Is chemotherapy the right thing to do?

Agntehunt · New User Joined: 14 Oct 2009 Posts: 1

I've been caring for my father for two years, he recently had a heart attack and was diagnosed with bladder cancer a few years later. He's 60 years old. I'm not exactly sure what the state of the cancer is at this point other than the fact that it's reached metastasis.

He had been receiving chemotherapy for some time, and had several issues crop over that time period, mostly dealing with his kidney's and liver failing. It's my understanding that this renal failure was caused by several factors, including the backing up of his bladder, his low injection fraction from his heart attack, but it seems to me that the chemotherapy also was playing a part. He had been in and out of the hospital numerous times during his treatment, including one time that lasted nearly six months and left him on the brink of death.

Recently it was found that he had a fungal infection in his kidney that the oncologist claimed would "never go away". They wouldn't give him chemo with this fungus, as it would cause his kidneys to stop functioning and the prediction was that he would be dead in a week. Well, the fungus that they said would never go away has gone away, and he's ready to start undergoing chemotherapy again.

I disagree with his decision, mostly because in the two months that he has not been receiving chemotherapy he has been in peak health. He's been relatively happy, has not been weak or confused, and is able to do things around the house. Not only that, but he has not had to visit the hospital [i]once[/i] since they stopped giving him chemo.

I'm not sure of this, I've done quite a bit of research, but I'm no doctor and my understanding of medicine is only slightly above that of a layman, but I'm of the opinion that the chemotherapy is doing more damage than it's solving. The cancer seems to be receding only slightly during his chemotherapy treatment, and from what I've gathered from the doctors the only way to truly be rid of it completely is to surgically remove the bladder. However, with his heart condition, they will not perform any such surgery because of the risk.

I've seen what he's gone through over the past two years, and I know what chemotherapy does to him. I know that at this point I should be positive for him, however when I look at this pragmatically, all I see is history repeating itself. I'm kind of at my wits end at this point, and need a little guidance as to what to do or discuss, concerning his overall health.

I have little trust in doctors at this point, and it's a little difficult to get a real straight answer out of them. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

brainman

Hi Agntehunt. I am so sorry that your father has cancer with all of those complicating factors. Neither my mother, father, or I had the type of cancer your father does so your experiences will not apply that much. I just want to address the chemo vs surgery in light of kidney and heart problems.

My father also had kidney and heart problems. He even has bypass surgery before they found the cancer. His kidneys partially failed following that surgery but they where able to reverse this. At the time of the onset of heart problems he was in his mid 60's. He was diagnosed with cancer (leukemia) in his late 70's. He did undergo chemo since there in no surgical option for people with leukemia. I cannot say the experience did much to extend his life. I can say that chemo impacted his quality of life. Treatment decisions are never easy. Of course, age and willingness to sacrifice some quality in the hope of getting more time is a very personal decision. I will be thinking about and praying for your father as you try to make this decision.
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1992 Astrocytoma grade 2, left motor strip
2005 Recurrence this time said to be an Oligodendroglioma grade 3, same location.
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