Please help!!! chemo??
Comments
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I am such a mess. They keep scheduling chemo for me and I KEEP CANCELLING. I just cannot come to terms with it. Here are my thoughts on it: 1) How can one recover from an illness when the treatment makes you so ill? 2) If it was going to mets, it had years to do so. 3) Why are there so many women who suffered through this treatment and had a reoccurance anyway? 4) Why are there so many women who had negative nodes and had mets anyway? I dont want to be near death with treatment with no quality of life, and then have it come back anyway...
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I am stage 2a, 1.4cm, er+pr+ her2-, 1/11 nodes+
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Cinderella, There is some news coming out of the San Antonio Breast Cancer Conference regarding using the Oncotype DX test in ER positive women who have node involvement. I don't know if being Stage 2a would still fit into the testing guidelines but if it did, you would have more information from which to make your choice. There is so much new research being reported just this week that does give one pause for thought about chemotherapy. Like the study saying that anthracyclines don't benefit most of the women who have had them. And it takes a long time for research findings to work their way into practice.
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We all understand how you feel, and we were all scared of chemo and side effects. The most difficult part of this disease is having to learn to live with uncertainty. Just because you don't have mets now, that doesn't mean you never will. Most of us want to know that we did everything we could to fight this disease. After going through 4 txs of AC, and then 12 taxols I can tell you that while not pleasant, it is very doable! There are many on this board who will offer help and encouragement, and ways to handle side effects. Try to hang in there, and we will all be there to help.
Hugs to you.
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Hi Cinderella,
Yes, Chemo is not something any one of us would CHOOSE to do, but it REALLY IS doable. Your onc can help with different meds to help with the se's, if you have them.
I am the biggest chicken, and I got through it! I had 4 txs of Taxotere and Cytoxan.
I know it's a tough decision, but you CAN do it! I am 44 y.o., and my surgeon kept insisting that since I am still relatively young, I should get chemo. I discussed it with my onc, and decided NOT to get chemo. But, in my gut and in my heart, I still didn't feel 'right' with the decision. So, a few days later, I called my onc and said that I had changed my mind. I decided that I had to do everything I could to try to prevent recurrence. I was TERRIFIED! But, I got through it.
If you need to talk, you can pm me...Hugs
Harley
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Dear Cinderella,
Please go to Natural Healing conversation on this board. I chose not to do chemo, surgery or radiation. My dx already Stage IV bc back in March..........PLEASE read all the comments...please. You are the one that has to make the decision for yourself.
Our prayers are with you.
Genesis
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I agree with smerf, you should at least try chemo. I'm starting chemo in Jan and they tell me with the new drugs like Aloxi, you don't have as much vomiting and nausea. Why take such a risk when bc is curable in early stages? I just want to get on with treatment so I won't be sick anymore. Good Luck to you.
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Here is a link to the info on the Oncotype DX from the San Antonio Breast Conference that Ann mentions. My oncol. had this test run on my tumors and much to his surprise (not mine because I had done my homework), my score was very low and THEN he didn't recommend chemo. My tumors were 1.2cm and 1.6cm, ER+, PR+ with one node positive for micromets (.6mm). The choice is ultimately yours. Do your research and talk to your oncol. about the Oncotype DX test too. It can help with your choices. A radiation oncol. who I saw for a second opinion (BTW, a second opinion at a breast center might also help you) told me that I had to be at peace with my decisions. I frequently come back to those words of wisdom. Best wishes
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cinderella,
I had a similar situation: Stage 2A (2.8cm, node neg) ER+/PR+ her2-
I refused chemo for quality of life reasons, and the studies I found indicated that hormone therapy was as or even more effective than chemo for most ER/PR+ women. One thing that you should know if you choose this route: the way you are treated (attitude of staff and doctors, that sort of treatment) will change. I went from being treated like a human being to being treated like a body part on an assembly line when I made it clear I was not going to take chemo. My records got "lost", they "forgot" to schedule appointments, the "missed" the notes that I had called and needed a return call or answer to a question. I had to change to another cancer center, almost 100 miles away, to be treated like a person again.
Whatever route you choose, make sure you have an onc that will respect and support you.
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Hi Cinderella,
How are you doing? You haven't checked in here, so I'm thinking about you. Hope you're finding the answers and peace that you need. I agree that second opinions are a great idea, and if you are near a breast center, so much the better. Onco test is also a good idea, but my understanding is chemo is recommended for even one positive node. It's very doable, but seems daunting at first. Let us know if we can help.
