What are the dark secrets of chemotherapy that your oncologist won't tell you?

Doc SurferGirl

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Former Physician Surgeon Thu

What are the dark secrets of chemotherapy that your oncologist won't tell you?

Oncologists, bylaw, MUST recommend chemo and or radiation and or all the new drugs or they are liable for malpractice for not doing ‘Standard of Care’. So, even if you are old, already demented, and frail—that HAVE to recommend it. The god ones will say that and then hint that it’d be risky, may kill you…but many are so ingrained they just go by the book.

IF you are considering chemo for a cancer you have? Here’s what to do:

1. Ask the oncologist EXACTLY what meds will be given. Chemo is an umbrella term for many many drugs. They (different chemo regimens) have abbreviations like R-CHOP—where each letter is a different drug. Find out what you would be getting FIRST.
2. Take that list home and look up each and every drug, its side effects, and what it DOES. As an example, chemo meds with a ‘—rubicin’ ending (like Doxorubicin) affect the heart as a side effect—they can DAMAGE the heart. If you have heart disease? Say NO. Look all of them up. Get informed.
3. Find a medical person to help you research the EFFECTIVENESs of your chemo regimen for the type cancer you have. Cancer meds like R-CHOP are used in many different cancers. Find out how well they work for the one YOU have—-that specific type. You may have to pay a Resident or 4th year medical student to research for you, but most people know someone in medicine these days. If a nurse, be sure they are familiar with research—not all are. A chemo nurse could. (Example: I had ovarian cancer in 1996; the chemo nearly killed me, my oncologist blew it and had my weight 40+ pounds more than I was, and I had SEVERE side effects, bed bound, vomiting, foot drop (neuro) and etc. Was in a wheelchair. And he wanted to do more? Oh, HELL NO! I was a 4th year med student just grad and researched everything—what I got in an OD dose was neuro-toxic, brain fog toxic, and only prolonged life by 3–4 MONTHS in studies that had 6 cycles of chemo AND 2 major surgeries, one a ‘second look’ where they again split you end to end. The TAH-BSO hysterectomy and tubes etc out was awful—instant menopause at 30. TWO TIMES? NO THANKS. I quit right there, got on a plane in the wheelchair and detox’d with wheat grass juice and raw food at OHI in Texas AND LIVED. In 3 mo. I got out of that chair (was told permanent) and in one year? I did the program at home, and returned to Residency!
4. EDUCATE YOURSELF FIRST BEFORE TAKING ANY CHEMO! Some cancers respond well to radiation-others do not. Some respond to chemo and others have dismal survival stats. KNOW what’s up with what you have.
5. Know what you are TRULY in for side effect wise. Be sure, if you take it? you are PRE-medicated for nausea (Zofran and that type meds are great) and pain. I highly recommend medicinal marijuana for appetite and pain. I had not smoked pot since a teen in the 70s but ate the gummy bears and SLEPT w/o vomiting or pain this time (lymphoma prob from that chemo 29 years ago).
6. BE SURE THE ONCOLOGIST GET YOU A DISABLED SOCIAL SECURITY status. Mine did not and should have: hindsight. That way you have SOME income from not being able to work.
7. Know the LONG TERM facts of chemo as well. Many CAUSE cancers later in life.
8. Have a good attitude. In my career, those with good support did a lot better than those alone. Find support BEFOREHAND, or join a support group because YOU WILL NEED SUPPORT. You’ll get invaluable advice from those that have been there. Friends will DELUGE you with ‘try this’, ‘try that’…ignore their well meant hints and only use what feels right for you. Personally, I used pau’de’arco, wheat grass juice, moringa, noni, and vitamins and beat it. Bath bombs are AWESOME at getting rid of body aches. Great recipes online, easy to make with a bit of methylene blue too are the best ones. I put eucalyptus oil in mine; the scent was not overpowering and refreshed. I also sent ingredients/recipe to a brother w/lung cancer and he made it and enjoyed it too.
9. If the cancer is far advanced and terminal and you reach The End, prepare. Keep a dream journal. Watch feelings, intuitions, and you’ll KNOW when the time is coming. Hospice and Palliative home cares are wonderful but again, you need support. No one can go thru that alone.
10. Get outside, sit under a tree, take in LIFE, the view, kids…never retreat from Life. If bed bound? Face a window outside, sit in the sunshine, and never become housebound. That depression alone can kill. Eat well.
11. Aloha and best of luck and blessings and health to all:)