In a lot of answers (and questions) I hear about how AWFUL cancer treatments are. I don't usually hear it from people who have actually experienced them, but from someone who knows someone who said . . . These posters are often advising a terrified person, who knows someone who knows someone who said . . .
Now I know that reactions to treatments vary, and that some reactions might be pretty awful, even deadly. But I've known hundreds of cancer patients, including my mother, father, sister, brother, myelf and my son. While some of them died, very few of them who had treatment thought it wasn't worth it for the chance to live.
And the USUAL reactions I've seen are fatigue, nausea (treatable with drugs quite often), a tendency to infection, skin problems and baldness. There are certainly other side effects, but really, overall, most cancer patients I've known say they simply aren't that bad.
So why do people insist on telling these stupid stories to newly diagnosed people here?
2006-09-07 07:39:38 · 12 answers · asked by LazlaHollyfeld 6 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Cancer
Honestly, I think alot of people just spout propoganda so that they can get their 2 points and level up. There is also the stereotypical cancer patient that we all see on TV. People feel like since they've seen it on TV - they can relate to it and spread the information as truth. I mean haven't we all seen the heroic actor who chooses to battle the symptoms of cancer without the assistance of treatment because:
a - it cost to much
b - the treatment is 100 times worse than the disease
c - their best friends mothers boyfriend was sleeping with their ex husbands old boss and they felt that waisting away from cancer would make that person return to them and love them?
Of course I jest on the last one. People have an opinion about everything and they think because this is an open discussion board that everyone is required to value that opinion. I would hope as a cancer survivor yourself that you do contribute your knowledge to help those that are scared and suffering and dispell the poisonous fear that so many gleefully spread on here.
2006-09-07 07:49:45 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think that most people think about the horror stories they've heard, or assume since chemo can make a person look sickly that it's horrible, unbearable. I always try to respond to these and give it a little perspective because it's not that bad really. It's a small price to pay for a shot at a healthy life. Facing cancer can be a scary experience, but it's not impossible.
I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2001 when I was 24. I had to do chemo and radiation. I had a hard time accepting that I'd have to take chemo and my hair would fall out. I pictured quitting my job, wasting away in a hospital bed in my parents house, so sick from the chemo that I couldn't take care of myself. Then once I saw the other patients at the cancer center I realized ok, I need to get past being a victim and get on with getting thru this like all these other people are. Other than "chemo brain" (mild forgetfulness), constipation from the anti-nausea medication, and some fatigue in the days following my chemo treatment I think I fared very well, as did all the other patients I encountered. I never threw up, I worked, lived on my own, and carried on with life as usual. With that said, my chemo only took about 3 months, some people who are prescribed long courses of chemo may experience more problems, and everyone deals with things differently. But I'd hate for someone to be discouraged from getting life-saving treatment because someone said their boyfriend's mom's best friend's cousin had a bad experience.
2006-09-07 08:32:30 · answer #2 · answered by Sandy Sandals 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes the nausea, bone pain, and hair loss are an inevitable part of cancer treatment but I learned to make the best of it. My sister who is also a breast cancer survivor sent me a great get well card. "Since you have been such a good patient, I asked the doctor to thow in a couple of implants" Inside the card were two balloons. She also sent me a t-shirt (which I wore to work while bald) "With a Body Like This, Who Needs Hair?"
I would go through chemo again if the cancer returns and with medical technology constantly evolving fewer cancer patients are dying.
2006-09-07 14:08:30 · answer #3 · answered by knittinmama 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Labour - without question. 24 hours (I was induced so it is straight in at the deep end from the start - no build up of contractions etc which they sneakily do not let ya know before hand) of unbelievable agony. The hospital mucked up too - was meant to get an epidural (not one of these earth mothers!) and the anaethatist was new and f'd it up three times.. so ended up going natural until the last half hour when had gas/air.. never has anything been so other worldly, absolutely unbelievably excruiating.. Much worse than breaking leg/severe tooth abscess, migrane or any other pain I've known..
2016-03-27 01:41:19 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Thank you for your input. I am a Nurse Practitioner who works in Oncology. For the most part, my patients tolerate chemotherapy quite well. We do a really good job of supportive care, namely giving medications to treat and prevent nausea and vomiting. We also have injections that we can give to minimize the risk of infection. The biggest complaint I hear is fatigue, but it is usually the week following the chemo and then gets better. Chemotherapy is not usually doom and gloom. We as health care providers are much better at treating these side effects and we have better drugs to do so.
2006-09-07 12:16:37 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
It depends on the person and their beliefs. My husband has worked with many cancer patients in his line of work and has seen all gamments. It all comes down to the person and their own desires in the line of treatment.
2006-09-07 07:47:00 · answer #6 · answered by gemdolphine28 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Hey, I'd do chemo, radiation, and surgery all over again just to be able to spend more time alive with my family.
Yeah, the side effects sucked, but I'm STILL HERE! I had a whole medicine cabinet that was FULL, and everything in it was just for the side effects. I don't care - I'm happy for the chance to live, I was fading fast.
Don't spend your time dying, spend your time living!!!
2006-09-08 01:42:00 · answer #7 · answered by Char 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Sometimes people need to express what they are feeling and to purge themselves to understand. Every ones experience is different but there is underlying feelings including guilt. Having undergone treatment for cancer I would not do it again.
2006-09-07 09:50:46 · answer #8 · answered by jodie 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Either way for better or worse, still a very traumatic event for someone to go through i would imagine.
2006-09-07 07:47:37 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Honestly I would endure all the treatments, no matter how painful, if it would get me even one more day with my wife and kids.
2006-09-07 07:42:12 · answer #10 · answered by ? 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