Why would a doctor stop chemotherapy?
Can we stop chemotherapy in between?
Can chemotherapy be interrupted?
What happens if you stop chemo early?
What are the signs that chemo is not working?
What happens if you have to skip a chemo treatment?
How long can chemo be delayed between treatments?
How many rounds of chemo is normal?
How long can you live after chemo stops working?
Do doctors refuse chemo?
When is chemo not recommended?
What percentage of chemo patients survive?
How to read more about chemo?
If you want to read more about chemo, you could go to the blue banner at the top of this page and click on the search engine. Pop in 'chemo' or 'chemo side-effects' or 'refusing chemo', or something similar, and this will bring up previous posts on this subject. This may help you to reach some conclusion.
Can you die from chemo?
As far as I can see, you either deteriorate and ultimately die suffering from the effects of chemo, or you deteriorate and die (possibly a little sooner), but with a better quality of life to the end. My apologies for being so blunt.
Is it good to hear you stopped having chemo?
I am glad to hear that you are so happy to have stopped having chemo. It is also good to hear that you have the backing of your family and friends .
Is chemo good for everyone?
chemo may be fine for some but definitely not everybody.
How do cancer cells resist treatment?
One way cancer cells resist treatment is by expelling cancer drugs. For example, healthy cells have proteins known as transporters that pump out toxic agents. One such group of proteins, called the ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters, expels some chemotherapy drugs, including doxorubicin, and some targeted therapies, like imatinib (Gleevec®).
How many drug combinations did the researchers find that killed cancer cells?
For each cell line, the researchers identified an average of 3.4 drug combinations that effectively killed the cancer cells. For many of the effective drug pairs, they realized that the second drug inhibited a signaling pathway that was able to bypass the effect of the original drug.
How does drug resistance arise?
In addition to arising through genetic alterations, drug resistance can also emerge as a result of alterations in cancer cells' epigenetic codes—molecular modifications that , without altering the DNA code, turn genes on or off. A major difference between epigenetics and genetics is that the epigenetic code is reversible and can shift over time.
How long does it take for cancer to develop resistance?
Sometimes resistance develops quickly, within a matter of weeks of starting treatment. In other cases, it develops months, or even years, later. Resistance can occur when cancer cells—even a small group ...
Can drug combinations overcome cancer?
Scientists are pioneering many different methods to discover and test novel drug combinations that may be able to overcome multiple mechanisms of resistance or delay their emergence. If these efforts are successful, it could potentially transform cancer for many patients.
Can cancer cells adapt to drugs?
In other cases of resistance, cancer cells may adapt to the drug while it is being administered, acquiring molecular changes that allow them to escape its effects.
Can cancer be tested simultaneously?
Simultaneously Testing Combinations. Many patients diagnosed with cancer have far more treatment options now than they did even a decade ago. In some cases, these treatments can produce remarkable responses, completely eradicating tumors in patients whose cancer had spread throughout their body. But nearly all current treatments face ...
Why do doctors do chemo tests?
Doctors do tests at intervals to assess the effectiveness of chemotherapy.
What is the treatment for breast cancer?
Hormone therapy to treat breast cancer, or antiestrogen therapy, focuses on lowering estrogen levels. This may involve surgical procedures, such as the removal of the ovaries, or medications that interrupt signals from the pituitary gland, which stimulates estrogen production.
How does radiation therapy work?
Radiation therapy involves using radiation to kill cancer cells and reduce the size of tumors. It can be a primary treatment, but it also works well with other approaches, such as surgery. Radiation therapy damages the DNA in cancer cells so that they can no longer repair themselves.
How long does radiation treatment last?
It can be inconvenient and time-consuming, as a person needs to have the treatment 5 days a week for up to 2 months. It can be expensive, though the exact cost depends on the type and amount of treatment. The skin around the site of radiation can become red and sore.
How long does it take for a radioactive implant to be removed?
The implants can either be permanent or temporary. Temporary implants are usually removed after a few minutes or days , and the person is considered radioactive until the removal.
What happens to the immune system after learning to target cancer cells?
Also, after learning to target cancer cells, the immune system remembers this response if cancer reappears.
What is the process of cancer spreading to other areas of the body called?
cancer spreading to other areas of the body, a process called metastasis
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.
What does it mean when a doctor prescribes chemotherapy?
Myth #1: If my physician prescribes chemotherapy, it means my illness is terminal. Chemotherapy is one of the methods used for treating cancer, and may be combined with others, such as surgery and radiation. The type of chemotherapy prescribed and frequency of administration depends on the type of cancer and is not indicative of a patient's outlook.
Why is chemotherapy used?
In fact, chemotherapy is most often used as a preventive measure to prevent cancer from recurring at a later date and improve the odds of cure. Myth #2: Chemo will completely disrupt my life. The drastic side effects that patients experienced many years ago are not as prevalent today, thanks to medical advances.
What are some myths about chemotherapy?
4 myths about chemotherapy. When newly diagnosed cancer patients are prescribed chemotherapy, they are understandably apprehensive. The word "chemotherapy" evokes images of very ill people suffering through their cancer treatment. But we've made enormous strides over the last couple of decades that have minimized chemotherapy's side effects ...
How long does fatigue last after chemo?
Fatigue is the most common side effect, and can vary significantly from person to person. Most often, the fatigue lasts for a few days after chemo, but, by and large, patients go on living their normal lives throughout treatment (including work), with some modifications to their diet and routine.
Can chemotherapy contaminate others?
Myth #4: A patient going through chemotherapy can contaminate others. Patients don't become toxic during chemotherapy. I'm frequently asked if a patient should sleep in another bedroom while going through treatment or use separate restrooms or take other precautions.
Why did Sherman take a day off work after chemo?
Sherman often took a day off work the day following a chemo treatment because that was when she felt the most side effects.
What are the side effects of chemo?
It’s also common to have other side effects that people don’t talk about as much, such as trouble with memory and concentration, feeling dizzy, or having pain and numbness during or after chemo. 4. “I don’t want to think about cancer all the time.”. You’re much more than a patient. You’re a person with a full life.
Is chemo hard on the body?
Maybe, but maybe not. Yes, it will probably be hard and have side effects. But you might be surprised by some of the things people who have been through chemo would want you to keep in mind.
Is it important to talk to a doctor about cancer?
“Yes, doctors are really important. But when I hear that a friend or family member is going through cancer treatment, I tell them to talk to the nurses,” says Dana Kuznetzkoff, a New York film and TV producer who was treated for lymphoma in 2010. “They’re the ones who will tell you exactly what you need to know, like your hair will fall out on the second day of treatment, or expect to be really tired the day afterchemo.”
Does chemotherapy cause hair loss?
There are many types of chemotherapy. The side effects you have depend on what kind of chemo you get and how your body reacts to it. Hair loss and nausea are common, but they don’t happen to everyone. It’s also common to have other side effects that people don’t talk about as much, such as trouble with memory and concentration, feeling dizzy, or having pain and numbness during or after chemo.
