New here
Hi all,
I am 42 and just recently been diagnosed with breast cancer in my left breast. I have had surgery - wide local excision + sentinel lymph node biopsy on the 1st of May. I am extremely lucky to have kept my breast, and no trace of any cancer in the lymph nodes. (I think that someone is looking after me) I have been suffering with seromas, under my arm and my breast which i have been getting drained. What a relief once they drain it.
I have recently visited my oncologists on the 20th of May to see about my treatment plan and left there totally confused with what to do. My options are.
1.Chemotheraphy for 4 months followed my 6 weeks radiation and also take tanoxifen for 5 years
2. Goserelin (Zoladex) injections every month for 2 years followed by 6 weeks of radiation and also take tanoxifen for 5 years.To take the Goserelin i needed a bone density test, which the results came back with normal bmd on my spine but osteopenia in my left femur bone. I was told that you have a much higher risk of getting Osteoporosis from these injections?
Both are scarey options.
After being confused and constantly thinking of what to do i went and saw my doctor. She happens to think that having a low BMD already and my age Chemo would be the best option.So i left her thinking ok im having chemo (I can handle this) but now a few days have gone by i'm thinking is this the right decision. I see the Radiation Oncologist on 2nd of June and the Chemo Oncologist again on the 3rd of June.
Any advice to lead me in the right direction would be much apprciate.
Seriously,I am a person that should not be given options i should be just told what to do. lol
Thank you for taking the time to read this x
Comments
-
Just had to reply.....my favourite cats name was Gizmo!
Sorry to hear about your dilemma...it really is tricky to have to make a decision about what treatment to have hey? I guess the advice you are given is coming from experts who have dealt with this issue alot...so go with what they recommend.
I had mastectomy in Oct '13, then chemo which I finished in Jan '14...now on Tamoxifen. If this is the path you take, I found it to be quite doable - luckily they give you medication so you do not suffer nausea and really, apart from losing my hair (which was a big deal for me initially!) and a few hiccups along the way, it really was ok.
I do not know anything about your other option so rely on the specialist for further explanation I guess...or other ladies on here will reply.
Good luck with your decision...whatever option you go for will be the right one! Jenny x
0 -
Just had to reply.....my favourite cats name was Gizmo!
Sorry to hear about your dilemma...it really is tricky to have to make a decision about what treatment to have hey? I guess the advice you are given is coming from experts who have dealt with this issue alot...so go with what they recommend.
I had mastectomy in Oct '13, then chemo which I finished in Jan '14...now on Tamoxifen. If this is the path you take, I found it to be quite doable - luckily they give you medication so you do not suffer nausea and really, apart from losing my hair (which was a big deal for me initially!) and a few hiccups along the way, it really was ok.
I do not know anything about your other option so rely on the specialist for further explanation I guess...or other ladies on here will reply.
Good luck with your decision...whatever option you go for will be the right one! Jenny x
0 -
I had the same as Jen,and I feel good now.I have osteoporosis,but only just found out recently.I would say though,that my 4 rounds of chemo were not too bad.I am on Tamoxifen now,which is actually proven to give some protection to bones in post menopausal women.I am not sure about pre menopause.At least chemo is over and done with in 4 months,and the time goes so quickly.Zoladex injections are a LOT longer.All the best with your decision.xoxRobyn0
-
Much of my diagnosis was the same as yours, I had the same operation and also no node involvement. I was given 2 choices of treatment and that's where we differ. I was offered 12 weeks of chemo with certain drugs or 18 weeks of chemo with other added drugs. I'm like you, didn't want to have to make a decision. The oncologist said to go with what I thought would give me the least regrets down the track. Of course the 12wk course sounded better but the 18wk course was more thorough. So I chose the more thorough one as the percentages were better with that one. And if something should happen down the track I can look back and say I did everything in my power to prevent it. I did the chemo and have not long finished the radiation and due to start the hormone tablets in a little over a week. It was difficult at times, but achievable. All you can do is gather the facts and make an informed decision. Hard, I know. I wish you well with whatever you choose, keep in touch, take care,
Hazel xx
0 -
Thought I would add my story here - just for extra info.
I am 52 (51 when I had surgery for BC - no family history - I'm the first). I had a left breast mastectomy and sentinel node biopsy. All clear margins, no node involvement. It was a small tumour - couldn't even be felt on physical exam (had been picked up in routine mammogram); Grade 2, Stage 2, estrogen positive. I was given a choice of surgery types - given my full medical history, I went with what my doctor advised as what he felt was my best option - the mastectomy with no reconstruction.
He told me that a normal course of treatment for what I had would have been radiation to the chest wall, under arm and part of the neck followed by chemo (possibly a short course only). I had previously had large dose, wide field radiation to my neck (the field went from just under my nose to level with the top of my armpit - the BC was just within this field - no one can say for sure if it did or didn't cause the BC). After my BC doctor also consulted with my other surgeon and oncologist, it was decided that I wouldn't have the radiation - if I was okay with that - I was (also have a chance of the neck cancer coming back so they really want to keep that up their sleeves for it - if I had it for the BC, they wouldn't be able to use it again). They also felt the negatives would outweigh any positives in relation to my having chemo (taking into account my whole medical history) - so no chemo. Was told it would only mean about a 2% difference for my 10 year survival rate - and given the neck cancer ( 22% for 5 year survival rate - even after all my surgeries and treatment - coming up to 4 years in August) was much worse, happy to go with this option.
I am on Tamoxifen, have had an ultra-sound and next follow up is in 2 weeks. All still going well and I am doing fine.
Wishing you all the best as you continue on this bumpy path - remember we all travel the same direction, just some of us may have more twists and turns then others.
Tracy xxx
0 -
I would like to thank you all so much for taking the time and responding to me. I have to say by joining this site it has help me so much. Even though I have huge suppot team around me (my children, family, friends) im finding they really dont understand what im going through, as none of them are going through or have gone though having BC. I love them all so much and i know they are all there for me and i do appreciate them all. But reading everyones blogs/comments on here from people who have either been through it or are still going through it has made me feel that im definitely not alone. This journey is such a eye opener beleive me. I have learnt so much about BC since joining here because seriously I just though BC was BC, and it effects so many people in so many different ways. And eveyone on here are so positive and
are truly amazing strong people. xx
Anyway I thought id let you all know that I seen the oncologist this week and have made my decision on my treatment and which path that im going to take. I have chosen to take the rough road and do the chemotherapy (docetaxel) for 4 months and then 30 treatments of radiation and I also will be taking that lovely tablet alot of you all write about tamoxifen fo 5 years. My chemo starts next Tuesday, but im thinking the quicker it starts the quicker it ends lol.
All the best to all of you xxx
0
