quit chemo

Options
geeIwonder
geeIwonder Member Posts: 4
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
I want to quit chemo. I went through 6 sessions of 5fu and leucovorin. I was really sick and I want to quit chemo. Can I????? I am stage IIB with a t3m0n0. What do you guys think?

Comments

  • scouty
    scouty Member Posts: 1,965 Member
    #2
    Options
    Hi there,

    I'm sorry you are having a tough go with the chemo. I quit chemo after 8 months but I was doing Oxiliplatin and Avastin along with the 5FU and Leucovorin. I was also stage IV.

    It was by far the hardest decision I have ever had to make in my life. I changed many things in my lifestyle when I stopped. I completely changed my diet to an all natural/organic one, juiced, took loads of supplements recommended by my Naturopathic Doctor, and got as much stress and negative energy out of my life as I could.

    I also knew I needed to make sure that if the alternative route didn't work out, I would be okay with that. I had to be.

    Trust me, if you have gotten colorectal cancer once and do not make some changes in your lifestyle/diet, it will come back no matter if you do chemo or not!!!!!!!!!! I see it on this board all the time.

    I personally think the cut it out part of the US standard cancer treatment is much more effective then the radiation and chemo route.

    Lisa P.
  • scouty
    scouty Member Posts: 1,965 Member
    #3
    Options
    scouty said:

    Hi there,

    I'm sorry you are having a tough go with the chemo. I quit chemo after 8 months but I was doing Oxiliplatin and Avastin along with the 5FU and Leucovorin. I was also stage IV.

    It was by far the hardest decision I have ever had to make in my life. I changed many things in my lifestyle when I stopped. I completely changed my diet to an all natural/organic one, juiced, took loads of supplements recommended by my Naturopathic Doctor, and got as much stress and negative energy out of my life as I could.

    I also knew I needed to make sure that if the alternative route didn't work out, I would be okay with that. I had to be.

    Trust me, if you have gotten colorectal cancer once and do not make some changes in your lifestyle/diet, it will come back no matter if you do chemo or not!!!!!!!!!! I see it on this board all the time.

    I personally think the cut it out part of the US standard cancer treatment is much more effective then the radiation and chemo route.

    Lisa P.

    PS. I was not NED when I stopped chemo and had not had any cancer surgery. That was Nov 2004 and I am currently NED (no evidence of disease) and my oncologist is really amazed.

    Lisa P.
  • Allen55555
    Allen55555 Member Posts: 15 Member
    #4
    Options
    From the research I have read if you stop 5FU chemo after 6 cycles it is likely to be of litle benefit-the same as never taking any chemo so you will have gone through 6 cycles for nothing. This is for 5FU only and not for folfox or other treatments. Some research shows just doing just 6 cycles of folfox will do some good. All of this research is preliminary and may or may not be valid but it is the best info I have seen.
  • shmurciakova
    shmurciakova Member Posts: 906 Member
    #5
    Options
    I don't really understand what the numbers mean, but if you are Stage II, and no lymph nodes were involved, personally I would not do chemo. However, it is too bad that you already started and went through the 6 sessions. How many times are you supposed to go? I know for me it was something like 24 times all together. I do not know if the chemo actually helped me at all and I still have a watery eye from the 5FU. Of course it is your decision, but if I were only Stage II I am pretty sure I would just quit. What does your doctor say? What % advantage did he say the chemo would give you? You asked if you CAN quit, well of course you can, it is your body!
    -Susan.
  • lfondots63
    lfondots63 Member Posts: 818 Member
    #6
    Options
    Hi Geelwonder,

    I just wanted to say that I stopped my folfox chemo after 9 rounds out of 12. It is a very personal decision. Like Scouty said though I have changed my diet also. I do more veggies and fruits and most times no beef and only a little cheese ( love cheese) I also eat more organic and take supplements. Going to start juicing again since I'm done chemo. I'm going for a second colonoscopy next week since the first one was never completed when they found my tumor. It all comes down to quality of life. The reason I stopped was because of my sugars were out of wack (I'm diabetic) and I have neuropathy in my hands and feet. I just thought I should listen to my body which was saying enough. Since I have stopped my sugars are under control. Now I'm just trying to get the neuropathy to go away. Like it was also said. Talk to your onc to see if he is comfortable with your decision. If you are stage 2 with no nodes, it might be the best decision for you. I am stage 3 one node no metastisis. The reason I'm stage 3 is the one node and that the tumor was in the wall of the colon but not through. Very hard decision and sending good vibes that whatever you decide you chase the beast away!!!

