What happens when your done with chemo?

Hi DV8Q,

I finished up my treatments 11 months ago and yes, it is sort of here's the pills, good luck and see you in 3 months.  After being the center of numerous doctors' appointments, treatments, tests, etc. for many months, it's kind of a strange feeling to have an open calendar.  My onc repeated scans at my 3 month post-treatment appointment.  I now see her every 6 months.  Once treatment was done, I found myself needing "something" to help me come to terms with what I had just gone through and got help through my spiritual director.  Also, a few months after treatment ended, I joined a support group for cancer patients whose treatment was completed.  It lasted 6 weeks and was just what I needed.  I didn't have the time or energy for any of that while undergoing my chemo.  You are correct that chemo is insurance on top of the surgery.  Life will never go back to what it was "before cancer" but you will find your new normal and it will be exciting and different in a good way. God Bless You!

Cinnabear

I had my expanders in place during rads.

I also had 2 fills AFTER rads. I still have my expanders and will be doing my exchange this fall.

I know what they say about expanders and rads....but it doesnt mean it is not doable. If you seach the threads here it has been discussed.

I was 30 when I was doing treatment, I just don't want you to have any regretts about NOT doing something more ect. The could of's..should of's will be horrid.

I here mumayan and HER experience...but most woman have no big problems with rads. I tolerated it well. My skin was fine. It was stressful for me because I had to go there everyday and see a lot of woman. And the fact that I had to fight my way through rush hour traffic to get home to my 2 year old. Thats it.

Regardless it is your decision....I personally beleive it is best to hit this beast the first time, the second time (if it came back..knock on wood) we might not be so lucky.

God bless  Not trying to interfere.

I know that feeling of being "done."  I just finished my radiation treatments, and somehow, I felt "kicked out."  My next appointment is a 6 week one with my oncologist, and I'm sure after that it will be a three month one.  I think I've had more anxious thoughts about dying from breast cancer in the last week than I did the whole time I was doing chemo, surgery and radiation all put together.  All along, I said I couldn't wait for this to be over. . .. but now, I wish there was something, maybe like "booster chemos" or a pill or something.  I do take the Arimidex everyday and that helps my thoughts a little.  But I do understand the feeling of walking out of the Cancer Center and being "done."

was just looking through the active topics and saw this thread.  I don't want to step on any toes but I just want to point out that the link that was provided regarding the extra benefit from radiation therapy was a retrospective type study and does not actually indicate which group did or did not have lymph node involvement which may or may not have impacted what type of treatment the patient received to begin with.  Although they did say that all of the patients had stage 1 or stage 2, the article which is really just a snap shot of the research that was done with very little detail regarding the patient criteria for treatment.  It was also written by the American Society of Radiologists which may or may not indicate a spin on the results. 

My personal opinion is that if there is no indication for radiation treatment, it should be avoided until it is indicated.  You can only get a certain amount of radiation to any area.  If you are radiating without an appropriate focal point because there is no area that is currently suspicious, you are radiating without a purpose.  Long term side effects are possible with radiation so why do it until it is necessary?

It is my belief that "Hitting it hard" is only effective if you know what you are hitting.

Both my breast surgeon and oncologist have told me that I don't need radiation.  I had mastectomy with clear margins and no positive nodes.  Should I doubt their opinions?

The rads topic is always a hot one.

This is my feeling, if you are a younger woman then I feel that radiation would actually benefit you than harm you. Nelia is so right. Everything comes with some side effect or risk. When you take a new medication look at alllllll the list of POSSIBLE side effects. Does that mean a woman will get them all? No. Does it mean she might get 2 sid effects? Maybe. When you get in your car and drive to the grocery store, you are taking a risk of possibly getting into an accident.Does that mean you throw your drivers license in the garbage and only take the bus? No. You just are more aware and hope you don't get in an accident.

I've always been one of those people who feel, "it's all or nothing." I don't like cutting corners even when I was in practise, I treated my patients thoroughly. Even though I could have done a half ass job and still bill their insurance company for more time.

When I asked about radiation my onc said most deffinatly. Yes...my tumor was 8cm, so I would have had radiation no matter what. But...I then asked him even if my tumor was 2 cm would I have needed radiation with clear lymph nodes. His response...yes. He said, you are young with an agressive cancer it needs to be treated aggressivly. Fine by me doc...do what'cha gotta do.

It scares me when I see woman on the board whos docs say they are in the "grey area" when it comes to rads. This is how I interpet this statement.....Grey area = they don't know!  therefore why take a chance....?

PT63, I had a mastectomy -- the oncologist used the term "toilet mastectomy" which means I was totally scraped clean down to the chest wall, up to the clavical bone, etc.  My tumor was large and there for 7 years, so treatment was agressive.  But. . . . I had a full course of radiation anyways.  No, there was nothing left there, but if there was ONE cell left, I sure do hope those 30 something treatments got it because I'm suffering for it right now.  I really don't know on this subject.  To tell you the truth, I didn't know anyone would question whether or not to do something.  I wonder if I would if I were asked at the beginning of this.  I just don't know!

Hi DV8Q,  I finished my treatments...chemo and rads in November and I am now on Tamoxifen.   I felt lost and not sure what my next step would be.   When I asked the onc..what do I do next, he said go live your life and if you have pain come back to see me.  I was like that is it..what??

Anyway, I decided to see aNaturpath doctor I needed someone to help me get on track with my health, eating and everything else.  I have seen her three times now and I am getting into a routine of really looking after myself.  I don't know if this is the answer but she says that we are working together so I don't have a recurrence and to lead a healthly life.    I will see the onc again in May for my checkup but I feel better knowing that I am taking some control over this scarey beast.    Hope this helps.  Remember, put yourself first.    Karen