When chemotherapy isn't working on Breast Cancer, what are some of the other options out there?
831932
I've had 2 friends try alternative medicine - not for breast cancer - but I'd sure call an alternative doctor.  Both friends' cancer disappeared and they have been cancer-free for more than 12 years.  No side effects like chemo, either.\n\nDr. Nicholas Gonzales in NY,NY is the doc for one of my friends.  She goes for check ups just once a year, so you don't have to live there to be his patient.  If you look him up on the Internet, he doesn't look good.  BUt don't believe everything you read.\n\nBUT, what I know, is that my friend was given NO HOPE with regular medical treatments.  THey were going to take her lung and do aggressive chemo and they didn't expect her to live 4 more months even if they did that.  SO she went to Dr. Gonzales and she credits him with saving her life.\n\nI am not some sort of wierd health-nut, by the way.  I go to regular doctors.  I just know of these 2 friends who were healed by alternative medicine.\n\nGood luck!!
1023683
what kind of doctor is he/she??? go get a second opinion. i would definately want to know what's going on if i were you, especially if there's a family history of breast cancer. good luck and hang in there. remember that you're not alone.
859954
Yes, it is.  With stage IV breast cancer the choice of chemotherapy treatment depends on the patient's goal of treatment. If the goal of treatment is to reduce symptoms and improve quality of life, it may be more desirable to select a chemotherapy treatment with minimal side effects. On the other hand, if the goal of treatment is to attempt to cure the cancer, treatment with more aggressive chemotherapy regimens is opted.  Either way, all the new advanced drug therapies have recorded average survival rates of fewer than 24 months—so your mom sure had a passion for life!  Here are some recent trial findings:\n\nET (Ellence® (epirubicin) and Taxotere® (docetaxel)): In a randomized clinical trial comparing ET to FEC (fluorouracil, epirubicin, and cyclophosphamide) as first-line therapy for stage IV breast cancer, the response rate to ET was 63%, compared to 31% for FEC. The average time to cancer progression was 8.6 months for patients treated with ET, compared to 6.1 months for patients treated with FEC.\n\nTAC (docetaxel, doxorubicin, and cyclophosphamide): In an attempt to further improve treatment, a third drug has been added to the combination of doxorubicin and docetaxel and evaluated as initial treatment for patients with stage IV breast cancer. Two years following treatment, nearly 60% of patients were still alive. The average survival had not yet been established past two years following treatment.\n\nAT (doxorubicin and paclitaxel): A recent clinical trial evaluated the use of AT in patients with stage IV breast cancer. Patients received AT or a common chemotherapy combination consisting of fluorouracil, doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide (FAC). The results of the two groups were then directly compared. The average survival time was 23.3 months for patients receiving AT versus 18.3 months for patients receiving FAC.\n\nTaxotere® (docetaxel) and Xeloda® (capecitabine): Researchers conducted a clinical trial to directly compare docetaxel plus capecitabine to docetaxel alone in the treatment of patients with stage IV breast cancer. Patients who received treatment with docetaxel/capecitabine were more likely to experience anti-cancer responses, have a longer time to cancer progression and survive longer when compared to patients treated with docetaxel alone. One year following therapy, 57% of patients treated with docetaxel/capecitabine had survived, compared to only 47% of patients treated with docetaxel alone.\n\nGemzar® (gemcitabine): Recently, clinical trials indicated that gemcitabine and paclitaxel is an effective treatment option for initial therapy of stage IV breast cancer. In one trial, researchers from France treated 36 patients with stage IV breast cancer or locally advanced breast cancer with gemcitabine and paclitaxel. Following therapy, approximately 42% of patients had an anti-cancer response. The average time to cancer progression was approximately 7.5 months.
265143
The best way is surgery. When not possible, use combined chemoradiation.
411841
sorry to hear your news but my mom had it long ago & had a hysterecomy to take care of the cancer. she never had to go throgh chemo. ata ll & has been cancer free since the surgery was done back in the mid 1970's. talk to your gyno. about that please & soon.
