main effects vs side effects

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Cheesequake
Cheesequake Member Posts: 264
edited October 2015 in Chemotherapy - Before, During, and After

"If the side effects are bad that means the chemo is working!"

I've heard versions of this before and never really gave it serious consideration, but it does make me curious: does anyone know if any studies have been done comparing the severity (or specific types) of side effects with the effectiveness of the treatment?

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  • Kicks
    Kicks Member Posts: 4,131
    edited October 2015

    Can only speak for myself - others have had other experiences thoigh.

    Neoadjuvant DD A/C was not bad at all - did not slow me down at all. It did it's job and got the IBC to form into a 'lump' with good margins for surgery. Adjuvant Taxol was nasty and I was completely and utterly exhaused the entire weekly 12 infusion. I've been on Femara/letrozole for getting close to 6 yrs with no SEs. So guess that they worked good for me as it's been a bit over 6 yrs since IBC DX and still NED. So - I do not believe that SEs equate to rather or not something is 'working' or not.

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  • tamkay123
    tamkay123 Member Posts: 56
    edited October 2015

    I think that is something we tell ourselves on the crappy days to make it feel worth it.

    I started with Neoadjuvant DD A/C and I also didn't have any real side effects to speak of although I did get a nasty infection at one point. They did an ultrasound after that portion of my treatment and the tumor was reduced by over 50%.

    I just finished DD Taxol which did effect me more than A/C but still not terrible. I'll have an ultrasound next Thursday before I meet with the breast surgeon.

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  • Cheesequake
    Cheesequake Member Posts: 264
    edited October 2015

    My MO told me yesterday that severity of SEs has nothing to do with effectiveness of treatment, and that if the SEs are mild it just means you're blessed. I take everything she says with a grain of salt, however.

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  • molliefish
    molliefish Member Posts: 723
    edited October 2015

    I would have to agree, AND there are also so many different chemo regimens that I think sometimes managing the SE for all the different chemo and ancillary drugs is difficult and it takes time to sort it out, hence some of the folks who report by the third or fourth round the seem to feel less SE and feel altogether better. 'Adapt and ye shall overcome' someone once said. Don't know who but I like it.

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