Help for chemo vs natural-- breast cancer

CMAO

I have a very good friend in China suffer from breast cancer(level 2) who had 4 chemo theropies, there is two more to go. Due to low blood cell and other issues, she is bit scared with coming two. Is it a good idea to stop the chemo and go for natural (healthy diet, exercise etc). Does anyone have some info. Sorry to bother you guys as her doctor in China are so communicative.

Peters

First I have to say this is very common in the breast cancer patients. But the presentation is ambiguous.

It is called stage two, not level 2. We need to know if patient underwent surgery, what kind of surgery? How is the white cell count? How old is the patient?

Generally speaking, patients with stage II breast cancer have a high risk of recurrence of the disease at 20 years with local control only. Therefore chemo theraoy is important and necessary.  

I don't thiink it's wise to stop chemo. Actually there are more alternative therapies currently. In addition, the treatment in China is not too bad, especially in big cities.

Finally, best wishes to your friend.

[ 本帖最后由 Peters 于 2008-9-28 08:26 编辑 ]

TrueColours

化疗确实不舒服，病人的心情可以理解。但是，一般来说，停止化疗是一个不明智的选择，因为疗程设置都是根据大量临床试验，经验和药代动力学而订的。建议如果可能，还是坚持完一个疗程。

何时停止化疗是一个复杂的问题。一般来说要考虑化疗药物是否有用，主要是看是否有复发。还要考虑毒性这包括你说的血细胞过低，还有其他的，比如恶心，呕吐，脱发等等。这在国际上也是有标准的。医生应该综合评定，和病人协商，提出建议。还有，看医生是否可以给一些支持治疗，比如抗恶心的药物，升白细胞的药物，输血等。最后，病人应该是有最终决定权的。

因为没有其他疗法的太多知识，就不便于发表评论 ，更不会去做比较了。

至于你说是复发率的问题，需要你提供更多的信息。Stage II，我估计已经进行过local contral的治疗了（手术＋－放疗），这种情况下，不化疗的复发率大概有30－40％（在未来的20年）。这还要考虑到病人的年龄（越年轻越容易复发），肿瘤的病理学类型（我这里估计是IDC－最常见的类型）还有激素的情况（ER，PR和Her-2），等等。

最后，家人，朋友的支持很重要。她有你这样的朋友真的很幸运。但作为外行人，要是多留些这些专业问题给医生。要相信他们是想帮助病人一起度过难关的。

CMAO

Many thanks for all your response and help. As she is realy close to me, it's hard to see she sufferring.She had a surgery to remove her breasts and after that She had 4 chemoes so far, but every time the white cell blood count is blow 2000 and need special injection to boost it up. She is so weak after each chemo and vomit, loss hair and couldn't eat or very little for about two weeks. However the doctor insist to give her the maximum drag each time maybe this contribute it as well. The last 2 chemoes need to take enormous hormone drugs before the chemo, I believe she is lost confidence in her doctor and very scared/against chemo now. I know it's risky to stop chemo at this stage and suggested her to have second even third opinion.
I don't know what to suggest her as I read some articles that saying you don't need chemo to kill your cancer and once you boost your immune system, your cancer can be under control.

Really appriciate all your help.

[ 本帖最后由 CMAO 于 2008-9-29 12:49 编辑 ]

Peters

The causes of cancer are unclear currently, probably from gene mutation, environmental, virus infection etc. Therefore I don't think immune therapy can battle every cancers.

Cancer treatment is a costly, painful and lengthy journey, the trust between patients and doctors are the fundation.

It's nothing wrong to look for second opinion. If you can, I suggest you prepare your friend's case files and contact surgical oncologist, medical oncologist or radio-oncologist. But it's most likely that the doctors here agree every steps that Chinese doctors have done.

Good luck.

CMAO

I am very apprciate your valuable suggestion. My friend would like to pass on her sincere thanks to you guys, and she will trust her doctor and continue her chemo. Hopefully everything can be smoothful for her.