Hi everyone,
I've had my first pre-surgical FEC and headed back to my oncologist on Monday just before my second treatment.
My cancer is already softer and smaller!
I am very, very happy.
I've also started a blog on wordpress for anyone that's interested.
This page is my advice on what to get before you start chemo and I'd appreciate any other suggestions that anyone might like to add:
http://positive3neg.wordpress.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=161&action=edit&message=6&postpost=v2
Hi Andir,
Yes, I'm having chemo first too. It just made sense to me. My doctor explained that the advanages included being able to monitor the effect on the cancer to be sure the chemo is effective (not possible post surgically), having chemo while you're in the best of health and not recovering from surgery (which can cause delays in starting if you have complications), and treating the entire body with chemo (important if there are tiny, undetected tumours anywhere else in my body).
I was hoping that having such good early results might mean I could have less chemo but my oncologist tells me that the current best practice is to have the full treatment. She was at the most recent international conference on treating triple neg so I'm happy with that.
It's been a bit nerve wracking, knowing that I still have the cancer inside me when I could have had it removed, and also dealing with the possibility that the chemo might not work, but I reasoned that if my cancer wasn't responding it would be because it wasn't as aggressive and therefore the delay would not be a big issue.
I'm very happy with my decision. Feeling it getting smaller and softer after only three weeks is impressive and very encouraging. I'm booked in for an ultrasound and a return visit with my surgeon on Monday when I'll hopefully get confirmation that we're on track to shrink it right away and just remove the tissue.
I hope you have great results too.
Best wishes with your journey and your recovery.
Thanks so much, Michelle. She tells me that all she wants for her birthday is for me to be cancer free and I'm hoping to give her what she wants. xx
That news is so good to hear - may it get softer and smaller every day until it disappears! Now you can enjoy your daughter's 21st next month with the biggest smile in town. Terrific news. Michelle x
