I'm glad I opted out of chemo

Dr Weiss says this and she is quite correct - it's an extremely rare situation:

"Second malignancies after chemotherapy are rare. Some studies have shown that the risk is about 1 in 1,000 women; other studies say the risk is lower. The bottom line is that it's very rare for this to happen to someone after chemotherapy for breast cancer. Examples of chemotherapies used in the treatment of breast cancer that are associated with the rare side effect of Myelodysplastic Syndrome include: Cytoxan (chemical name: cyclophosphamide) and anthracyclines. Anthracycline chemotherapy includes doxorubicin (brand names: Adriamycin, Doxil), daunorubicin (brand names: Cerubidine, DaunoXome), and epirubicin (brand name: Ellence). The timeframe for developing this very rare complication tends to range from 2-10 years after treatment. Myelodysplastic Syndrome can be detected from a routine blood test: the "CBC" (complete blood count). Most women receiving treatment for breast cancer will never experience this complication."

NattyPatty - there are hundreds of women on this site whose immune systems haven't been destroyed. In fact, everyone at work seems to be getting sick lately and I haven't, so mine must be tough.

Well said Momine. I am inspired by your great response to chemo. I had TAC x 6, which may be similar to your prescription, for grade 3 ILC. I am also on Femara.



I wish all success with their chosen treatments.

Racy, good luck back atcha. I had 4 FEC before surgery and 4 taxoteres after. I am also taking femara. The way I see it, there is no magic bullet, so I will throw whatever I can find at it, in the hope that between all the TXs it will stay away for a while.



Camille, I do hear you. As best as I can figure out I am having some allergy problems, courtesy of taxotere. Femara is not super-fun either. Still, as my husband says, it beats the alternative.

Thousands of women on ths site have permanent disabilities? A bit of an exaggeration don't ya think? No worse disability than death from cancer.

Camille, I like that, a "bad trip" rather than a "journey." We agree. It is not a cutesy journey, but rather "a total downer, dude!"



Like you, I feel no need to "defend" my chemo decision, lol, but remain interested in any and all possibilities for holding this beast at bay.



I do think chemo complications are more common in stage IV. Usually people have been through a lot of treatment and they also often have a lot of cancer messing up their systems. But if you have a good reason to live, the hassles of chemo may be worth it. To me there is also a difference between "SE" and "complication." The constant runny nose during and right after taxotere is an SE to me, as is my mangled toe nail. A complication would be something far more serious.

Momine what is it about our toenails with this LOL--A couple fell of and grew back sideways ahahaha--so ugly it won't go straight. Now my 2 nails on my right and left hand (ring finger nails) are leaving their bed and twistin and bein pulled up. This is not a big deal, bit it looks so silly cuz otherwise I have long, strong nails.LOL (which BTW I never did???) SE don't really bother me either some are just plain silly too.

Obviously we each have the freedom to choose our own treatments. I especially admire those who are comfortable enough with a less common choice to be able to provide their impression about it for the benefit of others in a forum provided specifically for voicing their preference. 

In addition, since the overwhelming majority of those posting on these forums are posting from the standpoint of being personally less than 5 years out from treatment, with the majority that number being within the first 3 years of treatment, forming accurate opinions is subject to that limitation.

A.A.

I'm so glad I didn't have chemo because it was NOT RECOMMENDED by my MO. If my stats indicated I would benefit from chemo, I would have done it in a New York Minute. Statistically someone who needs chemo has a much better chance of living due to the treatment than dying from rare SEs of treatment. But whatever rocks your boat.

I opted out of chemo. It seemed like a harsh treatment for stage 1a. Literally overkill. I can understand why those with late stage cancer might choose such an aggressive treatment. 

Other aspects of chemo that concerned me in regard to the immune system is all our life, we are building antibodies, immunity cells that are sometimes called smart cells that have a memory of all the viruses and etc that we've been exposed to in life. The antibodies killer cells know these intruders and are equipped to fight them when exposed to them again. Chemo kills all these fast good smart cells that's taken a life time to get. When done with chemo, you have to start all over and rebuild your immunity.

These kinds of threads do become hot beds for bad feelings between alternative and conventional. No matter what treatment we choose, we will defend it. The alternative board is the place for those who chose treatments other than standard care and I suppose the person posting this thread is looking for support on her choice. In the chemo thread someone might post...Why I chose chemo. In that instance, you would respect her choice, knowing it was a place for her to voice her choice.

Wasn't this discussed before?