Choosing not to do chemo w stage 1 grade 3

Aslongrun

I am hoping someone will tell me I don’t have to do chemo. I feel the side effects and long term side effects are too great. I’m 43. I am thinking if. Or doing fine chemo. It’s scheduled to start Monday. I have so much anxiety about it I can’t functio

Aslongrun

doing chemo creates so many side effects. Doctors say grade 3 and it’s “curative” equating to a 7 percent decrease in recurrnace. I had an endopredict score saying a 23 percent chance recur on 10 years. Thinking I’ll take my chances and not do chemo. I can do radiation and tamoxifen. Not chemo. I can treat holistically

muska

Hi Aslongrun, it looks like you already made your decision and it goes against your doctors recommendation to do chemotherapy. It is obviously your right to refuse any treatment, be it chemo or anything else. I don't quite understand what you are asking of this community.

Best

KBeee

No one has all of your medical information. The doctor's recommendation to do chemo I'd based on your hormone receptor status and HER2 status. The goal is to keep it from spreading to distant organs, where it will be incurable.

Ultimately it is your decision to accept or reject your doctor's recommendation. You could also seek another opinion. Some people struggle with chemo, and others have less side effects. Ultimately it is your decision, as long as you clearly understand the ramifications should your cancer spread. You can't just decide to do chemo then. It will be too late; it'll be treatable, but not curable.

Chemo is no guarantee it won't spread, but in your case your doctor thinks it will reduce your risk. No one here is going to tell you to ignore your doctor's advice, but we will tell you to do what you think is best for you. Chemo can have lasting negative effects in some. Always a tough decision. Only you know your whole situation.

There are some other threads in the alternative forum where you can see lifestyle changes others have made who chose the same path.

Best wishes.