Chemo "Lite"

One informal, intuitive measurement of the effectiveness of chemotherapy for the treatment of cancer can be defined by the severity of the side effects of medication. Using one of the more common side effects, nausea as an example, one might say that the stronger the feeling of nausea, the more effective the medication is in treating the illness assuming, of course, that dosage of the medication has been accurately calculated.

As the Zactima clinical trial proceeds, we are reviewing the side effects I am experiencing assuming that the appearance of the known side effects indicates the presence of clinically effective Zactima, not the placebo. On a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 the most severe reaction, here is a list of known Zactima side effects plus a few I have added, ranked compared with past experience with the same side effect or a subjective evaluation of what severe might mean:

NAUSEA=4
FATIGUE (need for naps, motivation to "do," stamina, endurance)=3
DIARRHEA=7
RASH (red, patchy, itchy skin condition appearing following exposure to sunlight enduring for several weeks)=5
ANXIETY=3
DEPRESSION=2
EDEMA=3
SKIN SENSITIVITY=5
SIGNATURE (For me, a primary indicator of overall "health:" executed with flourish and verve demonstrating strength vs wavering, indecisive character formations with tremors evident demonstrating weakness)=2

Compared with previous courses of chemotherapy, the present Zactima trial feels relatively tolerable, thus "chemo lite."

We are thankful for the appearance of side effects that reinforce our intuition that we are receiving the real Zactima and we cheer: "Bring them on!"

Copyright 2007