- I think you'll get two types of information on the efficacy of chemotherapy. One will be impirical and come from scientific studies and the other will be anecdotal and come from patients, families, and friends.

I'll give you my anecdotal experience with chemotherapy.

I was first diagnosed with breast cancer when I was 36 years old. The tumor was very large, over 5.5 cm, and a mastectomy revealed that it had attached itself to the chest wall and invaded 19 of 21 lymph nodes. The prognosis was very bad.

My oncodoc prescribed an aggressive regimen of chemotherapy which put me into remission.

Now, whether or not this fits into any of the impirical data or not, I'm not sure. But, it sure works for me!

- it was more than 24 years ago! I was on CMF but not at the regular dosage and cycling. The Cytoxan was taken daily by mouth and the Methotrexate and 5FU were given IV each Friday in large doses for 52 consecutive weeks. No breaks, no resting between cycles.

I had 19 blissful years of remission in which I raised my family, enjoyed by marriage, finished my career, traveled, and did whatever. I had a recurrence two years ago but it was caught very early on (thanks to a wonderful oncodoc who serves as my primary care physician).

Because I'd had my lifetime limit of chemotherapy and can't have more without going into full-blown leukemia I was put on tamoxifen. Within 11 months I developed uterine cancer. (Well, I knew it was a risk but believe me, early onset uterine cancer is easier to treat than a recurrence of breast cancer). I had surgery and needed no follow up therapy for that.

I'm doing well now 24 years after having been told that I would be lucky to live 6 months!