Another "Chemo or No Chemo?" Dilemma!

Hi nice to meet you, I know how you feel I was the same. I said no to chemo and I'll have everything else. Then I thought about it and if I wanted the best out Come ( for me) then I had to have it.

If i I was a lower stage knowing what I know now and how the chemo has worked I would always have chemo.

Yes it can be hard and not nice but I have had two now, the first week for me is a right off then the other two weeks I'm back to normal and fine.



Chemo does zap the little buggers you can't see so that for me is good.



Good luck

I had Chemo but it wasnt the problem that radiation was for me.  The first 4 were a little tough but after that it was smooth sailing.  I did lose my hair however its back and now looks the same as before.  Wore lots of hats and not many people would know I had no hair.  Every Mon  would drive in for chemo then after meet my friends for dinner and we would go to the casino and I felt fine.  About thur I would get something that felt like the flu and lay down for the day.  I did watch what I ate and had weird smells.  My face had always been on the oily side so I broke out however that is gone and my nails are hard.  I considered it doable and I was scared to when it started but they had a nurse sit me down and tell me everything and gave lots of meds.  I did gain about 20 lbs (its gone) from the steriods.  Did not take the benedryl cause it made me feel drunk.  The nurses were great and it was like a big social gathering on Mon, cried when I had to leave them.  Sure dont know if this helps but you must make your own decision.  This whole BC ride is scarey.

crking71, I understand your dilemma. All of us hope to avoid chemo but most decide reluctantly to do it anyway.



You say if your score was a little higher you would do it. Your concerns about side effects and 'poisoning' would still apply, but you would look past them because of the potential benefit.



Do you have a husband and children to consider? Do you have a support system to help you through?



If your main concern is side effects, you could try the chemo and see how it goes. If it is not tolerable, you can stop.



Unfortunately, I have seen stage 1 ladies here progress to stage 4. They probably weren't offered chemo.



I did a harsher chemo than is recommended for you and my side effects were mild. I didn't have to work though. I did not have the option of the oncotype test.



I would do it again but I would seriously consider using cold caps as the hair loss and waiting for it to regrow has been the worst side effect.

Carrie,

I was so terrified to start chemo you could hear it in my voice. My family doctor called me in some ativan which took the shakes away.

I can also understand not wanting to do it because it is such a small amount that would decrease the recurrence rate.

It is also not a guarantee that you will not reoccur. However, you are awfully young and with it running in your family that puts a new spin on it.

Also, with 4 of the treatments it is not likely that you have permanent damage. Usually 6 of the Taxotere/Carboplatin is what is ordered.

I found chemo to be no fun, but hardly the end of the world.  I did twelve rounds.  There was no doubt that I needed to do it.  I was in a great mood most of the time, because so much less dreadful than I had assumed going in.

One thing to factor into your decision is that breast cancer tends to be more aggressive in younger women.  Something to think about.

Two years after chemo, I am just fine.  A couple of very minor lasting effects.....my hair is a bit less thick, and the bottoms of my feet feel a bit "starched".  I look and feel wonderful.  I have taken my life to the new place I could only imagine a few years ago.  I am living my dreams.

The first chemo cycle was the hardest for me.  After that, I knew I would be just fine, and I was.

With only 4 chemo infusions, I would look into Penguin Cold Caps to keep my hair.  I think they might be well worth the time, expense, and hassle.  Otherwise, I sported some cool wigs, and in fact am regrowing my hair into that style.

Anyway.....good luck.  I looked upon this as an opportunity to do something new and exciting with my life, and I got there.  I think in a year or so, you will look back and say "no, this wasn't fun, but I am glad I went down that road". - Claire

In the original post you ask "what if I don't do chemo and the cancer comes back?"

Chemo is not a guarantee that the cancer won't come back.  Too many women on this board did adjuvant chemo and still were diagnosed with another cancer, or spread of the original cancer.  Another important question to ask yourself is how you would feel if you did the chemo and the cancer still came back, especially if you were left with long term or permanent side effects from the chemo. 

