Anyone ever refused chemo?

[milashka]

I have read a lot about the odds for ovarian cancer and it looks like it is pretty much chronic and just a matter of how long you can keep death at bay with ongoing treatments.

I will have to decide on follow-up treatments very soon and am rather inclined to refuse chemotherapy. I'd rather have a few good months than a few years with that cloud hanging over me. I am totally fine with dying, it sounds odd, but it's true, but I don't want to spend my last years at cancer treatment centers and doctors offices, pumping toxins through my body. I have more thoughts on all of it but it would be too lengthy...anyway, I am starting to catch a lot of flack for this and the oncologist will probably give me hell.

I wonder if anyone out there has or ever had similar thoughts or has been through this with an oncologist.

[The Great One]

I REFUSED CHEMO.  I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2001.  Had the tumor that was on my right ovary removed as well as a complete hysterectomy. After 4 weeks of recovering from surgery chemo was advised, and I politely declined and have continued to decline for 4 years now.  I believe that declining chemo is the reason that I am still alive and still have the same quality of life that I had before diagnosis and surgery.  Of course, when one declines chemo you will have to find your own way of dealing with the threat of recurrence, but believe me there are alternatives out there that work when one is dedicated to surviving.
You will be verbally attacked by family, friends, and everyone you come on contact with in the medical profession will attempt to scare the life out of you, so you will have to be strong while you find what works for you.

[gpawelski]

Surgery is generally used if it can cure the cancer. It is most useful in cancers that have not spread. Even if the cancer has spread to only one area or is small, then it may be possible to remove it completely with surgery.

It is likely that surgical skill is a more important determinant of prognosis than the aggressive nature of the cancer or its stage at diagnosis. One might want to inquire about recurrence rates for your particular surgeon before agreeing to an operation.

You are more likely to get a good surgeon at a major, NCI cancer center or a university hospital. Local hospitals are much more iffy, especially if the surgeons there are not board certified in Surgical Oncology and/or have not performed surgeries on MANY patients with successful outcomes.

Some surgeons view chemotherapy as a remedy for "bad" surgery. Chemotherapy just isn't good enough to make up for surgical mistakes (e.g. failure to get good margins, tumor spills during surgery, etc.). The most important prognostic factor is the surgeon!

[milashka]

I am recovering well from surgery, stage 3C ovca, epithelial papillary serous carcinoma, two 14 cm tumors and several small ones on bowels, bladders, both ovaries, abdominal area. Nothing on liver and other organs. Surgeon was able to remove EVERY trace of the tumors and wants to clean the bloodstream with chemo. My chances of living 5 years without recurrence are 50/50 he says, as I am young (42) and very healthy otherwise. I think I will go for it but still need some answers from him tomorrow (consultation). I should really at least give it one try especially since we were lucky enough to remove all cancer which from what I understand is not necessarily a given. Wish me luck.

[dian07]

When I was in my 30's my best friend's mother died because of cancer. We both agreed, because of how she suffered, if we ever got cancer we would refuse chemo.
Well, I was diagnosed with ovc last March and have gone through a complete abdominal hysterectomy and massive chemo. I finished chemo in October only to be told last week I had inoperable liver cancer. Today that diagnosis has been changed; due to tests last Friday; I am clean in both my abdomen and pelvis. It was a fatty deposit in the liver and I am not to worry. Now I am to report for another ct in Dec. The lesson here is to never give up; not only that but your emotions and choices will change from moment to moment and that is okay.
If and when things reach the place to accept the inevetable, I believe one will know it and be at peace. Survival is a drive in the human animal and it is STRONG. I do also believe the human animal which is strong and smart enough to fight to survive is also strong enough and spiritual enough to know when to let go without fear.  Listen to your inner voice; that is where the truth lies.

