Last edited Thu Feb 13, 2014, 12:44 PM - Edit history (1)
I am facing having chemo vs. saying to the oncologist, "NO."
I had surgery 3 wks. ago for colon cancer metastasized to my liver, and while my recovery from that has been steady, I am just now feeling that in another 2 wks. or so I could get back to work and a fairly normal life. I am doing light housework and taking walks now, and am basically off all pain meds except one or two/day.
The idea of being an invalid again due to chemo is not appealing. In my case, docs surgically removed all tumors (I had 3) plus 16 lymph nodes and I now have no cancer that they can see. But "it's what we can't see" that is at issue. Docs and the best imaging in the world cannot see cancer cells unless they're taken out of your body first. In my case, docs want me to have chemo for "insurance" my cancer won't come back. But there is no complete guarantee.
I have read about many people who've opted out of chemo entirely who are still living and I have a friend who's still around, having refused chemo about 10 yrs. ago for breast cancer. They beat cancer with a vegan diet and building up their immune system, which chemo destroys. Here are a couple of good websites.
http://www.chrisbeatcancer.com/why-i-didnt-do-chemo/
kriscarr.com
http://www.cancerfightingstrategies.com/modernmedicine.html#sthash.PLmlL1Rk.dpbs
Doctors say I need chemo soon once I recover fully from the operation. I am very uncertain as to what to do. Whatever it is, each cancer patient must make up his or her own mind about a course of action. As for me, if I opt for chemo and it is making me sick most of the time and an invalid, I would ask to be given smaller doses, different drugs, or stop it entirely, depending on my most trusted advisors---doctors, naturopath, and friends who've been through it before. Ultimately, though, it's your individual decision, as it is mine.
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