What are the chances of my dad surviving chemo therapy?!


Question: What are the chances of my dad surviving chemo therapy?
I need the truth my dad has had multiple sclerosis for about 13 years and now is getting tested for prostate cancer right now and with his luck he has it ( i know i shouldnt think like that but i really cant help it). my sister says if he does have it the multiple scerosis wont let him survive chemo because his immune system is soo so weak. is this true? please be honest even if the answer isnt good.

Answers:

Hi Jenn, MS is a disease in which the immune system attacks the central nervous system. Chemotherapy is used in the treatment of both relasping/remitting as well as secondary progressive mutliple sclerosis. I am currently undergoing chemo to help control the progression of my MS which was beginning to severely inhibit my abilty to walk. Chemo sometimes makes the inmmune system less active which is a good thing for those of us with MS. It can stop the progression of the disease thus lessening and mitigating the symptoms.

So the truth is that the chemo just might do him good. Your Dad's immune system is not weak at all. It is attacking his central nervous system instead of protecting his body from invading bacteria and viruses.

Now that I have had 4 chemo treatments, I can actually walk again.

May I suggest that you go to the website of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society and read about the disease. It is the most reliable and exhaustive website concerning MS. Acess it at http://www.nmss.org

I have had MS for 20+ years now.



I am sorry to hear that possibility, but I would not get ahead of yourself. He could very well not have cancer and there is nothing to fear. However, to put your fears at ease (as best possible) if cancer is present, prostate cancers tend to grow slower than most other cancers (which is a good thing). Also the prostate is not an "essential" organ, while there are some side effects to a prostatectomy (removal of prostate) they are not life threatening. The surgery would mean that any radiation or chemotherapy would be minimal and not as detrimental to his immune system as a full course.



It is extremely rare for chemo to be used to treat prostate cancer I don’t know why you would even consider the situation in someone who had not yet been diagnosed.

I am a cancer registrar




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