weisssoccermom wrote:Judy,
Interesting that you have some info on the study. I have to be honest though...the shrinkage wouldn't be the primary endpoint for me. Radiation's main benefit is the ability to sterilize the nodal field to show a much lower local recurrence rate. Every surgeon I spoke to told me about study after study which proved this so for me, radiation's ability to lower that local recurrence rate is a huge factor.
In the years since I have been diagnosed, I have seen too many people do all the chemo, only to have something recur....so while I personally believe in chemo, I'm not sure that I would want to put all my faith in it solely. Time and time again, I heard about local recurrence in the pelvic region and above all else, that was something I wanted to avoid.
weisssoccermom wrote:NO NO.....I was just saying that it's cool that you had actually been 'involved' (sort of) in this study. No, I agree with you 100%. From what I have read, the study hasn't been around long enough for me....what you are saying is exactly what I was trying to say.
I was only pointing out for others that shrinkage alone isn't the only consideration. Sorry if my post came across the wrong way.
rp1954 wrote:Is anyone using alternative medicine alone or as an adjunct?
Yes, as adjuncts to oral chemo.
We deal with colon cancer so there's a difference in pre-operational treatment plans, with or without radiation for rectal cancer. We used only CAM before surgery, and then later after surgery, oral chemo with extensive CAM.
[/i] Yes and Yes. Some people have had substantial partial successes with CAM, still needng surgery and usually some chemo. We have had substantial success with CAM and then chemo+CAM, where we have used 3 drugs: an oral 5FU drug, celecoxib and targeted cimetidine, along with aggressive CAM treatment based on research and measurement, not just rumors and hopes.
These are the blood tests we have found important (my three replies). Blood markers are one of two things I've literally told a doctor, "tonight, right now" - before the first treatment, surgery.
For us, doing extra blood testing has been the investment of a lifetime. The most important set of blood tests are those done before chemo, radiation and surgery, because it's time critical and irreplaceable data. As much as possible, ASAP if already "late" because of some treatment. We take no excuses or objections from anybody on the blood tests; without them we are screwed. We often pay for the extra blood tests ourselves, the first year I didn't even argue with insurance, because it would have slowed us down and sapped critical focus and energy.
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