Hi, Claire


Claire, first off, I'm a messy guy who doesn't have a clean home or clean body. I could clean up my act for chemotherapy, but I dislike intensely *having* to do so. It would be necessary since any slightest cut can be the occasion for infection, and somehow I have the sense I would be open to more than my fair share of infections.

96% of the folks who get chemo have fatigue, and sometimes the fatigue lasts *years* beyond the actual time of administration of the chemicals. I already feel fatigued because of my obesity and because of a thyroid imbalance which is in the process of being corrected. It has affected me to such an extent that I felt depressed for decades and am not currently working. The idea of being superfatigued for years does not entice.

While it doesn't happen often, there is the possibility of my getting leukemia as a long-term result of the chemotherapy.

It's important to know that the chemo, even if it did affect the cancer recurrance as mentioned by my first oncologist, would only change recurrance of the cancer by 10%. There would still be a 30% chance of recuraance, even with the chemo.

The National Cancer Institute and www.uptodate.com state that chance of increased mortality if you have a stage 2 colon cancer with no complications is 2% or statistically insignificant. Did you really hear me when I said that in the earlier post, Claire? It's nice that you got through the chemo with minimal side effects, but that doesn't mean everyone will, or that it will cure anything.

That 2% isn't the whole story. I have a stage 2b cancer, so it is possible there are factors not mentioned in those bulletins that a good oncologist would know and could explain to me. That's why I'm going for a 2nd opinion at the City of Hope in Duarte, CA.

Importantly, since you're on a Qi Gong list, while I feel I should not quote anyone, it is my understanding that if the possibility of help with chemo is iffy (that's what my 2nd oncologist at Kaiser said), then it should not be done, rather Qi Gong should be used instead.

I wish you the best, Claire. I feel that you have a loving heart.

best wishes,
Mike
moochy_hope@yahoo.com