Why is it important to talk to your doctor about cancer?
Talking with your doctor and cancer care team, and trusting them to be honest, open, and supportive, is very important. You will have more confidence in treatment decisions if you trust the doctors making recommendations. This means communication is a key part of your care, from diagnosis throughout treatment and beyond.
Do cancer patients really need more treatment?
This tells us that the perceptions and fears associated with a cancer diagnosis may lead reasonable people to opt for more treatment, even if they are reassured that it is possible to watch and wait and that they may never need treatment.
How do you tell your doctor you want to stop cancer treatment?
Talk to Your Doctor “First and foremost, if a patient is considering stopping their cancer treatment, they need to have a discussion with their primary oncologist,” Bialer says. Some questions you can ask your doctor are: How is my cancer responding (or not responding) to my current treatment?
Why might a person decline treatment for cancer?
There are many reasons why a person might decline treatment. In the 1960s, film actress Joan Crawford refused treatment for her pancreatic cancer because of her faith as a Christian Scientist. Countless others have declined treatment because it was ineffective for them, or the benefits simply didn’t outweigh the drawbacks.
Why are some cancer treatments ineffective?
Resistance can occur when cancer cells—even a small group of cells within a tumor—contain molecular changes that make them insensitive to a particular drug before treatment even begins. Because cancer cells within the same tumor often have a variety of molecular changes, this so-called intrinsic resistance is common.
Do people choose not to treat cancer?
You don't have to have treatment. People with very advanced cancers sometimes find they'd rather treat the pain and other side effects of their cancer so that they can make the best of the time they have remaining. If you choose not to be treated, you can always change your mind.
When is chemo not recommended?
Your oncologist may recommend avoiding chemotherapy if your body is not healthy enough to withstand chemotherapy or if there is a more effective treatment available.
Can cancer patients be denied treatment?
Even if the provider is in-network, your cancer treatment may nonetheless be denied if it is deemed to be “experimental” or not “medically necessary.” This article will address some of the common reasons cancer treatment is denied, and what you can do to protect yourself (and your family) from unforeseen medical bills.
When do doctors decide not to treat cancer?
If the cancer cannot be cured If a cure is not possible and treatment aims to control the cancer, it may be difficult to decide whether to go ahead. If the cancer is advanced and has spread to other parts of the body, treatment may be able to control it, improving symptoms and quality of life.
What happens if you let cancer go untreated?
For some people, the cancer can't be controlled anymore and spreads to healthy tissues and organs. Cancer cells take up the needed space and nutrients that the healthy organs would use. As a result, the healthy organs can no longer function. For other people, complications from treatment can cause death.
Why do oncologists push chemo?
An oncologist may recommend chemotherapy before and/or after another treatment. For example, in a patient with breast cancer, chemotherapy may be used before surgery, to try to shrink the tumor. The same patient may benefit from chemotherapy after surgery to try to destroy remaining cancer cells.
Do oncologists lie about prognosis?
Many have fulminated against oncologists who lie to patients about their prognoses, but sometimes cancer doctors lie for or with patients to improve our chances of survival.
Does chemo do more harm than good?
Holly Prigerson Treating terminally ill cancer patients with chemotherapy in the months or weeks before their deaths was not found to improve patients' quality of life and may actually do more harm than good, according to a new study led by Weill Cornell Medical College investigators.
Can you be forced to have cancer treatment?
The answer is yes—sometimes. Physicians may administer cancer therapy without consent under some circumstances. Yet this is always a last resort option, used only after clinicians have exhausted the possibility of obtaining treatment consent.
Why would a patient refuse treatment?
Explore Reasons Behind Refusal Patients may refuse treatments for many reasons, including financial concerns, fear, misinformation, and personal values and beliefs. Exploring these reasons with the patient may reveal a solution or a different approach.
Can you survive cancer without chemo?
It found that low-risk patients did well without chemotherapy. That study showed the test could select a cohort of patients with a 99 percent chance of five-year survival without distant metastasis. For those women, the risks of chemotherapy aren't justifiable.
What is the importance of preparing for the end of your life?
That means getting important documents together, and storing them with a lawyer or in a safe deposit box. That might include insurance records, bank statements, trusts, and a will.
Why did Joan Crawford refuse treatment?
