chemotherapy success rate? - Chemotherapy Message Board

organicgirl · 03-02-2007, 03:20 PM

My dad is 65 and has several cancers. Lung, skin, lymph..
He was told to start chemo and radiation.

While briefly researching this I read that only 2%-4% of patients are successful in this. Many die from chemotherapy itself. I could post the link, but not sure if that is allowed here.

I have been reading that leaving cancer untreated gives you a better chance of living longer!

Any thoughts or knowledge of this?

rhody · 03-02-2007, 08:54 PM

I think it depends on the type of cancer to know what the success rate is. For me, if the success rate was too low like that, I'd look for alternative treatments. I'm not saying that they would work, but I'd look for them, just the same. In rare cases, some people have claimed to have cured themselves with nutrition and herbal remedies and so forth...like the woman doctor that had a huge lump in her chest. To be cured like that, a person would have to very aggressive on changing to a completely positive lifestyle as much as possible.

eblguim · 03-03-2007, 07:19 AM

I second rhody.
If the rate of success of certain chemos is really low, I would look to other alternatives.
My husband was "unofficially" diagnosed with metastatic cancer to the lungs, from the cancer he had in the kidney 11 years ago.
When the CT results came back he said he would not proceed with more tests since he would not take any chemo or radiation because the prognosis is really not good at all, so he actually didn't have the biopsy done.
Well, this was in the begining of November and right now he is doing really well, and has no symptoms.
I give him Jin Shin Jyutsu sessions about 4 times per week (that is acupressure).
I also agree with rhody, that to go for alternative treatments one have to be 150% into them. Just doing a little here and there does not work. (BTW my husband decided he is not doing any alternative anything besides the acupressure).
I met a woman at the Optimum Health Institute, Lemom Grove, Ca, about 10years ago that had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, stage 4 and was given maximum 4 weeks. Well, when I met her she was cancer free and it was 2 years after the diagnosis. But.... she had spent all that time devoted to the alternative treatments, she had no other commitments or activities.

organicgirl · 03-03-2007, 09:07 AM

If I was diagnosed I know I would totally change my lifestyle. exercise, eat extremely well etc. And look into other ways of treatment.

My dad being 'old school'.. just listens to the doctors and assumes they know best. I just hate to sit back and watch him suffer through chemo then die shortly after.

I do know this for sure! Cancer Sucks!

canadadiva · 03-04-2007, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by organicgirl

My dad is 65 and has several cancers. Lung, skin, lymph..
He was told to start chemo and radiation.

While briefly researching this I read that only 2%-4% of patients are successful in this. Many die from chemotherapy itself. I could post the link, but not sure if that is allowed here.

I have been reading that leaving cancer untreated gives you a better chance of living longer!

Any thoughts or knowledge of this?

What is your dads primary cancer? I think that needs to look at and the type of chemo he is getting. I don't think its necessarily the chemo that kills people, although there are some chemo's that people can have severe reactions to. Its more the side effects of the chemo such as neutropenia (knock out immune system, can pick up infections easy). As far as the stats, you never know, everybodies responds differently to treatments, and there is no reason why your dad can't be one of the lucky ones. It really depends on the type of cancer and treatment, but yes sometimes getting the chemo can lead to other problems and decrease quality of life and possibly shorten the life. While not having chemo and living the last days to the fullest being comfortable is also a possibility. But we don't know the future and hope is so important. Its important for the cancer patient to weigh the risks/benefits and the stage of disease and treatment available. I have seen people who have a less than %10 chance of survival go home and are still well years later. But then of course is the other end of the spectrum. Good luck to your dad, I hope things work out for him.