what would you do?

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klueless1973
klueless1973 Member Posts: 3
edited June 2014 in Caring for Someone with Breast cancer

My mom has stage 2 breast cancer. She had her left breast removed. Her tumor was 2.5 cms no lymp nodes were affected. 

Her Doc said there is 68% curable rate with Hormone Therapy alone and if she does chemo and hormone therapy together its 76%.

My mom is 64 years old, scared to dead of chemo making her sick. We also have to travel 3 hours each way to have chemo.

Is the 8%  worth doing chemo for?? I am saying heck  yeah but mom is leaning towards not doing chemo 

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  • makingway
    makingway Member Posts: 799
    edited September 2009

    One of the reasons for not suggesting chemo is when you're older. It's hard on the body. Also she has no lymph node involvement-that's another plus for not doing chemo. If she does decide to do it, tell her she doesn't have to lose her hair. There is a great product called Penguin Caps that prevent hairloss. I am helping 2 women with them while they are going through chemo. Try to offer her support in her decisons. It's a horrible thing to have to deal with cancer-for you both. She's lucky to have you. It is wonderful to see you care so much to seek out answers.

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  • klueless1973
    klueless1973 Member Posts: 3
    edited September 2009

    her doctor is suggesting Chemo but told her it was up to her.  At first when she said she really didnt want to to chemo I wanted to yell and knock her in the head, but after I got home and looked at the paper again that the doc wrote on I just need to support her and let her make the decision that is best for her. 

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited October 2009

    I've never heard of these "Penguin Caps" .  How do they work and who carries these? 

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  • kjanyc
    kjanyc Member Posts: 2
    edited October 2009

    Having recently lived through chemo I would tell your Mom to go for it! At 64 I'm sure she's lived through worse... if it were my Mom I would hit her in the head and guilt her with grandchildren pictures... but in the end it is up to her. I had no lymph node involvement but I'm 47... we were aggressive... 8% means alot when facing the consequences...

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited October 2009

    Makingway:  Again I have not heard of Penguin caps.  I did hear of caps to wear during chemo but a study had said limited success and women still lost hair.  Do you have any articles you can quote to look at? 

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  • concernedsis
    concernedsis Member Posts: 256
    edited October 2009

    Chemo can be hard but tell mom you want her around a long time more! It goes by pretty fast and anything you can do within reason to make sure she doesnt go through again seems worth it! In the end it has to be her fight for life not a fear of treatment. God luck!

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  • TBird1964
    TBird1964 Member Posts: 58
    edited October 2009

    Hello Klueless1973

    First let me tell you that my mom is a 4 year Survivor. :)  When she was dx (at age 69) she didn't even want to hear the word Chemo. She had a lumpectomy. Like your mom, her cancer had not spread to the lymph nodes, however, it was a very aggressive type cancer. She was told that she didn't have to have chemo and given her odds with and without it. Having chemo gave her a 5% better chance of staying cancer free. To my surprise and relief, she started chemo. She had six treatments, one every three weeks. It wasn't a pretty picture, but there are also women who have it much much worse. Those are my moms words and not mine. My mom did it and because she did she has that much more sense of security. She is healthy and happy and leading a very active life. It goes without saying that we are all very grateful for every day.

    My best to you and your mom.

    Teresa

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  • SoCalLisa
    SoCalLisa Member Posts: 13,961
    edited October 2009

    I would say it is a tough choice..I went through the same maze of information

    but it was almost nine years ago now...alot depends on the  type and aggressiveness

    of the cancer..did they do an ONCO DX on the tumor??

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  • klueless1973
    klueless1973 Member Posts: 3
    edited November 2009

    Thanks ladies! My mom decided to do chemo and just finished her third round and has three more to go! Over all she has done a lot better then she thought, but this last go around was a little rougher on her. 

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