Friend (61) has scleroderma and lung cancer. Saw him in Sept, looked really great (he said no to chemo), and then he changed his mind and had chemo. Looks really bad. Except for 2 cases, I have never seen chemotherapy or radiation improve anyone's life and have seen tons of cases where it has shortened one's life.

And sadly it looks like you are seeing another one.

I just came from a club meeting where one of the guys informed me that his doctors want him to have surgery for prostrate cancer, the hormone treatment he�s been getting is apparently not working as hoped. I suggested that he come here and look for some alternative options but I am afraid he still has complete trust in the gods in white coats.

I am sorry, I see way too many people get cancer treatment and I have seen it work in a very small minority of the cases. If my friend did not do chemo, he would still be in a world of trouble, but not as much. If he came here and listened to us, he would, at the least get some quality of life for awile. Just seeing him with all those tubes: not good.

Let me rephrase: here is what I have seen:

A number of people with breast cancer, good results

2 with colon cancer, one cured, one under control (but have heard of chemo making many people worse)

A number of people with lung cancer: chemo killed them quicker

Uterine Cancer: sick, but 4 days of radiation hastened death.

2 cases liver cancer: treatments made it worse

Cerivical cancer: one case, chemo made it worse.

Leukemia: one case, chemo did nothing either way

Non Hodgkins: one cure, one extending of life

Esophagal: one case, treatment killed the guy

Testicular: one case (supposedly the most treatable one with chemo). Killed the guy

Friend died this morning. No doubt in my mind the chemotherapy hastened it. He was ok in Sept, a little fatigued. Said no to chemo. then they talked him into it and it was a very quick downhill slide!

Very sad news saved, my condolences.

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"Don't regret growing older, it's a privilege denied to many"

Thanks, I just very pissed at the system. If you walk into a hospital for cancer treatment (with the exception of testicular, breast or some leukemias), you have a 15% chance of best of walking out. If he would have said no to chemo, he would still be alive (obviously not for yrs, but at least for months).