Frequently Asked Questions About Chemotherapy

In My Humble Opinion...(Note: This is plainly my opinion & not someonelse's)

As of this writing, I lost three friends who took chemotherapy. =c(Died As of July 01, 2008)

I wrote this because I want to help and enlighten others about chemotherapy. I believe that we have to be informed about the effects of this treatment. We may never use some of the facts written here but our friends and some loved ones who plan to take the treatment will benefit from what we have learned if we share this little piece of information to them. So please spread the word.

I decided to do some research regarding this matter, not to mention that I've LOST loved ones who have undergone chemotherapy. Because of what happened, I am driven to help other individuals anyway, anyhow. I know I am not an expert and I am not knowledgeable about some things about "chemo" but I want to share these valuable information I've found. It seems true to me and for other cancer survivors who survived without undergoing chemotherapy. Although we all know that healing varies from person to person, it is still better to try other options before committing ourselves to the "hassles" of chemotherapy. The article below will discuss to you the importance of getting a second opinion. Nobody's perfect and getting a second opinion won't hurt. Getting various of opinions may leave a dent in your wallet because of the high consultation fees, but hey, this your life and you've only got one life which is deemed IRREPLACEABLE.

In rare cases where some individuals took the chemo risk, very few are reported to have survived the chemotherapy battle. One reason would be their very strong immune system and another reason is the early detection of their cancerous cells. But this is rare because most people who have undergone the treatment did not get the expected results. The life of the patient is prolonged but there is NO ASSURANCE that the cancer will be cured. And what can you say about some healthbuffs who have undergone chemo but DIED a year after?! Just because you're healthy doesn't mean that you're on the safe track! We're all at risk! Even the health of healthiest person can deteriorate after several sessions of chemotherapy! See, there are no guarantees.In chemotherapy, the cancer cells are killed but some of the good cells are also killed as well. Thus,the immune system weakens and the body suffers the undesirable effects of chemotherapy. Sad to say, many lives are at stake and most of the people who tried this treatment died. If I am the cancer patient, I would find several solutions first, like taking herbal supplements. No matter what you do, you're still taking risks. As for me, I'd risk my life taking herbal supplements first before plunging myself into the ocean and madness chemotherapy.

Up to this point of time, experts around the world are still studying and experimenting stuff that will cure cancers and other deadly diseases. So, the best way to avoid certain cancers is to prevent it. As the old adage goes, "Prevention is better than cure." I still believe that there are miracles but miracles are bound to happen if we have an able mind to make sound decisions and better judgment before taking any kind of treatment to cure our sickness.

For those of you who want to live a healthy lifestyle and want to help our cancer-stricken brothers and sisters, please send me a message including your contact information. I am currently involved in E-Excel Philippines, Amega Global and Nikken (sideline). These are companies helping people live life to the fullest by creating HEALTH & WELLNESS products. Seminars and product demonstrations are provided, no fees charged, all for free! Rest assured that your needs will be met and your concerns answered! My good entrepreneur friends are the speakers and they will accomodate you accordingly and explain every detail you have to know about HEALTHY and WEALTHY living. =D

Need a great evidence? I have colleagues and some friends who survived cancer without undergoing the treatment. They'd be very happy to tell you about their miraculous healing. =D Feel free to contact me for an appointment.üAnyway, here goes the recap of my so-called chemo research: ~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~

