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kazza4450's avatar
kazza4450
Member
10 years ago

Help...I'm so confused :) Chemo or no to chemo??

Hi to all

Still plodding along this end. Today I met with the oncology unit.

I'm so confused now. They have said my case is border line, but both the head oncologist and her team member who saw me, both thought chemo would be worth doing due to my age 51, and still having periods as the cancer was estrogen receptive or something like that.

They've left the decision up to me as I guess is the case with most of you guys. I guess if they said you have to have it no matter what it would be easier.

The stats they gave me was by having all 3 treatments was as follows.

My chance of recurrence would be 7 in 100, so 7%.

Without chemo, just hormone therapy recurrence rate is 11 in 100, so 11%.

Without either it would be 24% chance or recurring which is much higher.

Everone's reaction in my family has mostly been well you just get in and do it, give yourself the best chance of it not coming back. Then my son says, but mum, have you looked at whether you should do this to your body for only a 4% better chance prognosis. And then I got confused, lol.

How did others make this decision. Obvioulsly I want to live as long as I can in this life. I'm just stuck, do I forgo chemo, take that extra 4% risk and just get back on with life or do I do the chemo and reduce the risk, but have to go through gruelling treatments. Losing my hair will be hard for me as it's the one thing that has always made me feel pretty and confident in my life. But in saying that, that would not be enough for me to forgo treatment just for vanity's sake.

Appreciate your feedback, thanks ladies..xxx

P.S I hope everyone's week is going well so far..xxx

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