, and chemotherapy.

That said.........

There are many, many thousands that have survived many, many
years with cancer, after taking Chemo (or radiation).

There are also many, many thousands that have gone alternate routes,
and have survived as long, or longer than those that have taken chemo.

And as many that have died of cancer, in spite of the alternatives.

I was colon cancer 3c (or 4 depending on the onco). Seven nodes
infected, tumor growth sealing the inside of one part of my colon,
gone through the intestine wall, and into the next colon wall as it
folded back. They took out a tumor the size of your fist, and over
four feet of colon. They gave me a Ileostomy, after their surgical
errors caused me to be reopened after infections.

I didn't want to do Chemo initially, but after long conversations with
oncologists, I was convinced it was absolutely needed for my survival.

Unfortunately, my surgical wounds took so long to heal, that they told
me that Chemo was not likely to work 6 months after initial surgery. It
was less than a 50/50 chance, and the odds just weren't with doing
chemo at that point.

Not knowing what else to do, I studied the alternatives, and took
imported medicinal strength Chinese Herbs in an attempt to kill
cancer cells and build my immune system.

That was just over three years ago. I have been "clean" since.

If I die of cancer, then I will die of cancer.

If I took Chemo, etc., and died, they would say that I gave it my best shot.
If I took Chemo, etc., and lived, they would say I would not be alive if it weren't for the Chemo.

I took herbs - If I die, they'll say I was stupid for not doing Chemo.
If I live, they'll say it's all just sheer luck, since I didn't do Chemo.

If the hypocrisy can't be seen, it's only due to the blindness of fear.

They know how a cancer cell survives and grows, but they just can't
seem to be able to find out how to stop it without killing every other
cell along with it; I find it difficult to believe.

Yet there are other alternatives out there that have been proven to stop
cancer cells from surviving, and without killing all other cells to do so.

If your heart tells you to try something else, you alone should make
that decision. Weigh all the information and statistics, learn as much as
you can about every alternative out there, and try to locate people that
have tried those alternatives.

DO NOT spend BIG money on "cures" offered on the web, or
anywhere else; most alternatives cost very,very little.

Fear is what drives the industry, and it's driven it for a very, very long time.
The industry isn't just comprised of the "alternatives", it's the mainstream
"accepted" health care industry as well.

It's very difficult to not let the fear of dying sway your judgement.
No-one wants to die; no-one wants to have cancer.

On this web site, and many, many others, you will find more that
have taken Chemo and radiation, than anything else. Since they are
still alive to post to forums, they of course give thanks to what
they feel kept them alive.

There are others however, that are also alive, and like myself - -
who are not -absolutely sure- if they can give thanks to the alternative
for their life. But they are alive and did not have to suffer the consequences
of neuropathy, second cancers, or drastic surgery to fix what chemo
or radiation destroyed.

The choice is yours; just don't make it out of fear alone.

Weigh all the choices, all the alternatives, and educate yourself as
best you can. There are alternatives that work.

You only live once.


Good health to you.