In the 1960s, film actress Joan Crawford refused treatment for her pancreatic cancer because of her faith as a Christian Scientist.
Can cancer be cured?
It’s not the easiest thing in the world to come to grips with, but not all cancer cases can be cured. Sometimes, cancer progresses to a point where it can’t be treated, and sometimes treatment simply stops working. Even when treatment may extend a person’s life, some people find that the side effects of that treatment makes life unbearable.
Is refusing cancer treatment a medical decision?
That’s why it’s important to recognize that refusing cancer treatment is not only a medical decision, but a personal decision, as well.
Why is it important to hear the word "cancer"?
This is important because cancer treatment poses many risks for individuals, not the least of which are treatment-related side effects and long-term effects.
Why do people with slow growing tumors feel the need to act?
This is because the word “cancer” makes the diagnosis feel urgent, and it is hard to feel like one is "doing nothing.".
Can prostate cancer cause shortening of life?
In addition, we know that some cancers, such as prostate cancer, may not cause a person any serious harm or even shorten their lives if they are left untreated. The researchers in this study presented an imaginary scenario to volunteers using a web-based survey.
Can cancer be treated?
The researchers found that using the "cancer" label led many people to choose surgery. This tells us that the perceptions and fears associated with a cancer diagnosis may lead reasonable people to opt for more treatment, even if they are reassu red that it is possible to watch and wait and that they may never need treatment.
How to trust your doctor about cancer?
Trusting your cancer care team. Talking with your doctor and cancer care team, and trusting them to be honest, open, and supportive, is very important. You will have more confidence in treatment decisions if you trust the doctors making recommendations. This means communication is a key part of your care, from diagnosis throughout treatment ...
What happens if cancer stops working?
Or maybe one type of cancer treatment has stopped working and the cancer has kept growing. If this happens, your doctor might say your cancer has advanced or progressed. There may or may not be other treatment options. But when many different treatments have been tried and are no longer controlling the cancer, it could be time to weigh ...
How to talk to your loved ones about cancer?
Talking with your loved ones. Be open with your loved ones about your cancer and the news you've been given. Explore their thoughts, feelings, and suggestions. Talk to them about the options you have been given, along with the decisions you have made or are thinking of making. If you feel you need their input, ask.
Is there hope for a life without cancer?
Staying hopeful. Your hope for a life without cancer might not be as bright, but there is still hope for good times with family and friends – times that are filled with happiness and meaning. Pausing at this time in your cancer treatment gives you a chance to refocus on the most important things in your life.
Can cancer shrink?
If you have cancer that keeps growing or comes back after one kind of treatment, it’s possible that another treatment might still help shrink the cancer, or at least keep it in check enough to help you live longer and feel better. Clinical trials also might offer chances to try newer treatments that could be helpful.
Can you get a second opinion on cancer?
When faced with deciding whether to continue cancer treatment, some patients or their loved ones may want to get a second opinion. Even when you place full trust in your doctor and cancer care team, you might wonder if another doctor could offer something else or more information. It's normal to think about talking to someone else, and your doctor should support you if you decide to get another opinion. Remember that your cancer care team wants you to be sure about the decisions you make. You can read more in Seeking a Second Opinion.
Does cancer stop working?
If Cancer Treatments Stop Working. Cancer treatments can help stop cancer from growing or spreading. But sometimes treatment does not work well or stops working. Maybe treatment ended a while ago and was successful at first, but cancer has come back. Or maybe one type of cancer treatment has stopped working and the cancer has kept growing.
Why did Kate Granger have chemo?
Kate Granger was diagnosed with terminal cancer aged 29 and chose to have palliative chemotherapy to prolong her life. Palliative chemotherapy is primarily meant to relieve symptoms, such as pain, but it can also prolong life. (posed by a model) Photograph: Alamy.
Is breast cancer curative?
For some cancers, such as breast, it is often given as a treatment alongside other therapies to increase the chance of cure. For other cancers, including some forms of leukaemia, it can indeed be curative in itself. Then there is the palliative approach, where the primary intent is to relieve symptoms such as pain.
Can chemotherapy prolong life?
