Quitting Chemo

That's right Shirley! It's called "Swish and Swallow" and you need a prescription. There are also things you suck on that area by prescription.



Also, Methusala, if you get live cultured yogurt or probiotics (1/4 teaspoon in water in between food) that helps restore the good guys. You're probably already on this, right?



Hope you do better and better each day. Thanks for posting.

Tender

I did 4 TAC.........reacted on the first day on Taxotere.......and then had to go back the following day for my treatment with nurses giving me more premeds and them dripping the Taxotere over a 3 hour period rather than 1 hour period. After my 4th TAC treatment......I got severely sick throwing up one week later. I ended up in the hospital with a bowel obstruction and fluid around my heart. I was released after a week and then 3 days later back in the hospital due to hospital induced pnuemonia. I was scheduled for 6 TAC treatments.......................I DID NOT GO BACK FOR THE LAST 2. My research had shown 4 TAC treatments was the norm..........and that the 6 TAC treatments was just the latest...greatest to see how we could tolerate that. If one is going to have a reaction to Taxotere.....it usually happens after their 5th treatment....mine came 1 treatment early.



So.....yes.....I did not complete my CHEMO.........but the doctor thought it would be good enough. So it is your choice. I was doing pretty good until I finished that 4th chemo.........but I blame them for making me sick because they decided to just pour in the Taxotere in 1 hour rather then drip it in over 3 hours. Still makes me piss to think about my oncologist and the nurses just keeping it a BIG SECRET that they were pouring that SH#T into my veins without consulting me before they did. I WOULD HAVE TOLD THEM NO......3 HOURS LIKE BEFORE. Who knows if I would have made it......and maybe could have finished the entire 6 TAC treatments. But I do take Tomoxifen and it is suppose to be better than chemo for us ER+ PR+ women.



Sorry for writing so long.......but I am still mad! I am with you on what ever your choice might be.



Love,

Terry

I was diagnosed in April, stage I ILC, single mastectomy (waiting for prophylatic surgery). 2 small tumors were removed and the oncologist said they were extremely low risk (less than 5%).  The third tumor biopsied was never found in the resulting tissues so it could not be confirmed.  I did not require radiation but chemo was recommended (just in case), along with Tomaxifin.  I refused both drugs, the negativity of the proven side effects far outweighed the potential benefits. I read a minimum of 3 hours a day on the web and have learned that the body is designed to successfully fight negative influences - it all depends on what you put into it.  Drugs like chemo break down your natural defenses.  Do your research - there are other ways to fight this disease.  "I did not tell you that it would be easy, only that it would be worth it in the end....Art Williams"

Good luck.  Joy

I too wanted to quit chemo.  I went to see my family doctor twice and he encouraged me to continue.  (I watched my mother die of breast cancer and he reminded me of this).  It is you decision.  I just wanted to tell you that my first two chemos landed me in the hospital for several days.  My onc decided to try something and it WORKED---he kept me for three hours after chemo at his office.  He kept me there with IV fluids dripping.  I cannot believe the difference.  Not perfect-still alot of symptoms, BUT there were so much more bearable.  Good luck.

Hi, you sound so much like me. I reluctantly,to say the least had a "reduced" dose of Taxotere. Just one. The side effects were numerous and worse than I ever imagined. Headache, nausea and backache the first night, followed by days of nausea, weight loss, extreme fatigue,inability to eat despite meds,unrelenting thirst,stomach cramps,gas,other unmentionables,mouth and throat sores,racing heart,nightmares,hair shedding,etc,etcI believe pople metabolize drugs differently and I am a slow metabolizer. It took a good 10 days to feel a bit normal again. i have not gone  back for another round. Despite what everyone tells me, they think I will die if I dont do chemo, I think I will die if I do.

Oh, my chemo buddy made sure that she had fluids after all her chemos ... a saline solution, did wonders for her but I didn't need it, I drank lots of water afterwards and took the meds.