    Lisa F
  • Patrusha
    Patrusha Member Posts: 487
    #7
    Options
    We are in the exact same boat as far as stage, tumor size, lymph nodes and metastases (T3, N0, M0). I would be taking the same chemo regimen as Scouty did (if I decide to do it, that is). That having been said, you can do anything you want to do. It is your body. I like Scouty's thought: we have to be able to live with whatever happens no matter which route we choose. That's a good guiding light to go by.
  • Cis4Cure
    Cis4Cure Member Posts: 6
    #8
    Options
    scouty said:

    Hi there,

    I'm sorry you are having a tough go with the chemo. I quit chemo after 8 months but I was doing Oxiliplatin and Avastin along with the 5FU and Leucovorin. I was also stage IV.

    It was by far the hardest decision I have ever had to make in my life. I changed many things in my lifestyle when I stopped. I completely changed my diet to an all natural/organic one, juiced, took loads of supplements recommended by my Naturopathic Doctor, and got as much stress and negative energy out of my life as I could.

    I also knew I needed to make sure that if the alternative route didn't work out, I would be okay with that. I had to be.

    Trust me, if you have gotten colorectal cancer once and do not make some changes in your lifestyle/diet, it will come back no matter if you do chemo or not!!!!!!!!!! I see it on this board all the time.

    I personally think the cut it out part of the US standard cancer treatment is much more effective then the radiation and chemo route.

    Lisa P.

    Hi. My Mom has recently decided that she no longer wants to do chemo. She was diagnosed with colon cancer about 2 years ago. It later metastacised to her liver, and now it's beginning to show in her lungs. She has undergone 2 major surgeries, chemo, and radiation therapy, all of which have taken alot from her. She's worn out from all of these approaches and is searching for some other therapies that will not be so toxic and yield better results. The cancer is no longer in her colon, nor her liver, but now we have to adress it's presence in her lungs. I came on in hopes to find some suggestions from those of you going through your own battles with cancer, to find out if any of you know, have had experience with, heard of, etc. any successful alternative therapies, clinics, doctors, etc. for stage 4 colon cancer. My mother is an extraordinary woman. I'm not ready to lose her. She's truly a gift to this planet. I would greatly appreciate any suggestions and information you may have to give.
  • geeIwonder
    geeIwonder Member Posts: 4
    #9
    Options
    scouty said:

    PS. I was not NED when I stopped chemo and had not had any cancer surgery. That was Nov 2004 and I am currently NED (no evidence of disease) and my oncologist is really amazed.

    Lisa P.

    I am glad you are ned. keep going!!Positive thoughts.
  • geeIwonder
    geeIwonder Member Posts: 4
    #10
    Options
    shmurciakova said:

    I don't really understand what the numbers mean, but if you are Stage II, and no lymph nodes were involved, personally I would not do chemo. However, it is too bad that you already started and went through the 6 sessions. How many times are you supposed to go? I know for me it was something like 24 times all together. I do not know if the chemo actually helped me at all and I still have a watery eye from the 5FU. Of course it is your decision, but if I were only Stage II I am pretty sure I would just quit. What does your doctor say? What % advantage did he say the chemo would give you? You asked if you CAN quit, well of course you can, it is your body!
    -Susan.

    Hi, I have to do 24 sessions of 5fu. My doctor says keep going. The chemo only gives me a 5% reduction in recurrence. Is it worth the 5%? Does the medical community just want us to do chemo for the money?

Discussion Boards