Benefits and disadvantages of chemotherapy

Many people are concerned about having chemotherapy, because of the side effects that can occur. However, side effects can often be well controlled with medicines, and some people have only a few side effects. Some people ask what would happen if they did not have the treatment. Treatment can be given for different reasons and the potential benefits will vary depending upon the individual situation.In people with early cancer, surgery is often done with the aim of curing the cancer and chemotherapy may be given to reduce the risks of it coming back. It is helpful to discuss with your cancer specialist how much the chemotherapy may reduce the chance of the cancer coming back in your particular situation.If the cancer is at a more advanced stage, the aim of treatment may be to control the cancer. This can lead to a reduction in symptoms, a better quality of life, and it can possibly prolong life. However, for some people the treatment will have no effect upon the cancer and they will get the side effects without any of the benefit. If you choose not to have treatment in this situation, you can still be given supportive (palliative) care, with medicines to control any symptoms.The decision about whether to have chemotherapy treatment can be a difficult one and you may need to discuss it in detail with your doctor. The nurses at Cancerbackup can also discuss the benefits and disadvantages with you.The treatment can be physically exhausting for the patient. Current chemotherapeutic techniques have a range of side effects mainly affecting the fast-dividing cells of the body. Important common side-effects include (dependent on the agent):Pain Nausea and vomiting Diarrhea or constipation Anemia Malnutrition Hair loss Memory loss Depression of the immune system, hence (potentially lethal) infections and sepsis Weight loss or gain Hemorrhage Secondary neoplasms Cardiotoxicity Hepatotoxicity Nephrotoxicity Ototoxicity Other side effectsIn particularly large tumors, such as large lymphomas, some patients develop tumor lysis syndrome from the rapid breakdown of malignant cells. Although prophylaxis is available and is often initiated in patients with large tumors, this is a dangerous side-effect which can lead to death if left untreated.A proportion of patients report fatigue or non-specific neurocognitive problems, such as an inability to concentrate; this is sometimes called post-chemotherapy cognitive impairment, colloquially referred to as "chemo brain" by patients' groups.Specific chemotherapeutic agents are associated with organ-specific toxicities, including cardiovascular disease (e.g., doxorubicin), interstitial lung disease (e.g., bleomycin) and occasionally secondary neoplasm (e.g. MOPP therapy for Hodgkin's disease.The advantages-It kills the cancer cells. It cannot distinguish between good cells and bad cells. It also destroys the good body cells. Results in hairloss, skin deformity, weight loss, too painful etc. Avoid if you can. There are some herbal supplements to nullify the side effects of chemo.Can destroy cancer cells after a surgeon removes the bulk of a tumor. Can buy you time even if cancer isn't curable. Can give you peace of mind after surgery.Disadvantages-Sometimes it feels worse than the cancer did.Makes you sick sick sick.Can kill you Can leave you vulnerable to nasty infections.Get A Second OpinionI cannot stress this enough. Get a second opinion from a specialist before you do anything else. Do not be afraid to take the time to do this. Do not be afraid to tell your doctor that you want a second opinion. This is your life we are talking about! People - doctors - make mistakes, and no doctor knows everything there is to know about treating cancer. Getting input from several doctors (specialists) will only help you in the long run. Do NOT begin chemotherapy before getting a second opinion. Make A List of Questions To Ask Your DoctorBefore you begin chemotherapy treatment, make a list of questions to ask your doctor so that you can be fully aware of what to expect. Here is a list of questions to get you started: What drugs will I be administered? How will they be administered? Where do I need to go to get my chemotherapy treatment? Is the place known for treating cancer? Is it a specialty at this facility? How many treatments will I need? What's the expected plan? How long will the rest periods in between last? What side effects should I expect? Will I lose my hair? How far into the treatments before these side effects will begin? How long after treatment ends will the side effects cease? How will you help me to deal with the side effects? Will I be able to work during treatment? If not, how soon after treatment ends will I be able to return to work? What do I need to do to care for myself during and between treatments? How will I know if something is wrong and that I need to seek medical care? What warning signs should I look for that indicate something is wrong? What happens if this treatment is ineffective? What other treatment options are available to me? Will I need someone to care for me either full- or part-time during my treatment? If so, can you recommend someone? Will my insurance cover this? Can I visit the place where my chemotherapy treatment will take place before the treatment begins? Get Your Teeth CleanedMany patients experience oral problems during chemotherapy treatment because the chemotherapy causes irritation, sores, and infection in the lining of the mouth. Get your teeth cleaned and have your dentist resolve any oral issues before starting chemotherapy. See A NutritionistIt's best to do this before your chemotherapy starts because you may not feel up to it later. A nutritionist will help you to maintain a healthy body weight and give you guidance about what vitamins and minerals will help you to stay healthy during and after chemotherapy. The Nutritionist will continue to give you guidance after chemotherapy to help you heal and physically recover from the stresses of chemotherapy. Why Do I Need A Second Opinion?Getting a second opinion allows you to not only confirm the diagnosis, but also to get a different perspective on your treatment options. Some doctors are more conservative and others more aggressive. There may be good arguments for several different options. By getting a second opinion, you get to hear all of your options. It is also possible that another doctor might come up with a completely different and more promising option - one that your first doctor didn't think of, or didn't know about. No doctor can know everything or make the right decision all the time. A second opinion can also serve as a quality check - to make sure you're really getting the most current and most effective treatment. When Should I Get A Second Opinion?There is no straight forward answer for when you need a second opinion. You should evaluate your situation to determine what is best for you. The information provided in this article addresses many of the common situations encountered by newly diagnosed patients. It will give you guidance for determining if you need a second opinion. My Doctor told me there is no beneficial treatments for me. So Why Should I Get A Second Opinion?Many times patients are told there's no hope and that no further treatment exists that would be beneficial. So, what do you have to lose by getting a second opinion? Sometimes tumors deemed inoperable by one surgeon are found to be operable by another. Sometimes close examination of the case could change the diagnosis from one kind of cancer to another, more treatable type. Sometimes another doctor will know of a promising treatment that the first one didn't know about. All of these things have and continue to happen. My Doctor Said My Cancer is "Borderline" and I Probably Don't Need Treatment At This Time, So Why Should I Get A Second Opinion?If you're hearing words such as "almost", "possible", "probably", "maybe", "chances", "unlikely", etc., you should, most definitely, get a second opinion. For instance, if your doctor says, "Your tumor is probably inoperable, and the chances of removing all of the cancer are unlikely", get a second opinion. Or, more obvious (and yes, it does happen) if your doctor suggests a treatment that just sounds "off the wall" to you, get a second opinion. For instance, if your doctor says "All the cancer in your bladder is gone, but I think we should remove your bladder anyway", get a second opinion. Conversely, if your doctor suggests "waiting" to see what happens, get a second opinion. Some cancers grow very fast. If you wait too long, you may find that it's now too late. I Live In A Rural Area Where Expertise is Scarce. Should I Get A Second Opinion?If you live in a rural area and get treatment at a small hospital, it may be beneficial to get a second opinion from a doctor at a major hospital. Source: Internet