How long to take chemo treatment?

hapizi84 · New User Joined: 28 Oct 2009 Posts: 2

How long somebody need to take chemo treatment ?My friends mom take chemo until 2 years because she have a breast cancer.And now she still have a cancer.

Vee Smith · Moderator Joined: 12 Feb 2006 Posts: 1080 Location: UK

That is a simplistic view. Chemotherapy takes many forms, consists of many different drugs, and is used for various different cancers.

It is not usual to use chemotherapy over a very long period because of its side-effects. These days oncologists can usually target fairly precisely the treatment to the condition. Chemo is often used to shrink a tumour before surgical interference. It can also be used to treat metastatic cancers and keep their development under control.

From your post it seems that the lady has metastatic cancer, in which case [unless there is a remarkable discovery very soon] the doctors will seek to control her condition for as long as possible.

dsieg58 · New User Joined: 15 Feb 2010 Posts: 6 Location: USA

I know someone from Vietnam was diagnosed of breast cancer. She had one of her breast removed right the way after diagnose. My question is when would be chemo applied in breast cancer rather than removing it?

Thanks.

Vee Smith · Moderator Joined: 12 Feb 2006 Posts: 1080 Location: UK

Only if the cancer has metastasized to other parts of the body. Excision of the tumour is the best option for a new breast cancer, followed by either radiotherapy or a chemo round to knock out any remaining cancer cells.

dsieg58 · New User Joined: 15 Feb 2010 Posts: 6 Location: USA

Hi Vee,

Thank you very much for getting back to my question. I know 2 people that related to my family have breast cancer. I just want to know more about it so that I can support and help them.

Vee Smith · Moderator Joined: 12 Feb 2006 Posts: 1080 Location: UK

[quote="dsieg58"]Hi Vee,

Thank you very much for getting back to my question. I know 2 people that related to my family have breast cancer. I just want to know more about it so that I can support and help them.[/quote]

I am so sorry about that - it is always hard. Ask away if you have any questions. Even if I can't provide an answer, there are many who may be able to. And of course there are also the differences in the ways that countries run their health programmes.

Cindy · Senior User Joined: 01 Dec 2004 Posts: 187

[quote="hapizi84"]How long somebody need to take chemo treatment ?My friends mom take chemo until 2 years because she have a breast cancer.And now she still have a cancer.[/quote]

Generally and initially, chemo is for about 6 months. That being said, sometimes there are patients who have stubborn cancers and they can be put on low dose chemo for years. Sometimes for the rest of their lives. This keeps the tumor stable. If the tumor starts to grow, they either go back on full treatment or their med is changed to a different kind, to see if it is effective.
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Vee Smith · Moderator Joined: 12 Feb 2006 Posts: 1080 Location: UK

AS I said, different countries have different approaches.

dsieg58 · New User Joined: 15 Feb 2010 Posts: 6 Location: USA

To Vee, thanks for good info and advice.

My wife's brother died of liver cancer 20years ago when he was 39. There were not really any good treatments for cancer those day. He was gone about 2 weeks after he had been diagnosed. Do you know is it possible to have treatments for liver cancer? I mean is liver cancer treatable?

Vee Smith · Moderator Joined: 12 Feb 2006 Posts: 1080 Location: UK

[quote="dsieg58"]To Vee, thanks for good info and advice.

My wife's brother died of liver cancer 20years ago when he was 39. There were not really any good treatments for cancer those day. He was gone about 2 weeks after he had been diagnosed. Do you know is it possible to have treatments for liver cancer? I mean is liver cancer treatable?[/quote]

Check out the forum on Liver Cancer : http://cancerforums.net/viewforum.php?f=10

All I can really say is that it is often diagnosed very late, too late for satisfactory treatment. But do read through the posts in the forum.

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