Chemotherapy or Alternative Treatment

I heard a lot about the horror of chemotherapy long before I was diagnosed with colon cancer. I told myself that I will never go for that treatment if cancer attack my body. I would rather change for a better diet. Maybe I will become a vegetarian - I would eat all organic fruits and vegetables. I will try to avoid to undergo chemotherapy. But I ended up having chemotherapy. Please keep on reading and you will know what convinced me to have the conventional way to treat my colon cancer.

Now that I got cancer, I don't know what to do anymore. A friend of mine, told me not to go for chemotherapy because it will make me sicker. I was having a hard time deciding what to choose with regards to my treatment. My husband said that he will support me 100% whatever treatment I would chose.

I decided to call a well known center in Florida. I asked if they can help me and guide me if I would go for natural alternative treatment rather than the conventional one. The person I spoke with told me that they have seasonal camps at the center for cancer patients to train them how to prepare their food. They were selling a cancer kit with the food processor, juicer, water purifier, etc...But I will be on my own. I wasn't sure if I can do that. I need someone to guide me through and check on me from time to time.

We spent a lot of time praying and asking God to guide us to what is best for my situation. God, little by little sent people to help us see what path we should take. Most of my friends at church encouraged me to have chemotherapy because they knew of people God healed through it. I was also reminded that my close friend's husband had colon cancer 15 years ago. He's totally cancer free. Chemotherapy is way better now compared to 15 years ago. I told them I am not sure if I would like to undergo chemo. I am not sure if my body can handle it. We asked our family and friends to pray for wisdom from God. That He will lead us to the right decision on this matter.

One of my friends' friend called me, she was a stage 4 colon cancer survivor. She told me that at first she would like to do natural treatment for her cancer. Like me, she also did not want to have chemotherapy. But she's on her last stage and they have to do something drastically for her to survive. She's been in remission for 5 years when she called me. She explained to me how her chemotherapy worked. What were her side effects. What things she did to help herself with the unpleasant affect of the treatment. She told me it was not easy but it helped her to survived stage 4 colon cancer. My conversation with her made me decide to see the oncologist.

It was time to look for a good oncologist. I called a lot of cancer centers around to check if my insurance will be accepted. I also went online to check on the reviews of some oncologists nearby. Finally, I found one that has a good reputation and also would accept my insurance. A lot of people liked him. I set an appointment to see him.

The first meeting with my oncologist was to get to know each other. He was with his two Physician Assistants. One of them would be part of my chemotherapy staff besides my oncologist. He told me about how chemotherapy work. He explained to me what to expect during treatment. What kind of medication he would give me. There was a lot of information about the chemo medications to take in. It was overwhelming but little by little I was able to process it as my therapy progresses.

The oncologist ordered a blood test and a CT scan to start with. He also ordered a surgery for port implant so that they can easily access my veins for chemotherapy.

I was so out of it. I don't know how to process everything. I just lost my mother early that year of 2018. Things were hard on us, my husband has his own health issues that if not for God giving us strength, I don't know what will happen to us. God has been given us grace. He's been our help.

I have two choices on how my chemo will be administered:

1. One is through the port that needed an outpatient surgery to insert it to my skin, at my right upper part of my chest.

2. The other was through poking my arm every 4 weeks, plus taking a chemo medication in capsule form everyday.

At first I don't know what to choose, but my friend whose a nurse suggested to let them put a port because it's more convenient and I don't need to be poked all the time that can potentially damage my veins.

During my first visit with the oncologist, he ordered a blood test. The first Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) result was high. My CEA was 7.4 ng/ml and the standard range is 0.0 - 3.0 ng/ml. CEA is a blood test were it measured the cancer marker on your body.

Few days after seeing the oncologist, I had a CT scan. I guess the doctor needs to have a picture of my whole stomach before he can start my chemotherapy.

I got my power port placement March 2018. It was an outpatient day surgery. I was awake when it was inserted.They just gave me a local anesthesia. It was kind of uncomfortable when the Radiologist was working on it.

It feels funny and heavy there. My doctor said, it's because I was thin that the port doesn't have a good padding that it feels like it's moving. I can always feel something kind of squirming in my skin. It itches too sometime.

A port, is an implanted device which allows easy access to a patient’s veins. My power port was surgically-inserted totally beneath my skin. It has two parts – the portal and the catheter.

After the port was placed, I was ready for my first chemotherapy! I will be writing my experience about it soon!