125151
First of all, as a cancer survivor myself, I want to offer you a warm hug and my best wishes.  I know making treatment decisions is not easy at all, and the worst thing is having people who don't know your situation tell you what to do.  Plus different cancers have different prognosises and treatments, so what worked for one may not work for another.\n\nStill, the fact that you said you are opting for NO treatment concerns me, especially because you said you have an early stage.  I do believe that the choice of treatment is up to you, but at least try something.  Even if it is an all natural treatment with no side effects you will at least be doing something to make yourself less tired and live a fuller life!  There are all kinds of natural remedies (herbs, change in diet) research them!  Even if they don't cure you, they could at least give you more energy.\n\nPersonally, when I was diagnosed with cancer at 23, I chose conventional treatment (chemo plus radiation).  That was my choice and I am not pushing it on you, but I will say I am glad I went through it.  I am now 24 and in remission.  Have you researched treatments to see how "bad" they really are?  There are so many horror stories, but treatment may not be near as bad as you think it is.  Some cancers, like mine, have really high cure rates and early stages usually require less treatments.  Please thoughtfully consider all options with your mother.  Like I said, this is a personal decision for you and your mom.  Still, be prepared that your symptoms are going to get worse without any treatment at all.
560147
Eleven years ago I was diagnosed with breast cancer. After my mastectomy the "cure" (chemo and radiation) made me as sick as a dog.\n\nI recovered through the many miracles of modern medicines, skilled professionals, the love and support of family and friends and the power of faith & prayer.A little stubborness on my part also helped!
632697
The mainstay of breast cancer treatment is surgery when the tumor is localized, with possible adjuvant hormonal therapy (with tamoxifen or an aromatase inhibitor), chemotherapy, and/or radiotherapy. At present, the treatment recommendations after surgery (adjuvant therapy) follow a pattern. This pattern may be adapted as every two years a worldwide conference takes place in St. Gallen, Switzerland to discuss the actual results of worldwide multi-center studies. Depending on clinical criteria (age, type of cancer, size, metastasis) patients are roughly divided to high risk and low risk cases which follow different rules for therapy. Treatment possibilities include Radiation Therapy, Chemotherapy, Hormone Therapy, and Immune Therapy.\n\nAn online resource for helping to quantify the relative risks and benefits of chemotherapy v. hormonal therapy is Adjuvant! Online (see below).\n\nThe emotional impact of cancer diagnosis, symptoms, treatment, and related issues can be severe. Most larger hospitals are associated with cancer support groups which can help patients cope with the many issues that come up in a supportive environment with other people with experience with similar issues.\n\nOnline cancer support groups are also very beneficial to cancer patients, especially in dealing with uncertainty and body-image problems inherent in cancer treatment.
790246
She could try hormone replacement therapy, but only if her cancer doc and gynecologist agree to the regimen.  They need to agree, because sometimes cancers are encouraged by such treatment.  According to traditional Chinese medicine, she needs to cool her body; think of it that her body is "overheating" without being able to regulate (i.e., female hormones) itself.  I would suggest eating soy-based products to help her body with the components she is missing.  This should help alleviate her symptoms and she will be getting high protein in her body to boot....\n\nI would be careful and consult with the doc regarding any herbal remedies to mitigate her menopausal symptoms, because herbs in their raw form aren't necessarily beneficial (due to bacteria, mold, fungus, etc.) and can impact her during a time of low immunity.  Herbs can also interfere with her medication regimen currently and work against her.  Realize that the most important thing right now is to stop the cancer and she may need to just "ride through" the side effects.\n\nTell her to keep "cool" and stay strong...!
