Hello all,

Penny has had 8 chemo treatments and as I posted earlier she developed febrile neutropenia and was hospitalized for 5 days and missed 4 IMRT's. Her MO has stated he would like to cease her chemo as he feels to continue it may compromise her regimen of radiation. I've read several post where chemo was stopped, but I guess my question is originally he wanted to have the chemo run the whole course of her IMRT and even 2 weeks post IMRT--now he is saying that it would be okay to stop the chemo and her tissues are "softened" enough to enhance the radiation. So initially 16 weeks of chemo were warranted and now 8 is sufficient? I know it is more important to continue the radiation, yet it seems having 1/2 the chemo stopped would compromise the outcome? The Dr's respone to this is the IMRT is more important but still this doesn't seem like the main question is being addressed? She has I think 17 more IMRT's to go. Any comments?

I think the doctor is right that to keep up with the IMRT without more delay is most important. It's the radiation that does the real heavy work in terms of killing off those cancer cells.

Nelie

It is my understanding that radiation, for initial instances, not recurrences, is the primary treatment regimen. Chemotherapy, as insurance, is additional. If the doctor recommends that chemo be discontinued, be guided by his/her advice.
Darrell

My MO told me at the begining that he would like me to have chemo every week I had a week of radiation, but he also said in reality most people's bodies can't take all the chemo. I went 5 rounds, and he stopped. I was so weak, and my mouth had so many blisters, and I got the yeast infection, I didn't get the 6th treatment. He said it wasn't worth risking my health. I even took 4 days off radiation, then went back to finish the radiation. I wanted so bad to do everything I could to get rid of this, but I also realized I didn't want the treatment to do more harm. Hope this helps.

Sarah, that's not uncommon when her counts are so compromised. To continue could do more harm than good and it's important to finish the radiation. I remember the MO told us that Jack needed to get at least 2 chemo treatments, and if he could tolerate the remaining 2 that would be ideal but that it was not always possible. I got the impression that getting the first 2 of the chemo was the boost they wanted to boost the radiaiton. His counts came back up when he was hospitalized but that's the only reason they were able to continue. What they're saying does make sense.
Regards JoAnne

Thank you- yeah I guess in the long run it does make sense. Perhaps they just wanted to see how aggressive they could be with this and give her the most she could tolerate- so I guess overall 8 is pretty good...it's just you all know how I feel - frustrated and concerned- - thank you for the input.

Hi Sarah, Yep frustrated and concerned sums it up pretty well. You're doing good by your sister and I hope next week goes better for her. Regards JoAnne

Sarah,
I was supposed to have 3 Ciplatin treatments, every 3 weeks, and they cut the last one because I responded "too well" to the treatment. Like Nelie said, the radiation is the primary frontline treatment - that has to be completed. What was her protocol? What was she taking?