Does Chemo Work?

I have read through many of the posts on this forum and it seems to me that there must be a question about how effective chemo is for this type of cancer. There are several cases where chemo was stopped because it had become ineffective.

Is there anyone out there who has had a 'good result' - not necessarily remission - but significant shrinkage of the tumour, limiting the spread, improvement in quality of life and increased life expectancy.

If so what was the chemo? and how long did you take it for?

I'm not sure what type of cancer you have but the Chemo i received (Cistplatin) was extremly sucessful. I attend a cancer centre where over 40 cancer patients attend and out of the 40 patients 30 have had success with Chemo. Lots of them have had a definate shrinkage. I'm in remission at the moment so it was good for me although i did have radiation as well.

I hope this answers your question. Good Luck!!
Lucy 29
Birmingham
UK

hi, i am interested in yr experience with cisplatin - did you have it in combo with gemcitabine or something else? - have you had a resection? - my dad had a resection and they are now offering him gemcitabine and cisplatin or gemcap, he is trying to decide if it is worth it or not as we have heard such negative things about chemo with cc - ie that it is not v effective, i am delighted to hear that you are in remission, it is so encouraging to hear of someone doing well out there. kind regards, Jules

There are so many alternative methods on the internet.How can you tell which ones are real as opposed to which ones are bogus? Should they be used in conjunction with chemo & radiation therapy?

Hi ive only just got your message so i'm sorry i have not responded to your email, I had Cisplatin with Radiation not sure what radiation it was actually but it worked for mr, I have heard that Cistplatin works really well for most (not all) patients with Nasophylageal Carcinoma like myself but i suppose like everything it depends on the cancer and the stage at what it is at. I only found out afterwards that the combination that i had was a very agressive dose 35 sessions of radiation and three stages of Cistplatin but touch wood i havent really had any probs apart from hearing loss and weight loss and some aching bones but hey at least i'm hear and thats all i can say. I'm not sure what Gemcitabine is? I hope you and your father are well as for alternate therapies Reiki was fantastic for me after treatment is helped me gain some energy and focus positively.
Keep well
Lucy xx

 

On 2/12/2006 Lucy29 wrote:

I'm not sure what type of cancer you have but the Chemo i received (Cistplatin) was extremly sucessful. I attend a cancer centre where over 40 cancer patients attend and out of the 40 patients 30 have had success with Chemo. Lots of them have had a definate shrinkage. I'm in remission at the moment so it was good for me although i did have radiation as well. I hope this answers your question. Good Luck!! Lucy 29 Birmingham UK

the best of luck you must be one lucky person x my mum is @stage 3 getting another oppion at st christies in manchester, were from stoke our n h s doctor here is proposing to give mum,- cistaplatin and 5fu, i ve heard this cancer is quite resiliant to the chmo, the doc at christies is offering her participate in a trial, with just the cistaplatin]or gemcitabine and cicstaplatin [as the computer makes the desision if u get both or one,we want her have the gemctiabine but scared take the risk in case shes selected the cistaplatin [ as her oncologist over here is mixing this -[with 5fu] can anyone give me any help on what to do so confused ,scared in case its wrong desision  my mum s not sure herslf,i said id research so she could deside, many thanks x x x