Taxol doesn't treat common breast cancer

I like the work in progress idea. Those of us that were treated last year (me) had the benefit of far more knowledge and research than those treated 2 or more years ago. Those that are being treated this year are getting more than those from last year.

E.g., I was diagnosed in February 2006. In the week between my positive biopsy and my surgery my surgeon went to the big BC meeting in San Antonio. I had a question about whether or not I should have an MRI (a colleague from a listserve said I should). My surgeon called me back from the meeting saying that it was actually discussed in several sessions that day and the concensus was that it was not something that should be done routinely but that she would support me if I wanted to do it. What happened a year later? All that info about the benefit of MRI in exactly that situation. Oh well. 

I don't feel bad that I was treated with what was considered the "gold standard" at the time. I would have been far less comfortable with doing something experimental. I guess it's easy for me to say that about the Taxol because, other than a little twitchy pain - that got me up going for walks at 5:30 in the morning and who can complain about that - I didn't have much trouble with it. I know it's crazy hard on a lot of people. But I also know that the cancer that was still in my breast after the lumpectomy (prior to chemo) was gone at the mastectomy so I'll choose to believe that chemo was helpful. And I'll keep taking my anti-hormone meds....

Jorf 

sometimes it depends on what oncologist one sees. A lady in church who had to have a double mastectomy and had mets on her spine was not given any chemo. After the mastectomy they gave her some shots for the bones and a daily pill (don't remember the name). She is currently cancer free and never had to do chemo. I, on the other hand, who didn't even have a mastectomy, had to have chemo. I think too much chemo is being given too soon. Eventually I think there is going to be given more pills and less chemo.