I need an opinion on cancer treatment?
My name is Jennie and I'm 18 and I have ovarian cancer. When I get my treatments, I go into the hospital on a Monday and I stay there overnight until Friday and I get 8 and a half hours of chemotherapy a day. I have had 3 sessions so far. After my 1st session, my cancer was gone, but my doctor had me come in for a 2rd just in case. I also went for a 3rd and my numbers right now are absolutely perfect. He wants me to come in for a 4th just in case, but I don't want to. I feel so sick there. I get suck bad side effects and I just want to feel normal again. I guess what I am looking for is someone's opinion on what I should do. I know the doctor is telling me to do another session, but it hurts. Not the chemo, but the side effects. And my entire life is on hold for it. My friends are starting college right now and I cant because of this. I just want to get back to normal now. Please someone, help me make a decision. Thank you.
Cancer - 6 Answers
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1 :
book: natural cures "they dont want you to know about"
2 :
If you are unhappy with the advice your doctor is giving you, you should get a second opinion from another doctor
3 :
Your friends do not have cancer and you do so you need to address that the most important issue going in your life right now. That is getting cured. Sometimes with chemotherapy drugs they are only one shot deals. This is your BEST chance to keep the cancer from returning. Believe me once you have done everything possible to be cured then you know for sure what you have done was everything you could possibly do to be alive. Cancer makes you do things that you do not want to do, nobody can make you do treatments and I know they are harsh. But it is your life, you gotta make the choice. If it were me I would do the last treatment.
4 :
Jennie...I absolutely know emotionally what you are up against. I am going through treatment, but not nearly as frequently and at the intensity you are going through. I have to take a total of 6 single chemos - but every treatment is administered every third week. I took treatment No. 4 today. I have to say that the thought of going through the last one (Treatment No. 3) I cried the entire 5 hours I was on the I.V. This treatment today, I didn't cry. But I just want it over. I have two more and I'm done. So, my last treatment will be September 30th. I am counting the days. I hate that my life is on hold. I can't work - I do nothing all day except sleep late - life is not normal one bit and I'm really, really tired of this life. So back to you. You are so close to finishing your doctors recommended course of treatments. Is there anyway your doctor can give you something more to make you comfortable? If it's pain, can he give you some pain pills? I know that I feel pain in my bones from the white cell building shots I have to give myself at home and then I also have pain just from the treatment. I say if there is a way you can find the strength within you for that last week of treatment - you do it - but ask you doctor to please consider anything else that they can give you to take the edge off of the side effects and make you more comfortable. And, can you start college during the next semester for this coming Winter or Spring? I would get all this behind you and start applying to your college for the next semester and then get to the college you were planning on attending without any further delay. That's what I'm doing for a job. I got laid off by my company when I told them I had to have surgery (which sucks) but I already went on one big job presentation (with my stupid wig on - which I hate). We didn't get the job, but I will keep trying because I want to get back to normal ASAP (just like you do too). You're buying insurance now - because everything is going great with your counts - now you just need that extra insurance to give you that extra edge. Hey, wishing you really good luck - you are almost there - I would do it but I would beg my doctor to give my anything to make me comfortable.
5 :
Dave is right and he knows he went through a terrible time with his wifeĆ¢€™s cancer. Right now is the best time you have to do everything possible to make sure the cancer is gone and you will never get this chance again. All the scans in the world and your CA125 numbers only indicate the cancer is responding to treatment, but your doctor has no way of knowing if it is gone. It only takes one cell to survive and if does survive your cancer will not likely be curable anymore. I know it is hard and you want to be normal, but it is more important to be normal for a couple of years or for 60, 70 or 80 years? You could stop now and you may be fine, but are you willing to take that chance? It is up to you.
6 :
Right now is your best opportunity to beat the cancer. Aggressive treatment at first diagnosis is absolutely essential. You will never get another chance as good as this to eradicate the cancer and have a normal lifespan. No matter how uncomfortable the treatment and/or side-effects are, it is worth it. The alternative is horrific. If the cancer is not fully eradicated right now, then it will eventually spread beyond its original site and invade other organs. Once cancer metastasizes, then the opportunity to beat the cancer is gone. Please do not misunderstand your doctor's comments about your test results being "absolutely perfect" as meaning your cancer is eradicated, because that is not what it means. Cancer cells are microscopic and there are no tests that can verify there complete absence. On the contrary, one or two chemotherapy treatments cannot eradicate all of the cancer in your system. The treatment protocol being recommended by your oncologist gives you the best chance for success and a long life. No matter how miserable the treatments may make you feel, please remember their purpose. The treatments destroy cancer cells. All of the cancer needs to be destroyed to prevent recurrance of the disease. I strongly urge you to follow the complete treatment program suggested by your oncologist. If the cancer comes back a year or two from now, then it will be too late. Best wishes for a good long term outcome. Your life is very important to you, your family, and your friends. Please make every effort to complete the FULL TREATMENT. It may save your life. Ten years from now you won't remeber the discomfort of chemotherapy, but you will be very happy to have a normal and happy life.
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Title : I need an opinion on cancer treatment
Description : I need an opinion on cancer treatment? My name is Jennie and I'm 18 and I have ovarian cancer. When I get my treatments, I go into th...