How long is it possible to go without chemotherapy without your cancer gaining a foothold on your body?

That is a very difficult question to answer without knowing more about the type of cancer, the location of the tumor, how far it has already progressed, and how old the patient is.

Some tumors are very aggressive, growing very quickly and beginning to spread throughout the body in a short time. Others, most often in very old people, may grow very slowly and merit a "wait and watch" approach. Some cancers are caught very early and others have already spread through the blood to other areas by the time the cancer is detected.

If you have a family member with cancer and the doctor is advising chemotherapy, it's important to follow the doctor's recommendations to give the patient the best chance of being cured. If the opposite is happening and the doctor is not recommending chemotherapy when you would like your loved one to have it, ask the doctor why she is not suggesting more aggressive treatment. It's important to understand the doctor's thinking. And if you have any doubt, it's best to seek a second opinion.