Chemotherapy Ineffective 97% of The Time

Puffin2014 said:

old data

I don't think I'd put too much credence to a study published 13 years ago on treatments that were done 18 years ago.

Treatment has changed since I had chemo 6 years ago in 2010...the data is old, I wouldn't waste time even reading the article. There is so much mis-information on the internet it can be a very scary place to visit!

KathyLQ said:

I advocate that a patient

I advocate that a patient should do a lot of their own research.  My experience, in listening to women in breast cancer support groups, is that they don't.

I did tons of research, and choose no chemo.   My decision is not a recommendation to others.   However, this is an open forum, and I do believe those like myself should post here, as well as anyone else wishes to.

Doctors are allowed to 'make money' on chemo, as reported by NBC and others.  Google it.   I think that is a conflict of interest.

Here's some MDs who talk about when chemo is effective, and when better nutrition is very important.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLV4molpUy4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aTg-Ltu6C_I

Although this is not a study about breast cancer, here is a study which found, for lung cancer, an immunotherapy drug was more effective than chemotherapy in most patients with advanced lung cancer.  https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/12/151219144929.htm

And this doctor, Dr. Nicholas Gonzalez, gives a real good history of chemotherapy, and how chemotherapy is mostly effective on the same cancers today as they were shortly after they were developed in the late 40's.    

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24YkS4bwHvs

He says the blood related cancers respond the best to chemo, and the typical solid tumors (lung, colon, prostate, pancreatic, breast cancer) do not respond well to chemo.   These later cancers kill hundreds of thousands a year.   

The goal of this man, is to be a healer.   For me, 5+ years after my diagnosis, this man tells me the truth about cancer treatments.

I know I'm somewhat unique in that I did research.   After my initial diagnosis, one radiologist I had an interview with, realized I wanted 'facts', and he lent me a recent copy of his medical 'bible' on breast cancer and radiation, told me to take it home and return it when I was ready.   It was 3 inches thick, I had it about 3 weeks.   He realized I felt radiation on my chest wall after a full masectomy, was more likely to produce addtitional cancers later in life, than any good it would do in 2010.

 

 

 

 

Dear Kathy, I am a firm believer in chemo and radiation and never hesitated to do both. Of course, it's true that this is an open forum but I'm not agreeing with your posting actual links. I wouldn't do that about traditional medicine either. The problem is that, yes, doctors make large sums of money and further their careers with cancer, but there are even MORE snake oil salesmen out there, waiting to con people. In my internet searches (and I agree with you that patients should be pro-active and ask for second or third opinions), I have noticed that there are ALWAYS more flaky "alternative" options than there are from reputable sources. I would be interested indeed if you could prove to me that any of your sources are making no money whatsoever on what they are pushing. How can you believe them? A quick internet search of your Dr. Gonzales shows him plugging a number of treatments/books etc. Anyway, I'm thrilled you are cancer free and wish you all the best, Anna

KathyLQ said:

If you're a believer in chemo

If you're a believer in chemo and radiation, you should use them.   If you're not or your not sure, and you want to know what all of your options are, you'll be the type of person who likes doing research and doesn't just accept a treatment plan from an oncologist without questioning the outcomes.

button2, in one swoop you've tried to define Dr. Gonzales as flaky without doing any research.   Why be so negative about someone writing a book?   Do you have another better method for a person to document their successes?   I mean, do you want them to just stand on the streetcorner and yell?   Do you think everyone writes books because they're trying simply to sell their books?   Or is there a possibility that some people write books to make knowledge available to many?

What I find as discouraging, is individuals who post here, and say NOTHING about good health practices, nothing about changing the diet to boost the body's immune system, nothing about supplements which are proven to boost the body's immune system.

I am in the later, I believe that an essential good diet is necessary for good health.

Our own opinions, and that we are respectful even if we dont agree.  I do like that Kathy is putting up the links so we can read where her info is coming from.  I was first dx'd 14 plus years ago.  I did, chemo, no rads, and tamoxifen until it became toxic to my system.  8-9 yrs later dx'd stage iv.  Same onco did Tamoxifen again,  5 months toxic again to my system, this was 2010.   Did rads, and chemo, which was not effective, so on to another, and on and on.   GOT liver lesions while on chemo,  one was effective on the lesions. After 2 1/2 years of weekly chemo, I got clots.  Then emboli to lungs.  Onco decided no more chemo.  I  got a 2nd opinion at onset of stage iv dx.  That chemo and Tamoxifen was what the 2nd opinion also said because I had both bone mets and soft tumor lesions (like breast lumps on arms and back), skin lesions were gone fast, bone mests never slowed.  e

When I GOT blood clots, onco decided no more treatment, it was time for hospice, so after 13 years i went to a different onco at our other cancer center.  His first assessment was, overtreated with chemo, undertreated with hormone blockers.  He flat out said, no chemo, i am putting you on Femara.  I was on it for a month, then switched to Aromason.  My tumor markers dropped from 530 to 24.  It was the first time thru all of this that I was stable!  He flat out said, chemo is not effective on bone mets!

I asked why did he continue the chemo when it was clearly not effective?  The new doctor had worked doing both research and clinical at the National Institute of Health, specializing in breast cancer.  I asked if my previous onco would not know that chemo Is Berry seldom effective on bone mets with Bc bcuz he treated all cancers, ne said no.  It has been known for years, could it be financial? As the push for ending all treatments and starting hospice started 3 years ago, when my insurance was no longer primary, medicare kicked in. I am still alive, and still not ready for hospice.  In a lot of pain, and at this time out of options to extend my life, but waiting for approval for a pain pump so I can function better, on less pain Meds.

 It has been very hard believing my orig onco treated me with financial gain as a motivator as I thought He was the greatest.  Saw changes when Medicare kicked in.  I felt as though i became a number.  I questioned why I was not on hormone blockers, why he wanted to do more chemo when the pain was increasing and the tumors were growing so aggresively?   I learned I am my own best advocate.  I question my new onco, He too. Cast figure out why with the treatment from my old onco, but so many that i am seeing now left because he changed.  I asked my new doc if it was financial, he just said he does not treat based on money, that he isnt an owner.  And, I stilll like my first onco, i dont want to believe it was financil, and he said he had nothing left to treat me with so It was time for a new doctor.  

 I believe that i am here because of the chemo in 2002, along with changing my diet, reducing my stress level, exercizing, my beliefs, and my will to live, and my sense of humor.  I think some doctors are working for organizaations that push them to "sell more", or push them to see too many patients, where they are unable to give their best.

We all have choices, with how aggressive triple negative is, i would be afraid not to do chemo!  However we all make our own decioions, and I accept and respect your choice.  That is one thing I like about this site.  We can express our opinions and beliefs, we have to be respectful though of others.  That does not mean We have to agree.