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My best friend has systemic lupus, it recently has been affecting her kidneys. Her doctor told her it is in stage four, is chemo really the best way to treat this?
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I saw this and immediately wanted to respond that, no - chemo is NOT a normal treatment for lupus. Lupus is an autoimmune disease that affects certain internal organs and the joints, but not cancerous. "Typical" treatment for SLE is with corticosteroids to control the inflammation we suffer.
A patient could, however, develop other serious conditions, including kidney disease (this is what we lupus patients have to worry about) and lymphoma.
I also have lupus SLE, and have experienced issues with my kidneys. Fortunately, I've only had to undergo prescriptive treatment, not dialysis or worse.
I'm so sorry your friend is suffering this way and I hope the chemo goes well for her.
July 27, 2009 - 4:31pmThis Comment
I find your comment extremely offensive. I was recently diagnosed with sle and have done weeks and weeks of research from top hospitals in the country. Chemo is a vary common treatment of lupus. In the research I have done I would estimate 70% or more of patents have been treated with chemo. If you are going to comment on life threatening diseases you should make sure you have correct information before you cause someone to make a decision that could endanger their life. I live in Delaware that does not have as advanced medical lupus treatments and have completed two rounds of chemo to treat my lupus complications. Yes chemo is mainly used for cancer, but any qualified chemo website will tell you it has other uses including very common treatment of lupus. The lupus foundation of America's website is one of many websites that explains the use of chemo to treat lupus and if you google "lupus and chemo" multiple top hospitals in the nation also have proven research of chemo treating lupus.So again if you are going to comment on someone's life please have correct facts.
April 28, 2012 - 9:49pmThis Comment
She just had a biopsy today, and starts chemo later this week. I really appreciate all of your information, I have been extremely worried about her starting chemo, but now you have helped to put my mind at ease.
July 27, 2009 - 1:37pmThis Comment
Thank you so much for your response! I have a little more info on her situation. She is not undergoing dialysis or considering transplant. Her kidneys are functioning at less than fifty percent. I am still not sure what stage four is in reference to, her doctor explained that five is the worst, and that is pretty much all the info she received on the stages.
July 27, 2009 - 1:15pmThis Comment