However, as chemotherapy effectiveness has advanced over the years the lines between relieving symptoms and prolonging life have become blurred in the palliative situation. When it comes to decision making, this can muddy the waters, as the patient's primary intent may be life prolongation or, in some circumstances, ...
What happens after you stop cancer treatment?
For instance, after you stop treatment, a new drug may come to the market, a clinical trial could open, or you may hear of a doctor who has a new way of treating the cancer you have. If so, you can always decide to start treatment again. No matter what you choose, your health care team can provide emotional and physical comfort and care along ...
What to do if you are depressed?
If you’re depressed, you may lose focus on your goals. Before you decide, speak to a counselor, ask your doctor about starting depression medication, or both. Look at other options. Some people like to exhaust all possible avenues for treatment before they make up their mind.
What kind of cancer did Demarsh have?
DeMarsh quickly visited an oncologist near her home for her new symptoms. Her doctor diagnosed her with inflammatory breast cancer, a fast-moving disease that’s usually caught in late stages. But her doctor’s next comment left her just as shaken as her diagnosis did.
How much does DeMarsh spend on her breast cancer treatment?
But she still spends about $7,000 out of pocket every year. Her medications and injections costs about $50,000 a month. Most of that is covered by her insurer and the drugmakers’ copay assistance programs. DeMarsh advises other women who learn that they have breast cancer to trust their instincts.
Did DeMarsh's double mastectomy heal?
The following year, DeMarsh noticed that the wound from her double mastectomy didn’t heal. Her surgeon believed the hardness in DeMarsh’s chest was probably undissolved stitches and didn’t require immediate treatment. Later, DeMarsh’s oncologist ran tests that found cancer in the wound.
Can oncologists shop around too long?
Schapira says in such cases, most oncologists are quick to try or at least accept new approaches. But when swift treatment is needed, shopping around too long may harm your health. The doctors “want to get it right, and they realize they have one chance to get the cancer treated properly,” Schapira says.
Can you switch doctors halfway through treatment?
Switching doctors can be tricky if you’ve already started your treatment. But even if you’re halfway through your therapy , you may have good reasons to want to try something else or just take a pause if you have a long-term illness like cancer.
Did Lynne DeMarsh have cancer?
Lynne DeMarsh woke one morning in 2017 with pain and discharge from one nipple. A decade earlier, the Rockledge, FL, resident had had a lumpectomy and radiation therapy for triple-negative breast cancer. But she had been healthy ever since.
How do oncologists make money?
Most oncologists don't make their money by treating patients, but by selling cancer drugs. In fact, according to the Journal of the American Medical Association, as much as 75% of the average oncologist's earnings come from selling chemotherapy drugs in his or her office -- and at a substantially marked-up price.
How much does a mammogram increase the risk of breast cancer?
This is because mammograms can actually INCREASE a woman's risk of developing breast cancer by as much as 3% a year by irradiating the breast cells and triggering breast cancer. Modern cancer treatments = the "Dark Ages" of medicineIn the documentary, Cancer is Curable, available on NaturalNews ...
Is cancer a cover up?
The treatment of cancer in the U.S. is one of the most bald-faced cover-ups in medical history. Enough is enough! You deserve to know the truth about the criminality of oncologists and about the dangers of chemotherapy, conventional cancer treatments and the cancer "business.". Chemotherapy kills more than cancer.
Is chemotherapy effective for cancer?
A 14-year study by two oncologists in Australia reported in the film "A Shocking Look at Cancer Studies" that conventional treatment such as chemotherapy for all of our major cancers is totally ineffective -- far below a 10% success rate. Chemotherapy is a barbaric and pointless procedure.
Do oncologists bully patients?
Many oncologists are criminals and bullies, not doctorsOncologists not only bully patients into taking the destructive route of chemotherapy, toxic drugs and surgery, but they also don't tell their patients the whole truth about the danger of these treatments, other available options, cancer survival.
Is there proof of mastectomy?
He also calls the conventional approach to cancer treatment "medieval.". Statistics show that there is no proof preventive mastectomy -- removal of the whole breast -- extends the life of breast cancer patients, yet oncologists go right on doing it on a regular basis.
Is CT scan radiation dangerous?
CT scans, or computed tomographies, are a common testing procedure for most cancer types, but the irony is that this CT scan radiation is highly dangerous and can lead to cancer itself.