a/c t/h chemo

Heart Sutra · 04-02-2007, 04:55 PM

Thank you all for being here. Thank you for your kind words and thoughts.

Alaska, Alaska...

No change of position here at all. There may be ever changing alternative therapies in the world of modern medicine, but the alternative treatments of quackery are still kept at a safe distance. We're not willing to go see the Reikki master or acupuncturist, though we don't think badly of anyone who does. We're still not giving quarter where none is due...'nuff said.

Chemotherapy is, as you once described, the medicine that tastes worst. It is a blunt, and somewhat violent, tool. As crude as chemo is, credible studies supporting better valid alternatives are slow to be found if yet at all. We all wish for faster change. It is unfortunate that for now there seems no better option, though certainly there are options galore.

I wrote details of Sue's chemotherapy because we were a little caught by surprise, and maybe her experience will help someone else to not feel alone. She is strong, but I wish she didn't have to be.

To be clear: Although I said that I certainly understand why someone would want to abandon this treatment, I loathe the thought of that being misconstrued as advice to do so.
Sue is here editing me... which as you may well imagine, consists mostly of admonishments

Best of everything to you all

juanita · 04-02-2007, 06:31 PM

My heart goes out to you and I must congratulate you on making it through the ac. That was what I quit because of the severe vomitting that I had with the tac combined. I didn't have the mouth sores like you, but I was really out of it for about two weeks, then would start feeling better in time to go for the next treatment. Herceptin will be a walk in the park compared to what you've been through.

AlaskaAngel · 04-02-2007, 08:33 PM

Heart Sutra,

I'm sorry I misunderstood. I agree that realistic options are today still much more limited for those with higher stage initial diagnosis. But I did not generalize. I limited my comment to those with early diagnosis, who have more reason not to go to extremes out of fear, and who are trying to be strong enough to find their way with tests like Oncotype Dx.

AlaskaAngel

Barbara2 · 04-03-2007, 06:13 AM

I was also very ill with treatment of CEF x 6 (similar to AC minus the "F," Flourouracil). It wasn't dose dense, which maybe would have helped, some. With each treatment I became more severely ill, until treatment # 5...the next day I went into septic shock...the onc told my husband I had a 50-50 chance of survival for that day, or two.

After all that, I insisted on treatment #6. My husband was so fearful, but supported my choice to continue. We decided to use 1/2 of the normal chemo dose. I again ended up in the hospital, but no septic shock this time. My body was covered with blotchy purple everywhere. I asked the nurses what it might be. They had not seen it before.

Looking back, I'm sure it was all the chemicals that were in my body that caused me to turn purple. As awful as the whole experience was, I'm thankful for time that I may have not otherwise had, if I hadn't taken the chemo.

I never had any taxol, but did have 26 months post chemo, herceptin. By then my body had time to heal and life was much more normal again. The herceptin had side effects, but they didn't hold a candle to the chemo.

The govenment has cut back on $$ they will contribute to cancer research, research that could save lives, and instead we are putting that money elsewhere. So, we will continue to wait...but someday we will have more answers for cancer. Until then, we count our blessings for progress and options that we have for now.

Sue, you have been through the worst part...the light at the end of the tunnel is much brighter now. Hold tight...life will slowly get back to normal, at least physically. Get lots of rest and sleep...try to reduce your stress level. As you heal, and you are able to "think" again, you will come to remember how it felt to feel good. Your life will never be the same again because cancer changes how we look at life. Each day will be brighter, and the world will be even more beautiful than before.

Sending healing prayers to you and all who are battling cancer.

suzan w · 04-03-2007, 07:55 AM

I, too, had every listed side effect from A/C, and then some! Could only complete 4 out of the 6 recommended treatments. And decided to opt out of taxol...just could not gear myself up for it! My oncologist supported those decisions as I was early stage and the chemo was more for prevention of distant recurrence (based on oncotype). Now I understand that the oncotype comes back high for most of us Her2 's...I can't second guess my decisions now, made the best choices at the time! Hope you are feeling better now.