Feeling I was scared into chemotherapy

ahare73

Ihave been diagnosed with invasive lobular cancer stage 1A grade 2 estrogen and progesterone positive HER2- and BRCA2 positive mutation. The oncotype of my tumor was 31 and I was told that I would not have to have chemotherapy and that radiation and hormone therapy would be the protocol of care for my diagnosis. Then the surgery took place in March and the oncotype number was accessed. Then they changed things and said I would have to have four rounds of the lowest dose of chemotherapy radioactive and hormone therapy. They took three lymph nodes sentinel all were benign. I am so angry that I went along with the chemo and have had three of the four rounds I have decided to not have the fourth round because I feel it is not helping me but hurting me. I am only 48 and this has been the worst experience of my life I have never had any health issues and feel I made the wrong choice and that I would ge in such a better place if I would of chose what I wanted to do in the first place which was radiation and hormone therapy dose anyone have my same similar situation or have any advice on the horrible situation I find myself in?

Cowgirl13

ahare73, please don't stop chemo, you only have 1 more session. Lobular cancer is very sneaky. Others will post here with more information/thoughts.

moth

I'm sorry you're upset about your health. It's very scary to be sick. What was your second oncotype score?

I think regrets are hard to deal with. If you didn't do chemo and had a metastatic terminal recurrence, would you feel regrets too? I think ultimately we need to be at peace with things we can't change, and just move on. You did the best you could with the information and recommendations you were given. Doctors don't prescribe chemo unless they really believe the benefits outweigh the risks. The help you get from chemo is a reduction in the risk of dying from your cancer. It does suck to go through it.

I hope you come to accept where you are today & move forward.

2019whatayear

I’m sorry you are feeling bad. So you are saying before surgery your doc said you wouldn’t need chemo and then the tumor pathology oncotype was 31?

an oncotype at 31 plus having a BRCA 2 mutation and being under 50, any oncologist would recommend chemo for your best chance of avoiding a recurrence.

Spookiesmom

Howdo you know chemo isn’t helping, only hurting you? Has a dr said that? Because you feel lousy from it? Agree with Moth. Can you live with the possible regret? One more infusion is doable. Do it and be done.

buttonsmachine

ahare, I had an Oncotype of 32 and I did chemo, and I still had a metastatic recurrence. I am not trying to scare you, but it's just the reality. The reason you are doing chemo is to try to reduce the risk of a metastatic recurrence as much as possible.

You are doing the right thing to throw as much at this as possible, so you can hopefully never have to deal with this disease again! You have this window of opportunity to get rid of this disease for good, don't throw it away. You're so close!

ahare73

thank you I am getting so much better in dealing with this awful disease now that I have found this forum to talk about the issues I may be having. I really appreciate you taking the time to respond!

ahare73

I am getting past all of the mental issues this disease can cause. Thank you so much for responding. I have decided to finish the chemo and move on! It is what is best for me and my chances to decrease the a reoccurrence from happening. Do you have any advice to help your hair grow faster? Trying biotin vitamins but it is slow going in coming babk

ahare73

yes! Agree doin it and moving forward thank you! Appreciate all that everyone has responded with it means a lot! Just wish there was a way to make your hair grow back faster!

moth

I honestly don't think you can hurry hair.

Not sure you should do anything beyond eating well balanced diet and getting enough sleep and exercise - all these things help our body heal and the cells to grow back healthy. And try to keep the stress low and enjoy life

ahare73

thank you for the advice

Cinderella57

Chemo is my choice but doctor HIGHLY recommends. Just had cancer for the 4th time in my chest wall. Grade 3. Although I'm afraid, I know that if I do NOT do chemo and it comes back again, I will regret that I did not try to give myself my best chance. But I do know that it can come back despite chemo. It is our sad reality.

Cinderella57

No advice on hair because I haven't been through chemo yet...starting soon but I just want to say we have your back. We understand your fear and it sounded like you needed to vent. Right now I could throw something through the wall I'm that scared and angry. We all need to vent when we just get so overwhelmed. Hugs.