Stopping maintenance chemotherapy

I am 56 years old, and was diagnosed with stage 4 nsclc last year. I have been receiving chemotherapy treatment since January with chronic side effects. I changed to maintainence chemo in August which contains less of the chemotherapy drugs. I have still been suffering from bad side effects, so the dosage has been reduced for the past two treatments with no change. My oncologist has broached the subject of stopping all treatment. I am well aware that my disease is terminal, and have come to terms with this.

My xrays and CT scans have showed some shrinkage of some tumours, and no further metastases or growth. My quality of life is pretty poor at the moment due to the chemo side effects. I'm inclined to agree with my oncologist and stop all treatment. Has anyone had experience of this situation? What were the consequences? What is my survival time likely to be?

Parents
  • my husband  has  advanced pancreatic cancer with another bowel cancer. he only started palliative chemo 2 weeks ago . once a week for 3 weeks and then a week off. however he is in such a mess already. the first week was not bad but this week it has really hit him. he has spent most of the day in bed and can not cope with anything but water. his stoma bags fill with fluid at an alarming rate. he is weak and finds it difficult even to walk to the bathroom. he says if chemo does this  then he would rather have a short time feeling better  than weeks of living death.  quality over quantity any time. we all respect his decision.

  • Hello

    New to this, my Brother has been diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer along with liver,lymph nodes and lung cancer.

     

    he is started on the 3 week and one of but only been able to do the 2 sessions.

    When starting chemo became very tired  etc, but no sickness as the gave him anti emmitics he has had to stop due to a blocked bile duct, when he starts chemo again he is going to try one week and one week off 

    Rather than you stopping the chemo would you be able to do this would it make life easier for you

     

Reply
  • Hello

    New to this, my Brother has been diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer along with liver,lymph nodes and lung cancer.

     

    he is started on the 3 week and one of but only been able to do the 2 sessions.

    When starting chemo became very tired  etc, but no sickness as the gave him anti emmitics he has had to stop due to a blocked bile duct, when he starts chemo again he is going to try one week and one week off 

    Rather than you stopping the chemo would you be able to do this would it make life easier for you

     

Children
No Data