Question from Caring.com Community Member, jmw
Can someone stop chemo and radiation cold turkey before their prescribed treatment dose is over, or what is the fastest but safest way to stop it all? My mother has a brain tumor, glioblastoma-multiform. She is 55 years old, and I want her to stop the chemo and the radiation. We have found immensely effective natural curing agents that we want to go with. Please help!
Expert Answer by Andrew Putnam
Andrew Putnam is the director of the Palliative Care Program at Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center and Georgetown University.
Glioblastoma multiforme is generally a very aggressive type of cancer. Stopping the chemotherapy and radiation early runs the risk of not gaining any of the possible benefits. There are however times when it is appropriate to stop the treatments early due either to lack of success, side effects, or deterioration of the patient. Before stopping any treatment early, it is important to discuss this with your mother’s medical oncologist or radiation oncologist.
