There is NO free lunch—and NO miracle drugs

Cancer treatments can have unintended side effects‑‑forever

 

Many of us have had treatments and taken multiple medications for all sorts of cancer related conditions. Many of these common and widely used treatments and meds have significant side effects—as you surely know by now, but were not necessarily aware of at the beginning of treatment. 

Revisiting this has been triggered by my recent bladder procedure (cystoscopy) to remove cancer cells and cauterize ‘bleeders’ from my bladder cystitis. The cancer is a continuation of my prostate cancer and the cystitis was likely caused by radiation therapy I had ten years ago, for prostate cancer diagnosed twelve years ago. I was unaware all these years that radiation could cause such a ‘side effect.’ 

On the medication side, one purpose of clinical trials is to determine if the side effects of the experimental medication is within tolerable limits. No one expects new drugs to be free of side effects but, in fact, different people have different levels of unintended results. If the side effect is worse than the disease the FDA won’t approve it (probably). I have had many medication side effects. My list of med side effects has included loss of body hair, growth of hair on my head, significant breast growth, joint pains, hot flashes, upset stomach, fatigue, etc. My wife says ‘crankiness’ is another side effect. 

Treatments such as Chemo and Radiation kill all the bad cells and all the good cells they come in contact with. The ‘bad’ (cancer) cells are supposed to stay dead and the ‘good’ cells are supposed to grow back, mostly. That works often enough for these treatments to be used regularly. These treatments may help, or not. But there will likely be side effects. In my case the radiation did not work and the long-term side effects have been significant. I probably should have done my ‘homework’ a little better and a little sooner.

Pills and injections are less traumatic treatments but if you read the fine print that comes with your prescription, you are at risk some for every disease and condition known to medical science. I take pills to counteract the side effect of other pills. You may be doing the same thing. Why do we do it over and over? It all has to do with our quest to stay alive a little longer.

Of course I will continue to undergo treatments, take pills, and have injections in the hope that I will stay alive and be able to manage the side effects…just a little longer. I also pledge to do more and better homework so I know what to expect.

axman

My 21st Century Cancer Tour—so far

Or, My Life is Getting Stranger and Stranger…

 

I made it through more than 60 years in the 20^th Century with nary a cancer—that I know about. There were aches and pains, broken bones, minor surgeries, stitches from time to time, and all was good. 

The kids were born, grew up, and had kids of their own. Carol and I aged gracefully (that’s our story), and all was good.

But then came Y2K and, although there was no Internet meltdown, my cancer cells decided to assert themselves. They did it very quietly at first and grew in a secret place in my prostate. A doctor or two was sure it was curable and I agreed to have it removed. Later I had radiation therapy because it turns out the prostate cancer was not all removed or curable. For some years after that hormones of one sort or another kept those pesky cells in check—still growing but very slowly. And all was pretty good.

I have read a lot of cancer research and discovered that having one cancer greatly increased your risk of getting other cancers. Turns out that was true for me. In less than six months I was diagnosed with a nasty melanoma on my back (October 2014), a carcinoma on my leg (January 2015) and (also January 2015) cancerous growths were found in my beleaguered bladder (technically still prostate cancer). Minor surgeries and a bladder cystoscopy have removed all of these (more or less). Some may grow back after a while, I'm told. 

While I really don’t much care for cancer in any form, there is an upside. I am doing my share (and more) to keep Big Pharma in the chips, to keep doctors and nurses fully employed, to add interesting scars to my body, and to continue to live longer than anyone has a right to. And that’s all good, too.

axman