An Interview with Crime Journalist Taihei Ogawa! “Stop the Chemotherapy!” The Full Story Behind the Severe Side Effects That Even Doctors Tried to Stop
The doctor told him, “You should stop.”
“I hadn’t had a cold in over 30 years.Even after getting the COVID-19 vaccine, I didn’t experience any side effects. So I used to boast, ‘I’m in great shape.’ Whenever I felt a little under the weather, I’d bluff and say, ‘Just eat some ramen with garlic in it, and you’ll be fine.’ But the chemotherapy was really tough. It’s embarrassing to admit, but I just couldn’t keep going,”
These are the words of crime journalist Taihei Ogawa (65). He was diagnosed with Stage 3C colorectal cancer and underwent surgery to remove the tumor on August 5. During the procedure, metastases were found in 16 lymph nodes, all of which were also removed.After being discharged from the hospital, he underwent chemotherapy starting October 1 for about half a year (eight cycles of three weeks each, totaling 24 weeks) to prevent recurrence.
However, the side effects of the chemotherapy were so severe that they interfered with his daily life after surgery, far exceeding Mr. Ogawa’s expectations.After two weeks of treatment, during the one-week rest period, he was unable to speak, eat, or even get out of bed. He remained virtually bedridden, and after completing one cycle, he decided to discontinue treatment following a discussion with his attending physician.
On November 2, the day of the filming, a little over 10 days had passed since he stopped chemotherapy. Compared to his appearance during the previous filming (October 12), his complexion looked healthier, and he appeared slightly more plump.
In a video released by “FRIDAY TV” on October 17, she spoke in detail about her condition while undergoing chemotherapy.
His eyes were full of vitality, and he gave the impression of being quite close to the state he was in before he was diagnosed with cancer. Regarding his decision to stop chemotherapy, Mr. Ogawa smiled sheepishly and said, as mentioned at the beginning, “But I think this was the right choice.”
So, specifically, what kind of side effects did he experience?
“As I mentioned last time, first of all, both inside and outside my mouth would swell up, causing excruciating pain—I couldn’t even open my mouth. I couldn’t eat any solid food. Then, for about six days, I lived on nutritional jelly, energy drinks, and pudding. I had these for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I didn’t have an appetite and didn’t want to eat, but since I was taking medication, I had to eat.The doctor told me to ‘consume 1,800 kilocalories a day,’ so I was eating high-nutrient pudding.
During that time, I couldn’t even speak. Not only did my throat hurt, but since I couldn’t open my mouth, I could only make sounds like ‘ah’ or ‘uh’—sort of like groans.”
As his symptoms continued to worsen, Mr. Ogawa, feeling anxious, contacted his attending physician. He was then asked to decide whether to continue treatment or not.
“My condition was so severe that I went to the hospital and, since I couldn’t speak, communicated my symptoms in writing. The doctor told me, ‘Mr. Ogawa, you’re experiencing all the possible symptoms.’ Side effects vary from person to person—they can include a sore throat, mouth sores, numbness in the hands and feet, and so on—but he said I was experiencing every single symptom that was possible for me.
Ultimately, the doctor told me, ‘After weighing the pros and cons of chemotherapy, based on what you’ve told me and what I see, I’ve determined it’s best to stop in your case,’ so I decided to discontinue treatment.”
For now, he has temporarily halted chemotherapy, but he plans to continue monitoring his condition.
[YouTube] On “FRIDAY TV,” crime journalist Taihei Ogawa provides a more detailed explanation of the side effects of chemotherapy and the reasons for stopping treatment.