treament questions...

mish1015

• Hi Everyone,

  I am new on here and was hoping for some help.

  I am 38 diagosed on 11/3/10 with TN IDC. I had a partial mast on the right side...the tumor was 2.5 cm, all nodes and margins clean. the DR. told me it is stage II grade 0 . I just had a pet scan which came back clean. I am now recovering from the surgery, which they also did a bilaterial breast reduction , since so much margin tissue was removed. I need to make a descision on treatments now. The side affects of Chemo scare me more then the Cancer. Has anyone done just RAD treatrment after surgery and NOT chemo? Please give me some advise ...as I am scared.    

dlb823

mish, triple negative bc can be extremely aggressive.  If an oncologist who is experienced  treating women with TNBC is recommending chemo, I don't think you can avoid it, although you certainly can get a second opinion, just to be sure it's needed.

I don't think anyone in the world ever wasn't at least a little scared of chemo, but for most of us, as unpleasant as the SEs can be (especially the fatigue), it's a lifesaver, so well worth doing.  I know prior to doing chemo myself, I'd read some horror stories, but absolutely none of those things happened to me, and SEs like nausea weren't even an issue with the anti-nausea meds they give us now.  

What many of us realized at some early on point, is that you have one chance to hit your bc hard when you're first diagnosed, and hopefully never have to ever deal with it again.  If you miss that chance, and if it comes back, it's much harder the 2nd time around.  One question to ask yourself is, if you don't do chemo and it ever came back, would you regret not doing chemo?   

I know it's scary, but it's probably not as bad as you're imagining.   Are there any particular SEs that concern you?     Deanna

(By the way, new BCO members are limited to 5 posts per 24 hr. period, which is done to prevent scamming.  Most of us find out the hard way and get shut out for 24 hrs.  If this should happen to you, you can continue to communicate with anyone here by clicking on their avatar or screen name, which will take you to a page with a Private Message (PM) feature that is unlimited.  Just thought you might like to know!)

soulswithin

Hi Mish, ohhh how we all remember that scary decision of chemo and other treatments.

I thought I was home free from chemo, having a partial mastectomy and grade2 cancer, +E, opting for saving the breast and radiation.

Then I found out something new about my cancer, that it was actually Grade 3, with the oncotype test, which changed my whole outlook. Thank God I did that test although late at that. I was upset about having to do chemo, and even more upset because for months doctors and surgeons kept saying, ohhh don't worry, you have slow growing cancer. Alot of delays, etc. In the end I felt I really had no choice and went with the chemo. I did ok. And as time goes on, I am glad I did it, realizing I do not want to go through this again and fighting it aggressively the first time is not such a bad idea.

The pressure to decide is bad enough, but maybe you'd feel better if you got a second opinion. I did, and it solidfied my decision. Best wishes to you, hang in there, this too shall pass. My heart goes out to all of us who have to go through these anxious times!