Radiation and Chemotherapy can help harm or kill you??

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helenelv1944
helenelv1944 Member Posts: 26
edited June 2014 in Chemotherapy - Before, During, and After

i am on Chemotherapy for breast cancer but i did a google search of Radiation and Chemotherapy and i am reading that it can give you cancer, help to kill you faster and not help at all, is this true> i am really scared now 

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  • NatsFan
    NatsFan Member Posts: 3,745
    edited February 2014

    Hi Helen - all treatments carry risks - even taking a simple aspirin is not risk-free.  But if the potential benefits of the treatment outweigh the risks, then most of us would opt to accept the risks and take the treatment because we know that we'll be better off in the long run. 

    If you have questions about the risks vs benefits of your treatment, ask your oncologist to go over your treatment plan with you. Ask him or her about the potential benefits of the each part of your treatment - meaning what percentage of women recur or die without the treatment, compared with how many fewer women recur or die with the treatment. Ask about the risks of the side effects of your treatment. The more you know and understand about your  treatment the less frightening the process becomes. 

    Finally, stay away from google!  Anybody can put anything on the internet whether it's true or not. Stick to websites with good info like BCO. 

    Cancer is frightening for everyone. Your oncologist understands this and should be willing to take the time to talk to you and answer your questions. 

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  • SelenaWolf
    SelenaWolf Member Posts: 1,724
    edited February 2014

    There are those out there who believe quite strongly that chemotherapy/radiation kills you faster than the cancer can.  This is simply untrue and there are years of science-based research studies that prove it.  Yes, it is true that chemotherapy/radiation - for some people with very, very complex medical issues - is not advised because the risks outweigh the benefits they may receive from treatment.  But for the vast majority of people, chemotherapy/radiation is well-tolerated.

    The internet is filled with out-dated information and information that is downright incorrect.  There are, also, websites out there that are the personal vehicles for people advocating a particular philosophy/produce/"protocol", so everything on those websites will be skewed in favour of their philosophy.  I agree with Natsfan... the internet is not your friend at this point in time.  You need solid, research-based information that is going to help you understand what your treatment options are and how the benefits/risks will affect you.  The best person to talk to about this is your oncologist or your treatment team, or your oncology nurses.

    I had both chemotherapy and radiation nearly three years ago.  I am alive and well, and am very healthy and active.  I have no heart damage from either treatment, and my prognosis is much, much better than it would have been had I not had these treatments.  But you need to follow up on your concerns for your own piece-of-mind.  Talk to your doctors.  They are the best place to start.

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  • ziggypop
    ziggypop Member Posts: 1,071
    edited February 2014

    I don't know anybody who has died from chemo, but I know a lot of people who have died of cancer. I do know one person whose radiation may have contributed to her death, but she had radiation to her throat/neck  area when she was 2 days old & that was over 50 years ago. She wouldn't have lived without it. Then she had BC with a recurrence and had RADS 2Xs. Still it was about 15 years after her second RADS for BC that she died, and like I say - I don't know whether it had to do with the RADS or not. 

    Do you know anybody who has died because of chemo?

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