yesterday the Doctor told my friend who has cancer "chemo was not helping her anymore?

Question

and that her cancer counts had come back and that the chemo was not going to help her at this time. I dont know much abut the diease other than she has cancer and it is in her bloodstream. so are they saying they have done all they can do? What will happen? what are other options???

Answer 1

The information you've given is very limiting. What type of cancer is this, what stage, location, how much treatment has been done, age of patient, overall health, and response to treatment so far . . is this a primary or a reoccurence? Based on what you have said . . if I were the patient I'd get a second or third opinion. Make sure that the patient is going to a designated comprehensive cancer center and has had the best clinical evaluation. I say all this because I have known more than a few people who were told that 'nothing was left to do' . . and the previous doctor turned out to be wrong. One boy who had been told his cancer was inoperable found a surgical oncologist who agreed to operate . .and he is now cancer free. We hear it all the time from advanced cancer patients. So . .the first thing your friend must do is find a second and a third opinion. This can be done by requesting that all her files, scans, and treatment information be placed on a CD . . it can than be sent to another cancer facility or doctor for another opinion.

NCI: Comprehensive Cancer Centers by state
http://cancercenters.cancer.gov/cancer_centers/cancer-centers-list.html

Your friend should also inquire about a Clinical Trial for their type of cancer.

NCI: Clinical Trials
http://www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials

Answer 2

From experience the only reason why Chemo would not help "this time" is because Cancer can immune itself from previous treatment. Meaning that after cancer has been treated by a spedific type of Chemo and the Cancer comes back, the same Chemo can't be used again. That is why there are usually several treatment plans a patient goes through.

Other options would be another opinion from a different doctor. He/She could also check into clinical trials that might be available to her/him.

You ask what will happen? If there isn't any other treatment available for him/her and the doctors have said they have done all they can do - then it comes down to faith, hope, miracles and God.

Even in the worst of the worst times, there is always HOPE!

Don't give up! And more importantly don't give up on being a friend to your friend. HE/SHE needs you more then ever now.

Answer 3

individually, i does no longer undergo chemo/radiation therapy if ever i'm clinically determined with maximum cancers. working at a house wellness putting, i observed a quantity who lived longer devoid of chemo while in comparison with those that opted to undergo chemo. thinking additionally, the ordeal one has to pass via while cutting-edge technique chemotherapy. it is criminal to have the affected person's make the determination. the moral criminal accountability of the familiar practitioner is finished while he defined the etiology and progression of the ailment. it is the affected person's determination to come returned to a determination a thank you to stay his final days. it isn't any longer a suicide nor could desire to or no longer it is considered as given a option to die. Chemotherapy makes a vulnerable guy or woman weaker, a unwell guy or woman sicker, chemical aspects are presented into the physique to attack the main cancers cells even though it does not furnish immunity to the stable cells. and needless to say, there are ingredient effects. i do no longer discredit chemotherapy, because of the fact needless to say additionally a quantity have been waiting to stay to tell the story the hurdle. high quality is obviously a extra appropriate decision that quantity. do no longer choose when you consider which you think of it is not honest. positioned your self on your buddy's footwear and rationalize. the determination he/she made isn't basic. the region he/she is in is likewise no longer uncomplicated. Then additionally attempt to think of how a doctor thinks. The familiar practitioner could have considered extra loss of life than you had on your lifetime. He has dealt with different affected person's fulfillment and mess ups, he has helped get them extra appropriate, considered them go through, even declared some lifeless. it isn't basic. do no longer think of that a doctor in basic terms see a affected person as a quantity. you attempt telling somebody that they are to die in 3 months. Your predicament is you opinion. Your buddy's and the medical doctors' predicament is a existence. a decision between a existence to stay in discomfort on the mattress or the existence to stay including your love ones, alert, oriented and responsive.

Answer 4

It sounds like treatment isn't working for her. Hospice is an organization which helps in controlling symptoms to keep her comfortable. They help the family care for her. They would supply the medication, any equipment needed, nursing, home health aide, social worker and chaplain. There could be other supports too depending on what is going on. This requires a doctor's referral.

Answer 5

I am sorry about your friend, but yes it sounds like the doctor is saying there is nothing else that can be done. What will happen now is the doctor should give her medicine to make her comfortable, for example, pain medicine. Her options are now limited. Perhaps you or she can contact hospice so that she can spend her final days, weeks, months in comfort.

Answer 6

I also have cancer in my lymphatic system and I'm on hormone therapy which suppresses the growth of new cancer cells. You need to get more info. from your friend. I'm sure that they have told her something. If not she needs to ask some questions. So Sorry to hear about your friend. God Bless!

Answer 7

I am very sorry to hear about your friend. There is always that option to get another opinion.