Logistics of treatment
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Hi ladies, thanks for commenting, it was nice to wake up to some messages of support as I’m feeling very isolated right now.
I will follow up on some of your suggestions and see what I can figure out. Thanks x
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Hi @Outra , read your post this morning. I can't offer any further advice but wanted to let you know I am thinking of you and your predicament. I had to travel only just over an hour for treatment, which was difficult so can only imagine the difficulty travelling 2 hours and with a baby. Hopefully you can access support services before the new year so you can begin treatment ASAP. In the meantime this site should make you feel less isolated. Best of luck, Sue P0
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My function in life seems to be saying difficult things that most won't. If you have decided not to have chemo--for what ever reason--that is your choice and your right. You won't be the first person who has weighed the pros and cons and said no. You won't be the last.
Australia has one of the highest BC survival rates in the world but there are no guarantees regardless of what you do. The percentage increase in ten year survival rates offered by chemo can be shocking low. It can also save your life. The nature of your cancer has a great deal to do with that equation, but I'm assuming you have already investigated what the sums look like for your individual situation. It comes down to your personal appetite for risk.
If that is where you find yourself please let your medical team know. Get it over and done with. You will be treated to the obligatory lecture about only having one chance at it. You'll be asked how you will feel if your disease progresses and you refused something that could have helped. It will be a difficult conversation and the folk on the other end of it--your medical team, friends and family-- won't like it. Everyone will have an opinion and they won't be shy about sharing it.
We all have to own the decisions we make and the mental pressure of being stalled is truly horrible. Once the decision--to either get on the other end of the needle or not--is made everyone can move on and stop spending time and energy trying to convince you to do something you don't want to do. You can also stop defending yourself and get busy planning things you can commit to. I'm betting that sorting out the logistics will be easier also.
Sorry if that sounds a bit blunt. I succumbed to pressure to have more chemo when my cancer came back and I regret it. Only time will tell if I wasted my time and ruined my body doing something pointless. It didn't work the first time, maybe I'll have better luck now. We will see. Marg xx1 -
I might have read the original post incorrectly, but the impression I got was not that Outre didn't want the chemo offered at her two hour away hospital pre surgery and rads, as that hospital does not offer cold caps. The cool caps were only available to her in Brisbane, under the public system, which would entail an initial three month stay there, and that was the initial hurdle. Following hurdles of further Brisbane based surgery and rads was further down the road. I got the impression that if both the chemo as well as the cold caps were available to her two hours away, she would not be having such a problem. If I am incorrect, then I stand corrected.1
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You can contact mummyswish at mummyswish.org.au you'll need a gp letter. They may be able help with some extra info . There on holidays till jan 8 though.0
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That sounds much more positive, best wishes!0
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hi @Outra
I have been away just read your post...
what about Angel flight https//www.angelflight.org.au/AboutUs/FAQs
thought this might be an option....
You have a right to share why and what reasons you are choosing the course that will be your course of treatment we all do.
I agree with lots of the answers on the post and especially what @Zoffiel has said about the hard stuff. I am sure you would be eligible for isolated patients assistance scheme funding also.
I chose double mastectomy with no reconstruction, I had 9 months of chemo then 6 weeks of Rads this has given me 5 years with no evidence of disease.... was it easy NO it bloody well wasn't I have long term side effects from Chemo and Rads but I would do it all again.
I chose that as I have 2 boys with Autism and like @primek , I chose to be here for as long as I can for my kids.... talk to your social workers and the specialists you have for your chronic health condition and get it firm in your mind what you wish to do. I had to seek a 2nd opinion 4hrs drive away and I went with my gut instinct on what was right for me. my surgery and initial treatment meant 8hr round trips to see them.
Let us know how you are going.
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. What a great share!!! 
