Can oncologists pretty conclusively determine during chemo if it's working or do you find out when it returns?

Question

And it's too late? I finished 4 rounds & am guessing it was doing what they expected during?

Answer 1

yes they can.......ask your dr. whats up is this agressive treatment working????sometimes u can tell yourself if it involves your lymph nodes and u could feel it is it smaller???? good luck and God bless you.....have faith, hope and love.........

Answer 2

It depends on the type of cancer you have. If it is a tumor, and it was not surgically removed, seeing it shrink on a cat scan or sonography is pretty good evidence that chemo is working. If it is not a solid tumor, or if the tumor was removed with surgery, there are some cancers which release a certain amount of a specific marker in the blood. Seeing this marker decrease is also pretty good indication that chemo is working.

Usually, the efficiency of chemo (if it is possible to measure it) is measured prior to any additional chemo session. If it is determined that it is not working for you, your doctor will strongly suggest that you do not continue this treatment, and that you go to second-line chemo.

Answer 3

Not sure I understand. I have been through chemo before. Do you know how long it takes for that POISON to get out of your body? If you are still feeling bad a month afterwards, that is understandable. I felt bad for 6 months after it was all over. How do you know you have "long term" damage? Who made that diagnosis? And what IS the diagnosis? Was it the same type of chemo, something different, what are they saying caused the chest pain and elevated heart rate? "Pushing" the drugs faster? Never heard of such a thing. I would go see a cardiologist and have them find out if there is damage or if this is just a side effect of the second round. I was MUCH sicker during and after my second round than the first. After a while, all of the chemo problems went away.

Answer 4

When it comes to cancer, there are no gurantees especially with remissions. Some remissions are permanent. Some last a short period. Some remissions last decades. Each individual is different.

Doctors will use various tests (blood, CAT, MRI, PET, biopsy, etc) to track the state of the disease. If "no evidence of disease" (NED) appears, he/she may declare a remission. Oncologists do not like to use the word "cure".

If the cancer is regressing, the doctors can tell by the tests. Cancer regression is a good sign. Even stability is considered a good sign. When the cancer appears to grow and/or the counts get worse, that is evidence the treatment is no longer effective. Another treatment may be recommended.

Answer 5

It really depends on the situation. If you are receiving adjuvant chemotherapy, it means that you already have no detectable tumor. The chemo is being given to reduce the risk of the cancer coming back at a later date. Therefore, there is no direct way to measure its effectiveness on a given individual. Generally, there are studies than indicate more people are helped by the chemo (increased cure rate, longer survival etc) than hurt by it.

For people, who have tumor that can be monitored by blood tests and/or xrays, the response to chemotherapy sometimes can be measured.

Answer 6

I really don't know much about this but I can tell you what I've heard. If chemo works then after a certain period, if it hasn't returned then you are considered to have the same chances of getting it back as anyone of getting it for the first time. I hope I made myself clear.

Answer 7

Yes. They should be doing scans (xray, ultrasound, CT, MRI) throughout treatment to monitor how the chemo is doing.

Answer 8

Your doctor will have a pretty good idea how things are going. Just remember the follow through is most important. Keep up with your rechecks.

Answer 9

you'll have blood tests to check your CEA levels on a regular basis afterwards...
And, always insist on a cat scan, too.