929552
To cure cancer - with some types of cancer, chemotherapy is likely to destroy all the cancer cells and cure the disease. \nTo reduce the chance of a cancer coming back - chemotherapy may be given after surgery or radiotherapy so that if any cancer cells remain, but are too small to see, they can be destroyed by the chemotherapy.\nTo shrink a cancer, reduce symptoms and prolong life - if a cure is not possible, chemotherapy may be given to shrink and control a cancer, or to reduce the number of cancer cells and try to reduce symptoms and prolong a good quality of life. This is known as palliative chemotherapy.Chemotherapy is the use of anti-cancer (cytotoxic) drugs to destroy cancer cells (including leukaemia and lymphoma). There are over 50 different chemotherapy drugs. Some are given on their own but often several drugs may be combined (this is known as combination chemotherapy).\n\nThe type of chemotherapy treatment you are given for your cancer depends on many things, particularly the type of cancer you have, where in the body it started, what the cancer cells look like under the microscope and whether they have spread to other parts of the body\nDifferent chemotherapy drugs cause different side effects, and some people may have very few. Cancer treatments cause different reactions in different people and any reaction can vary from treatment to treatment. It may be helpful to remember that almost all side effects are only short-term and will gradually disappear once the treatment has stopped.\n\nThe main areas of your body that may be affected by chemotherapy are those where normal cells rapidly divide and grow, such as the lining of your mouth, the digestive system, your skin, hair and bone marrow (the spongy material that fills the bones and produces new blood cells).\n\nIf you want to know more about the side effects that may be caused by your chemotherapy treatment you should ask your doctor or chemotherapy nurse, as they will know the exact drugs you are taking. Although the side effects of chemotherapy can be unpleasant, they need to be weighed against the benefits of the treatment. However, if you find that the treatment or its side effects are making you unwell, you should tell your doctor or chemotherapy nurse. You may be able to have medicines to help you, or changes can be made to your treatment to lessen any side effects.chemo can be given through a iv or by a pill most given in iv.i have had 12 months of chemo.and 6 weeks radation...Radiation therapy is one of the many tools used to combat cancers. Radiation treatments utilize high-energy waves such as x-rays to kill cancer cells. Radiation can be used alone or in conjunction with other treatments (e.g. chemotherapy and surgery) to cure or stabilize cancer. \n\nLike other therapies, the choice to use radiation to treat a particular cancer depends on a wide range of factors. These include, but are not limited to, the type of cancer, the physical state of the patient, the stage of the cancer, and the location of the tumor.therapy (or radiotherapy) is an important technique for shrinking tumors. High energy waves are targeted at the cancerous growth. The waves cause damage within the cells, disrupt cellular processes, prevent accurate cell division, and ultimately cause the cells to die. The death of the cells causes the tumor to shrink. One drawback of radiotherapy is that radiation is not specific to cancerous cells and may damage healthy cells as well.\n\nReactions of Normal and Cancerous Tissue to Therapy: \nThe response of tumors and normal tissues to radiation depends on their proliferative patterns before therapy starts and during treatment. Radiation kills cells through interactions with DNA and other target molecules. Death is not instantaneous, but occurs when the cells try to divide but fail-a process termed abortive mitosis. For this reason, radiation damage is manifest more quickly in tissues containing cells that are dividing rapidly \n\nNormal tissu
1114551
Bless your heart, my friend, I don't know why your mother got cancer.  I didn't know her.  Maybe it was her lifestyle, maybe it was exposure to a carcinogen, maybe it was just rotten luck and unfortunate genes.   I am truly sorry it happened.  We can't cure cancer yet but if it's caught in time we can kill it or remove it.   I'm a nurse and I've dedicated my life to dealing with disease, the living and the dying.  Perhaps you'll want to dedicate your life to finding a real cure for cancer.  That would be worthwhile.
948714
From a professional standpoint I would get it checked.  There are programs out there to help you cover the costs of medical expenses.  A doctor cannot refuse you treatment due to inability to pay.  A really good program that could help you out is the Hill-Burton Act.  I spent many years working on an Oncology Unit (Cancer unit) in our local hospital and know that one of the signs of breast cancer is nipple discharge.  I don't want to scare you , only inform you.  Finding out now is best because there are treatments available that can stop the growth if it is cancer, and better to catch it early.  I will keep you in my prayers.
883987
chemotherapy dosing is a critical issue. If the dose is to low it will not have the desired effect, two high and it will cause more side effects. There are some chemotherapy drugs that have little or no side effects, is that what you are looking for? Ask your oncologist about the risks and benefits of each treatment. They will be able to explain each drug and the probability of side effects
1098375
I had breast cancer and recovered using alternative medicine. There are no sure things however, and anyone, conventional or alternative, who promises you a sure cure is not telling you the truth. If you're willing to do your homework and be really, really proactive you will greatly improve your odds.\n\nYou want to make your body so healthy that cancer can't live in it. I put together some resources to help others with cancer, so they can see how many options they really do have, and make up their own minds about what they want to do. \n\nGod bless you, and take heart. While I wouldn't wish cancer on anyone, perhaps you can look on this as a fantastic opportunity for you to heal your life on many levels.