Hi Methusala,

Please go to the Natural Healing conversation on this board......there is hope, there is help and it is a real......It speaks of my stageIV bc dx and my decision not to go traditional medicine (no surgery, chemo, or radiation) and some other wonderful contributions from others on this board........

My prayers are sooo with you.

Genesis

I have had 2 treatments, and I cant do anymore, I am finished, havent told family yet or doc, but will later in the week, makes me too sick.

seeing that you do have a son, I personally would talk to the onc. about med switching.  Alternative therapy could work but who knows what to take to address your particular cancer.  There is a prescription (the name totally escapes me) for 'crap running down the leg that really helped me when imodium didn't.  There is a diet  I'd link you to this site but the ads assault you.  I think the gastro intestinal issues are the worse.  I really am sorry you are so sick.. I hope you feel better soon.  stage IIIb is pretty serious.. I advanced from IIIC pretty quickly.

"

• Begin eating bland, easy-to-digest foods after the first 24 hours of diarrhea.
• Slowly progress to other foods as you can tolerate them.
• Avoid food and drink that cause discomfort, cramping or gas for the first few days. Examples of food to avoid may include: spicy foods (black pepper, chili powder), caffeine, chocolate, carbonated drinks and cola drinks, alcohol, fried foods and greasy foods, acidic fruit juices (orange, grapefruit), gaseous vegetables (broccoli, cabbage, corn, cauliflower, onions).
• Initially, eat smaller meals evenly spaced throughout the day to reduce stomach acidity.
• Eat slowly and chew food well.
• A progressive bland diet may propose the following eating plan:
• Day 1: Drinking clear liquids at room temperature such as sports drinks (Powerade/Gatorade), weak tea (decaffeinated), non-caffeinated sodas;
• Day 2: Slowly adding bland foods in small amounts as can be tolerated during the day. Examples are: oatmeal or cream of wheat made with water, dry cereal (without milk), plain rice or pasta (no butter, oil, or sauces), crackers or pretzels, gingersnaps, plain toast (no butter or jelly), mashed potatoes (no skins), ripe bananas (ripe), applesauce, chicken noodle soup.
• Day 3: Gradually adding more variety of foods in small, more frequent meals evenly spaced throughout the day. Examples are: soft boiled eggs or scrambled eggs, plain baked potato, fish or chicken (no skin) well-cooked, baked or grilled (not fried), plain yogurt, cottage cheese, cooked carrots or green beans, milk (skim or low-fat after diarrhea has stopped).

You have a fairly advanced cancer and a son so I would gently suggest some alternative approaches that would allow you to keep pursuing chemo:

1.  Talk to your onc about treating the side effects.  Your side effects are unacceptable and there may be ways to reduce them.  I have a friend who had terrible, terrible vomiting.  She ended up doing an IV treatment for the nausea that totally eliminated it and she was able to finish chemo.  it meant a night in the hospital, but she was comfortable and finished.  Only at the end did she discover the culprit -- she was allergic to the pre-chemo, the drugs they give you in the IV before the chemo drugs.  You may be experiencing something as simple as that, or you may be a candidate for treatments that would make the process a whole lot easier.

2.  Talk to your onc about different drugs.  There are a bazillion chemo drugs and you have other options.

 Bottom line- talk to your oncologist.  You are not limited to the choice of chemo or no chemo.  There are many other choices and you should be able to take advantage of this life saving treatment without the terrible side effects. 

Terry _ I seriously hope you feel much better very soon.

sorry to respond to a 4 year old post.

I had the same feeling last night my first chemo was on the 10th of March .Her2 positive stage 1 hercepcin plus 2 more . I've had first five days after just resting,mouth & throat is covered with sores ,my head is full of sores the bone & body ache is terrible then went for blood work , white count about as low as u could go. . Running a 104.4 fever yesterday. I feel done. Maybe just mastectomy & radiation ? Hope for the best. Just 10 days til my next treatment & the Dr said since my white count went so low it will ever time .