The Oncotype test uses material taken from your tumor, which I am guessing from the way your post is worded, was removed before the hysterectomy.  Does the lower hormone level as a result of that surgery change what your score would have been had the hysterectomy occured enough months before the lumpectomy to lower your body's estrogen levels?  It might be worth contacting Genomic Health for the answer to that question.

It is a huge decision with potentially life changing consequences, you need to make the decision that is right for you, not the one that anyone else wants you to make.

Aza - interesting article, but there's no date on it.  This was just published?  The other article that's interesting is the one on the findings of radiation treatment - the one about the radiation changing the healthy cells and turning them into cancer causing ones. It's over in the radiation forum.  Really, it just puts so much uncertainty on if we're doing the right thing by getting treatment of any kind. 

Link to article:

http://www.cancer.ucla.edu/Index.aspx?page=644&recordid=560&returnURL=/index.aspx

Hi Crking,

There's a poster here by the name of CoolBreeze. She posted a response to someone else asking this question just a couple of days ago that I thought was one of the best I've seen.  My links within the forum don't seem to work, but if you do a search for her name and look for her post on Feb13 you should find it.

We're glad you found us, but we sure do understand your fears.  Best of luck with your decision!  

Most tend to err on the side of caution/fear (which has more merit for higher stages and less logic for lower ones).

As a stage 1, I followed that tendency myself. Logic lost out to caution/fear because I didn't understand why there would be so much emphasis on overkill by people I thought were more knowledgeable than I was. I do think those who turn down chemo are still a minority mostly because it is hard to figure out why so many choose chemo when the numbers are strongly in their favor to avoid it.

Saying this out loud in a public forum is not popular.

Any of us can recur at any time. Most of those who say their chemo is "preventing their recurrence" don't even know if they never would have recurred without it.  

I too would consider chemo more strongly if there is LVI.

A.A.

Laura, I think you will get advice to do chemo because of the size of your tumour and it being HER2+. If your concern is side effects, maybe read some of the topics already here on the chemo you would be doing, or start your own topic.



TCH is a very common chemo and you will get lots of replies about people's experiences.

I am truly sorry for those whose hair did not regrow but I think it's a very tiny percentage. There are over 100,000 members on this forum (not all of whom had Taxotare of course) and it is extremely rare to read that someone's hair did not grow back. I don't think my onc has ever encountered it and he has been practising for about 30 years. I had it and my hair grew back as thick as before.



You can ask about Taxol or consider the cold caps. Check out that thread as I have heard they work better with some forms of chemo.

crking - You have a lot to think about.  Cold Caps are quite a bit more expensive than a wig and are not covered by insurance.  You can sometimes find them used for less.  I had Taxotere,Carboplatin and Herceptin.  My hair came back - no problem, but I was worried about it.  My MO, who has been doing this for 15 years, has only had one patient for whom permanent hair loss was a problem.  Taxotere and Taxol are both taxanes, with similar side effects.  There are some supplements you can take during chemo that can help with specific side effects of taxanes.  There are an enormous number of medicines available to offset side effects, if you do chemo you will find that it is usually a predictable time period that you might feel badly, maybe your parents can just come during that time.  Many women work during chemo, and remain productive during treatment.  I would advise a second opinion, it might help you decide with less inner conflict.  Good luck.

Hello, firstly, I am sorry to hear you have 'joined the club'.  You are very young and should consider giving yourself a chance.  Heavy 'cocktail' chemo is hard, yes, but so are the other treatments taken orally daily for 5 years, radiotherapy et al.  If you decide to take the treatment, then go and get yourself set up for a spa, hairdresser/wig, make-up, new wardrobe (just a few things on sale!) and do it.  It is really a waste of energy to be terrified.  You are stressing too much. Believe me, I am not a 'zen' person, but, with a bit of work on yourself, you can do this.  And, eat good, organic foods!  Get your doctor to get you in touch with a nutritionist/dieticien.  Work some wonders in just being nice to yourself while you are going through this.  All the best and take good care.