[Barney22]

Hello Milashka, yes I too have been wondering about not having more chemo - I am 64, newly retired and then diagnosed with stage 3c/4 ovca, after being misdiagnosed (like many others) with IBS.  Have had surgery twice and chemo in the last 13 months - bad, but not as bad as I'd anticipated.  Am now 8 months post treatment and due for my 2nd check up in 6 weeks as my CA125 is rising.  Having said that, the 8 months have been really fine and I have felt well and pretty energetic.  The prospect of further chemo and then a further relapse is the real problem (as you described).  I've been thinking about it a lot recently.  Then I realised that I don't know about the future - I can't really say what might happen to me.  Perhaps I won't relapse so easily next time; perhaps the immunotherapy project I've been recruited to will help; perhaps new drugs will give me more time with not too many side effects.  How do I know?  Also I will be able to see my family, children and new granddaughter during that time - perhaps the complementary therapies I'm now heavily following will help my immune system.  Life is full of imponderables.  I don't have any religious faith so what do I have to lose?  I can always opt out later.

Hope you make your decision - only you know what will be best for you.  My best wishes
Jenny (barney22)

[xrayu2]

Keep in mind also that most women who are given an OVCA Dx are generally in StageIII or StageIV because of the symptoms posed with this disease.  Also statistically, this is a disease of older women that have weakened body symptoms anyway. Even these late stage dx can respond to treatment.  But, talking with your Onc or even getting a second opinion(should the need arise) is your best option. Talking with someone who has experienced the disease is also a way of getting an up close perspective, too.  Hang in there-hopefully there will be no need for the discussion anyway!

[MickeyVicki]

I agree that your body is just that -- yours!   Therefore the decision is yours as well.


However, you need to factor some additional information into your plans.  Statistics for ovarian cancers include ALL women.  This inclusion means that there were women who died of all types of ovca who were already elderly or unwell at the time of treatment.  Advanced age, as well as pre-existing conditions such a liver disease, kidney disfunction, or diabetes, can influence the success of the treatment.    Thus, a healthy and active 'younger' woman can expect better success from surgery and the following treatment than a bedridden elderly nursing home patient.

By the way, there have been advances in ovarian cancer treatments, and aside from researching each individual cancer study, these statistics have not quite filtered down into the general statistics.  There are several women who have posted on this site who, statistically speaking, ought to be dead.   But they certain are not!

So...having stated all of that...the choice is yours, and the trick to best implementing your choices  is to find a cancer specialist who will be honest with you.    If there is "no chance", then the specialist  should simply tell you that fact.   Ask for that fact.  And if, on the other hand, aggressive treatment combined with your existing health situation will likely save you, then you might wish to consider treatment.

Nearly this same time last year, I went into surgery with a very great chance that my cyst was malignant, and I woke to a clean bill of health.  THIS is the 'choice' that I am praying for you to receive as well!

[fattierattie]

I'm young. I work in a nursing home and provide direct care daily. If it came to the choice of living 1 good year or many years suffering through chemo. and/or anything else, I would choose one good year. I choose to live, not to exist. To me, that difference is quality of life not quantity. I watched my aunt, who doctors told would live, die after enduring months of chemotherapy and a perfect match bone marrow match after being diagnosed with leukemia in her early 30s. She died leaving her husband and infant son behind. She never got to enjoy him. My grandpop died after "existing" only in bed to vomit and have diarrhea all day for the last weeks of his life. Everyone is entitled to choose what they wish to do. I know what I would do, but everyone is different. Don't let anyone make the choice for you. Follow your heart, because it doeasn't know how to lead you wrong.

[soniek]

i know this is just my opinion,and alot of some may not agree with me,but,i strongly feel,that,this is your body,what you decide,and how you decide to live it is totally YOUR CHOICE...noone elses,noone else knows how you feel,or what you are going through...this choice,is soley yours...best wishes to you

[kathys2]

I have worked at a cancer hospice. Many people were there because they refused chemo. I have a biopsy on Dec 8. If it turns out that I have cancer I have made up my mind that I would rather live 1 good yr than 10 miserable ones with the effects of chemo. You definetly aren't the only one.

[xrayu2]

Have you been diagnosed with OVCA, yet?  i know your surgery is not until Wednesday.  Stage I OVCA has a 90% cure rate and StageII at 87%. I have my fingers, toes ,knees crossed and of course my hands clasped together for you.