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Hi Cinderalla....
It is a very personal decision. And you need to do what you feel most comfortable with.
I was the biggest weenie when to came to doing chemo...I didn't feel I had much choice as I am Her2+ but I fought it all the way. And I have to tell you....I never got sick, never got tired, no se's really at all, well, except the hair. Even my brows and lashes hung on for the most part. It is doable. Not fun, but doable. And it goes fast, fast, fast. And then you are done and you have done everything you could. Yep, you are right. Sometime no matter what you do, the beast comes back with or without positive nodes. But I decided to whack it hard the first time as I wanted my chance at a complete cure.
But...it's your body, your decision. You need to be comfortable and once you decide, never look back and do the "what if's". By the way, I had Taxotere/Carboplatin (plus the Herceptin of course).
Good Luck to you!
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Cinderella,
I hope you are doing well.
Please DO consider getting the chemo, because it really IS doable. If you have problems with se's, the onc can help you and sometimes they even switch your chemo regimen, if you can't tolerate the one you are on.
But, it IS your decision, and you need to be at peace with it. I just KNEW that I would never forgive myself if I didn't get chemo, and something happened later...Most times, I have found, we regret the things we DIDN'T do, not the things we DID do...
Just a thought...
Hugs
Harley
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quote<but my understanding is chemo is recommended for even one positive node>
Just a FYI: That is not true. Depending on your age and other factors, among them: if the tumor is highly ER+, chemo may not be recommended. I had micromets to my SN and chemo wasn't recommended for me. Best wishes!
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Why all this talk of chemo on an alternative board........are we not suppose to be discussing alternatives to modern medicine????
Genesis
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Sometimes we find that help comes to those who seek help regardless of where we seek.
Trish
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Dear Cinderella, My situation was very similar to yours, but I am out 3 years. I had reservations also, but decided to attack the cancer head on, 8 rounds of chemo, the last four using taxotere(which by the way made my complexion beautiful), 6 weeks of radiation, and a double masectomy, and a total hysterectomy. I do not regret any treatment that I did. I am on an aromisin now. I am doing great. Three years ago my side effects from chemo were minimal, and I know treatment is even better now, more ways to control side effects. Please think carefully about not doing chemo. You may regret that decision. I had a friend whose friend decided to go with the alternative method and she did fine for about 3 years, but she is dying now. She actually agreed to use Tamoxifon, 2 years ago, which kept her going for awhile, but her cancer was too aggressive from initial diagnosis. She had a wonderful Christian oncologist who literally begged her to try treatment, but she refused. She finally gave in to Tamoxifin, but we believe it was too late. People make such a big deal of the side effects of chemo. Read the statistics. Thousands of women do it and it has saved their lives. Of course, there are risks, but crossing the street and possibly getting hit by a truck is a risk. If you have a family, please consider doing everything possible to save your life. Pray and pray alot. God is with you and trust in Him to help you make this very important decision. God bless you, Kathy Prihode
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Cinderella,
If you are given the opportunity to take chemo, I'd grab it and run. My tumors were toooo small, and all say that chemo wasn't an option for me. I am er/pr+, HER2+. I am taking Femara, and hoping that this will do the trick.
Again, like everyone else says, it is ultimately your decision. Best wishes to you in the coming New Year.
Jennifer
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Dear Cindrella,
Kathy's comments regarding her friend who has a friend who is now dying of cancer is one case. There are many types of alternatives out there regarding treatment for cancer and to blanket "alternative" as one is a total misconception. If this woman dying of cancer is not familiar with Dr. Schulze's natural healing program it is certainly time for her to seek it out. He has had amazing success with patients that modern medicine has sent home to die. Why do so many on this board choose to stay in the dark regarding Schulze?? There are plenty of women who die each year from traditiional treatment. So those of you that believe in traditional medicine are you going to abandon it? Bottom line is you have to believe in what you are doing........for me it was common sense to go with natural healing. As I have said over and over and over - God made our bodies capable of healing themselves. Schulze's program is all encompassing in regard to healing disease. God has given us everything that we need to maintain and to heal without a chemistry lab involved. The choice is YOURS - NOT your doctor.
Our prayers are with you,
Genesis
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