Chemotherapy, does it get harder the more cycles you have???!


Question: My husband has just started chemo for stage 4 lung cancer which has spread to all lymph nodes and his liver. He has cisplatin and gemcitabine chemo. 2 weeks on both, then just one of the two drugs and then one week off (3 weeks to a cycle). We have just completed week 2 of his FIRST cycle. He is feeling fine. Does chemo have a cumulative effect on the body? That is, as the treatment goes on is it likely he will feel less and less like himself. I know everyone reacts differently but does it get harder with more cycles? Thanks


Answers: My husband has just started chemo for stage 4 lung cancer which has spread to all lymph nodes and his liver. He has cisplatin and gemcitabine chemo. 2 weeks on both, then just one of the two drugs and then one week off (3 weeks to a cycle). We have just completed week 2 of his FIRST cycle. He is feeling fine. Does chemo have a cumulative effect on the body? That is, as the treatment goes on is it likely he will feel less and less like himself. I know everyone reacts differently but does it get harder with more cycles? Thanks

It really varies from person to person, but speaking from experience and someone who had a cocktail of Cisplatin and etoposide with one week on and two weeks off for six sessions, I found that it did get worse with each session. The first few sessions weren't too bad but it did progressively get worse, from the point of view of tiredness, neusea, reflux and various other symptoms.
These drugs MOST DEFINITELY have a cumulative effect as most other chemo drugs, but that isn't to say that it can't be managed, as the drugs that are available to minimise the side effects are really very good now. The botto line is that he should have to suffer to get better!
One other word of advise, which yyou are probably aware, is that Cisplatin is a known neurotoxin and it is very important that you monitor and advise your oncologist of any side effects such as; tingling in fingers and toes, ringing in your ears, etc.. as this is a sign that some peripheral nerve damage is starting. Your oncologist should be able to adjust the dosage to minimise these possible effects.
In my case these symptoms were minimal but the full effect of the cisplatin damage didn't manifest itself until a few months after treatment had finished. As a result I'm left with some very severe neuropathy, which almost 1-year down the line is only just starting to get a little better or stabilise aswell as tintus.
This ofcourse all depends on the dosage, but Cisplatin-induced neuropathy usually develops after cumulative doses of > 400 mg/m2. In my case I had an all up dosage of 1160mg! And I'm now suffering from the effects. But I'm here to talk about it so I guess that is a good thing.
All the Best;

Well it really does varry person to person so there is no real answer for that. Chemo can be very toxic to your body and I am sure he will not feel great the whole time. Nause and vomiting is a major side effect so I would expect that, and I am sure he will get fatigue and not feel well those are some though chem agent. How old is your husband?

It doesn't have a cumulative effect, but it can leave your husband with several side effects. Obviously if he's got nausea and he doesn't eat much, then he will be weaker next time he goes on the chemo. The mental factor is big, as your husband will have to stay strong during the first, and knowing he will repeat the process during the second. Good luck.

Dear Mouse,
I am so sorry to hear about your husband's illness, I can' t immagen how it must impact you.
I should remind you that ALL drugs are toxic, poison, and they must be in order for the FDA to approve them. That should explain a lot.

It is imperative that the cell receives oxygen or else it will die .

The body is not deficient of the drugs, they are foreign to the immune system. They attempt to kill the cancer cells but in fact kill any cell that happens to be in the way.

May I suggestthat you incorporate some natural things to help rebuild the immune system? Goto "www.cancure.org" and read around in there and pay attention to the Budwig Diet. Discover how the body needs an OIL CHANGE, how that cancer is caused by the bad oils we consume which coats the cell wall membrane with a plaque which in turn denies nutrition and oxygen from entering the cell to keep it healthy.

The OIL CHANGE is very simple to accomplish over time by eliminating trans fats and hydrogenated oils from our diet and replacing them with good oils, flax, coconut borage, fish, etc. To speed up the process the good oils are mixed with cottage cheese causing a synergy effect which will gradually remove the plaque from the cell wall membrane and thus allowing the insulin to transport nutrition into the cell so that it can get healthy again. The Flax Oil/Cottage Cheese (FOCC) should be done at least three time per day and Barley Green powder and essential sugars can be added to restore cell to cell communication.

Stop all glucose type sugar as cancer feeds on it, bear in mind that there are about 205 sugar types out there and you want the ones from vine ripe fruits and vegetables.

Do not forgo the spiritual aspects of healing, be at peace with GOD.
GOD Bless
Daniel





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