And if untreated, breast cancer universally becomes a fatal disease. It can happen over long periods of time, but if you don't have surgery and if you don't have other treatments, it doesn't go away on its own. That's why we recommend (to) people that they get appropriate medical treatment.
Full Answer
What happens if you don’t have cancer?
If you don’t ACTUALLY have cancer (someone made a misdiagnosis) and you undergo cancer treatment, you have been given the expense, the inconvenience, the discomfort, the complications, and the risks (even rarely of dying) for no reason at all. , Retired general internist, former intensive care physician.
What happens when you stop treatment for cancer?
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.
Why do some people choose not to have cancer treatment?
Others choose no cancer treatment because of a short life expectancy or other serious medical problems. They may feel that the risks or side effects of cancer treatment (like surgery and radiation) outweigh their potential benefits.
What are the risks of cancer treatment?
Cancer treatment is very difficult, risky and can even occasionally cause death. In the case of cancer, these risks are justified because untreated cancer generally leads to death, and the treatments can often prolong life, mitigate pain and other problems from the cancer, and even cure quite a few people with cancer.
Can you live with cancer without treatment?
More than half of lung cancer patients will die within one year of diagnosis even with treatment. Without treatment, patients may die even sooner. For any hope of survival, medical or surgical treatment is necessary.
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.
Can I 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.
Can your body fight cancer on its own?
Cancer is traditionally treated with surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. But a number of studies in recent years have demonstrated that our own body might be able to fight the disease, using the immune system to target and kill cancer cells. Immune system cells circulate the body like police officers on patrol.
How long can you live with Stage 4 cancer and no treatment?
Patients diagnosed in stage 4 who decide against treatment live an average of 6 months. In contrast, those diagnosed with stage 1A disease who elect no treatment live an average of two years.
How fast do cancer stages progress?
Scientists have found that for most breast and bowel cancers, the tumours begin to grow around ten years before they're detected. And for prostate cancer, tumours can be many decades old. “They've estimated that one tumour was 40 years old. Sometimes the growth can be really slow,” says Graham.
How can I fight cancer without chemotherapy?
5 Cancer Treatments That Aren't ChemotherapyTreatment 1: Surgery. ... Treatment 2: Immunotherapy. ... Treatment 3: Targeted therapies. ... Treatment 4: Active surveillance. ... Treatment 5: Supportive care.
How many women refused breast cancer surgery?
It compared patients who refused breast cancer with those that those that accepted surgery. Only 1.3% of women (70) refused surgery. Of that group, 37 had no treatment, 25 had hormone-therapy only, and 8 had other types of treatments.
How long does breast cancer last?
(An old study of untreated breast cancer suggest the 5 year survival rates are 18% at 5 years and 3.6% at 10 years.)
Is CAM a substitute for medicine?
Surveys suggest the vast majority of consumers with medical conditions use CAM in addition to, rather than as a substitute for medicine – that is, it is truly “complementary”. But there is a smaller population that uses CAM as a true “alternative” to medicine.
Can you opt out of follow up on cancer?
Most patients who decide to opt-out of cancer treatment, also opt-out of any follow-up evaluation. So tracking down patients, and their outcomes, is essential. The effects of treatment refusals and delay, and the effectiveness of CAM as a substitute, has been evaluated in several groups of patients with breast cancer.
Is it reasonable to say no to palliative care?
Saying “ no” may also be reasonable where the benefits from treatment are expected to be modest, yet the adverse effects from treatments are substantial. These scenarios are not uncommon in the palliative care setting.
Is treatment without risk?
No treatment is without some sort of risk. And a decision to decline treatment has its own risks. One of the challenges that I confront regularly as a pharmacist is helping patients understand a medication’s expected long-term benefits against the risks and side effects of treatment.
Is breast cancer curable?
Breast cancer is well studied, frequently diagnosed, and if detected early, potentially curable. Conventional treatment for early (localized) breast cancer is surgical resection of the tumor, followed by radiation and chemotherapy to reduce the risk of disease recurrence, by killing any residual cancer cells that remain.
What happens when you die from cancer?
The most frequent outcome when cancer patients die is that whatever pain they have is controlled with narcotics and or sedatives. There often comes a point in poorly treatable cancer situations that the treatment is as bad or worse than the disease.
Why do people decline chemotherapy?
Many patients decline chemotherapy for low odds of benefit especially if they have gotten very weak or have other symptoms that make their quality of life very poor. This question originally appeared on Quora - the place to gain and share knowledge, empowering people to learn from others and better understand the world.
Can cancer be treated with radiation?
Cancers metastatic to bone are often painful but in some cases the discomfort is mild or more severe pain can be relieved with radiation therapy. There are specialists who assist in managing ...
Is pancreatic cancer bad for you?
Some cancers are more associated with pain than others. Pancreatic cancer can be particularly bad when it grows into nerves near the back of the pancreas. But I’ve had many patients with pancreatic cancer where pain wasn’t a problem. Instead, like many other patients with advanced cancers, they became weaker and more frail as their cancer worsened, ...
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.".
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.
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.
Why do men not undergo cancer treatment?
Others men may choose to not undergo cancer treatment because of a short life expectancy or other serious medical problems.
Can prostate cancer be treated?
The disease is easiest to treat while it is confined to the prostate. At this stage, surgery and radiation are most likely to be curative and completely kill or remove whatever cancer cells are present. 1 . If left untreated, however, prostate cancer can proceed on a number of different paths.
Is prostate cancer confined to the prostate?
With regard to prostate cancer, most cases of the disease are discovered while the cancer is still confined to the prostate itself. 1 This is called “local disease” or “localized disease.”. The disease is easiest to treat while it is confined to the prostate. At this stage, surgery and radiation are most likely to be curative ...
