Chemotherapy. Is It More Harmful Than Helpful?

What is Chemotherapy?

Lecture From Dr Koo Wen Hsin in 1999

Disclaimer: Notes recorded by Debby Blettner

Dr Koo Wen Hsin is an Oncologist visiting Perth WA, from Singapore.

He sat in the audience, as a student, for three days before surprising everyone by standing on stage giving us all a lecture!

His lecture is about Hospice Care.

What is Chemotherapy? Cytotoxic drugs, (ie cell/toxic), chemical agents for the treatment of cancer.

1) To cure cancer.

2) To improve the chances of curing the cancer.

3) Prolong life.

4) To relieve symptoms.

Ninety percent of cancer cannot be cured by chemotherapy. Colon, breast and lung cancers cannot be killed by chemotherapy, and these cancers make up 90% of all cancers.

Testicular tumors, ovarian cancer, leukemia’s in children, Hodgkin’s disease are very sensitive to chemicals and can be killed by chemotherapy.

Non Hodgekin’s Cancer, of the Lymph Nodes generally speaking, is very chemotherapy sensitive, also radiation works on these cancers.

Testicular cancer is very chemotherapy sensitive.

Dr. Hsin is a Palliative Physician, a Hospice doctor.

Non sensitive cancer:

• It will do more harm than good to be given chemotherapy.

These include:

• Non–small-cell lung cancer.

• Liver cancer.

• Renal Cell cancer.

• Brain tumors.

• Cancer of unknown primary.

Moderately Chemo Sensitive:

These include:

• Small cell lung cancer.

• Breast cancer.

• Colon cancer.

• Stomach cancer.

After surgery the cancer can return – 5 – 10 years which equals cured to a doctor.

Doctors give chemotherapy to improve the chances of survival and reduce the chances of relapse.

There are 3 types of Chemotherapy given:

Adjuvant chemotherapy, systemic chemotherapy and Palliative chemotherapy –all given to improve the chances.

The Immune System is lowered by Chemotherapy.

A Clinical trial took place:

Phase one trial – there was a request for volunteers. These volunteers were given drugs with no proven effect on cancer. The Clinical trial was required to give records of what damage the drugs will do. How much damage? Some volunteers died.

Phase 2: With the results of the Trial, the concentration of drugs is worked out.

Phase 3: New drug is compared with the gold standard, which has the best response etc., and is marketed.

“How long is my chemotherapy?”

This depends on:

1) Tumour size.

2) Symptom control.

3) Quality of life.

It is difficult to tell.

Adjuvant chemotherapy, where there is no more cancer, it has been surgically removed, is to prevent a relapse. Many don’t relapse anyway, even without 6 months of chemotherapy!

If cat scan shows up black, with defined edges, it usually indicates cancer, also ultrasound.

• Liver cancer, surgery is only method, remove part of it, if can.
• Not chemotherapy sensitive, liver cancer, but it does respond to Chinese herbs.
• Symptom control- just check if symptoms are improving.
• Quality of life – Stomach cancer cannot be cured by chemotherapy.

A woman with stomach cancer could eat and drink after chemotherapy, but she had a goal in mind, her wedding, a new apartment, she was not cured but she achieved her goal!

Results of Chemotherapy:

• hair loss

• vomiting.

• Bone marrow suppression.

• Low resistance.

The bad part of chemotherapy, is that every organ of the body can be affected by chemotherapy. Very tired after chemotherapy. Many bad results from chemotherapy, a long list of side effects.

After chemotherapy there were results on the patients x-rays, but the patient had no energy. He took herbal medicine and massage to maintain his function – lung and brain tumor. He stopped chemotherapy. The chemotherapy couldn’t heal, but took away the quality of life. He was given a choice of two years of lying at home or one year of active life, without chemotherapy. The patient needs to decide on their fate.

Chemotherapy Costs:

1) Consultation.

2) Lab tests.

3) Medication. In Singapore, all of these are very expensive.

4) Others – most important! The carer, the person taking care of the cancer patient, may have to give up their job to help the patient, has to wait with the patient to see the doctor. Consider the carer when deciding whether or not to take chemotherapy.

Today’s doctor is:

1) Scientist.

2) Saint.

3) Shopkeeper.

Therefore 5-10% people really benefit from chemotherapy!

Therefore every patient is offered chemotherapy.

“How long do I have to live?”

The doctor will study the Median Survival Chart of Statistics.

The general figure is figured out by statistics.

The first person lives three years and the rest live longer.

The doctor will inform the patient that he has three years to live!

Gross misrepresentation. Very inaccurate. It is impossible to predict.

Statistics only.

Evidence based herbs – lots of evidence to support for immune system! Not much scientific evidence for it.

How do I prepare for chemo?

1) Nutrition.

2) Exercise.

3) Talk to others. It’s hard travelling alone.

Cancer is a word, not a sentence.

Oncologists always treat, forget to prevent!

What they practice full time is what is supposed to be done after communication and nutrition.

Support groups respond much better to treatments than those that are hidden at home.

Neuro phycho neurology – right frame of mind affects hormones. Lab studies have proven this! Too much trust is in Lab’s and chemicals.

To cure sometimes, to relieve often, to comfort always!

Dr. Hsin showed a slide of two handfuls of drugs, which were taken by a patient each day – add a dressing and it can become a meal!

Dr Hsin showed a slide of a mother holding a baby that had a man’s head, a shirt and tie, a reminder to cuddle and hold close the person in need.

Dr. Hsin apologized for his lack of knowledge of nutrition care.

400 lymph nodes are around the neck and in underarms. Regional lymph nodes. Clusters of white blood cell – nodes.

Inject dye into tumor and wait and see how many lymph nodes are connected. Remove those. Lymph removal depends on the surgeon.

There is a group of doctors that are very aggressive with chemicals. They cause vomiting, hair loss, nausea, but this is no problem to the doctor, no worries to him, only to the patient.

There are injectable Chinese remedies.

Massage and oral Chinese medicine. Chi kung and tai- chi.

NB: Dr. Hsin also said that,

The Oncologist looks at the problem and focuses on the cure of the problem and often forgets about the patient.”

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