977071
Research alternative cures. Over 100 are available, but your doctor isn't allowed to tell you about them.\n\nI have always believed that the mainstream medical industry is not interested in finding a cure for cancer because it makes too much profit with its present barbarous methods.\nEventually, I came across a detailed report which agreed with my findings, and I have included it in my web page at\n\nhttp://dgwa1.fortunecity.com/body/cancer.html\n\nBy reading this report, you will also convince yourself that it is best to ignore the mainstream cancer industry, and seek alternative cures. Also you should bear in mind that the medical industry will do anything to protect its profitable position, including disparaging alternative healers or even creating bogus court cases.\n\nI believe that cancer is a whole body thing, which in 80 percent of cases manifests itself by producing symptoms in the weaker parts of the body, and therefore appearing localised. It is this treatment of symptoms instead of cause which creates the profitable, yet non-successful approach of mainstream medicine.\n\nSome cures are listed on the web page too.\n\nIt is therefore obvious that a holistic approach is required, based on cleansing, diet, exercise and debugging.\n\nCLEANSING\nThe best way of cleansing is to fast.\n\nhttp://www.phifoundation.org/menses.html\nhttp://www.healthy.net/scr/article.asp?ID=1996\n\nbut if a patient is too weak for that, or does not fancy the idea, then alternative cleanses are available.\n\n\nColon Cleanse\nhttp://www.soundfeelings.com/free/colon_cleansing.htm#recipe\nBowel cleanse\nhttp://www.curezone.com/schulze/herbal_colon_cleanse_1_2.asp\nkidney cleanse\nhttp://www.curezone.com/cleanse/kidney/default.asp\nhttp://www.ehow.com/how_12678_kidney-cleansing-fast.html\nhttp://www.falconblanco.com/health/cleansing/kidney.html\nhttp://www.healingdaily.com/colon-kidney-detoxification.htm\nhttp://www.healthfree.com/cleansing_programs_kidney.html\nLiver cleanse\nhttp://www.drclark.net/en/drclark_protocol/illnesses/liver_cleanse.php\nGallbladder cleanse\nhttp://www.curezone.com/cleanse/liver/default.asp\nhttp://www.curezone.com/cleanse/liver/huldas_recipe.asp\nPancreas cleanse\nhttp://curezone.com/dis/1.asp?C0=261\n\nDIET,\nThe best diet is vegetarian, avoiding all processed, frozen or micro-waved foods and drinks, and based on fresh fruit, fresh vegetables - preferably organic, nuts and seeds. Drinks should be clean water or freshly squeezed orange juice.\n\nMany researchers promote the benefits of vitamin B17 as a healer. this can be found in the following foods:\nApple seeds, alfalfa sprouts, apricot kernels, bamboo shoots, barley, beet tops, bitter almond, blackberries, boysenberries, brewer’s yeast, brown rice, buckwheat, cashews, cherry kernels, cranberries, currants, fava beans, flax seeds, garbanzo beans, gooseberries, huckleberries, lentils, lima beans, linseed meat, loganberries, macadamia nuts, millet, millet seed, peach kernels, pecans, plum kernels, quince, raspberries, sorghum cane syrup, spinach, sprouts (alfalfa, lentil, mung bean, buckwheat, garbanzo), strawberries, walnuts, watercress, yams.\n\nA commercial preparation of B17 is available called Laetrile.\n\nEXERCISE\nExercise should be sufficient to create a sweat, but not sufficient to make you gasp for breath or feel over-tired. About one hours exercise every day is best.\n\nDEBUGGING\nThere are various theories about how bugs create cancer.\n\nHulda Clark suggests that parasites are the cause, and that they can be disposed of by using a zapper.\n\nZappers are available from\n\nSuper Zapper DeLuxe\nhttp://www.drclark.net      Clark Zapper with amazing features get a free CD ROM\n\nhttp://www.paradevices.com/zapper_works.html\n\nTerminator Crystal Orgone Zapper Blood Purification Parasite Solution\nElectrical stimulation devices for blood purification, parasites, relaxation, and addictions.\nhttp://www.elixa.com/estim/zap.htm\n\nHigh frequency parasite zappe
245153
I had breast cancer....go to your doctor asap  Best of luck..I AM DOING GREAT! YOU NEED A GOOD  SURGEON...I HAVE A GREAT ONE IN GEORGIA
1060034
Sometimes treatment doesnt work. It didnt work on my dad, he passed away because of lung cancer.  But it did work for my mom, that is a breast cancer survivor.  So it's not up to us or the doctors who are the lucky ones that get to live.