Can prostate cancer spread to other parts of the body?
If left untreated, diagnosed prostate cancer can grow and possibly spread outside of the prostate to local tissues or distantly to other sites in the body. The first sites of spread are typically to the nearby tissues.
Why do cancer cells not set up a colony?
The reason cancer cells do not generally set up a colony is that cancer cells are very sensitive to and dependent on the tissue environment they land in. Just because a cancer cell arrives, doesn't mean it can set up shop. It needs to be able to erase/digest apart interlocking cells and tissues to grow.
Why do we give chemotherapy after surgery?
Giving chemotherapy to patients who are clinically cancer free (no detectable cancer by scan or blood test) is done routinely worldwide when patients are given chemotherapy after surgery to reduce recurrence risk based on having positive nodes.
What drugs are used for cancer?
Some drugs we use for cancer, including chemo, but also antibodies like Rituxin, are also used for other conditions, primarily autoimmune conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, lupus etc. For chemo drugs like methotrexa te and imuran , generally much smaller doses are used.
Is chemo given after surgery?
The process is termed adjuvant chemotherapy. This chemotherapy given after surgery to higher risk patients is clearly treating a significant number of patients who don’t need it.
Does chemotherapy cause hair loss?
Depending on the chemotherapy drug used, side effects can range from hair loss, sores in mouth, diarrhea/constipation, low immunity and anemia. 157 views.
Does chemotherapy kill cancer cells?
Killing cancer cells is not the target of chemotherapy. Cancer cells do not spread location wise. These happen at different places in the body.
Does chemotherapy have side effects?
There are many types of chemotherapy. Some have more side effects, some have fewer. Newer drugs usually tend to have less side effects. And even with exactly the same drug and the same dosage, different people are affected differently. Only a certain percentage may have side effects.
Why don't people want to have antibiotics?
Some people feel so tired and weak that they don’t want to have medicines that could extend their life. For example, someone who gets a severe infection could choose not to have antibiotics, even if they know that without them they will die very soon.
What is it called when you can't restart your heart?
Trying to restart them is called cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Of course, it might be very upsetting for you and your family to hear this.
Can you refuse treatment at the end of life?
Deciding to refuse treatment. Towards the end of life you might want to make some decisions about your care, including any instructions for refusing treatment. It can sometimes be very difficult to know what care and treatment to have when you are near the end of life.
Can you change your mind later?
You can change your mind later if you want to. In the UK, as an adult you can refuse medical care and treatment if you don't want to have it. Doctors can only give you treatment and medicines with your permission.
Can family accept you don't want further treatment?
It can sometimes be very hard for your family and friends to accept that you don’t want any further treatment. You could ask your doctor or nurse to talk to your family and explain how you feel, if this is a problem for you.
Can you refuse CPR?
You also have the right to refuse CPR. You can discuss your views about CPR with your healthcare team. You can tell them whether or not you want them to try it. The doctors take your wishes into account, but you can’t insist on having CPR. Your healthcare team can decide not to try it if they think it won’t work.
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 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 ...
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.
Who Uses Cam Instead of Medicine?
Effectiveness Evaluations
- The data show that avoiding or delaying conventional cancer care is associated with negative outcomes, and CAM used does not seem to modify this risk. But have any specific CAM interventions shown any benefit? Probably the most comprehensive single review is asystematic review by Gerber et al, published in Breast Cancer Research and Treatment in 20...
Conclusion: Alternative Medicine Isn’T Real Medicine
- Despite widespread claims, there is no evidence to support the use of any CAM treatment as a replacement for conventional cancer care. As the studies in breast cancer show, delaying treatment or substituting CAM for conventional cancer care dramatically worsens outcomes.The results of these studies will hopefully provide patients and health providers with a better underst…
References
- 1. Verkooijen HM, Fioretta GM, Rapiti E, Bonnefoi H, Vlastos G, Kurtz J, Schaefer P, Sappino AP, Schubert H, & Bouchardy C (2005). Patients’ refusal of surgery strongly impairs breast cancer survival. Annals of surgery, 242 (2), 276-80 PMID: 16041219 2. Chang EY, Glissmeyer M, Tonnes S, Hudson T, & Johnson N (2006). Outcomes of breast cancer in patients who use alternative thera…
Management
Risks
- Others choose no cancer treatment because of a short life expectancy or other serious medical problems. They may feel that the risks or side effects of cancer treatment (like surgery and radiation) outweigh their potential benefits. This option is certainly OK and reasonable in the right circumstancesrequiring a careful and thoughtful discussion with your doctor and family.
Treatment
- The disease is easiest to treat while it is confined to the prostate. At this stage, surgery and radiation are most likely to be curative and completely kill or remove whatever cancer cells are present. If left untreated, however, prostate cancer can proceed on a number of different paths. Prostate cancer is a complicated disease and requires extremely careful thought when determin…
Pathophysiology
- If left untreated, most cases of diagnosed prostate cancer will grow and possibly spread outside of the prostate to local tissues or distantly to other sites in the body. The first sites of spread are typically to the nearby tissues. The cancer can spread down the blood vessels, lymphatic channels, or nerves that enter and exit the prostate, or can...
Clinical significance
- Further advancement of cancer can occur when cancer cells enter the blood vessels and lymphatic channels. Once cancer has entered into these vessels, prostate cancer cells can seed into virtually any other part of the body. Prostate cancer is known to have a particular affinity for spreading or metastasizing to the bones especially the lower spine, pelvis, and femur. Other org…
Prognosis
- It's important to know (and it's fairly well known) that, sometimes, even when untreated, prostate cancer simply does not continue to grow or only grows at an extremely slow rate. In fact, some studies have shown that prostate cancer is present in the majority of older men at the time of their deaths even if they had not been diagnosed. This suggests that many older men have prostate c…