hi Sue
I've been meaning to get on here to respond to your post.
I too was given similar diagnosis to you.
After lumpectomy and level 2 node dissection, I was given the odds of the cancer coming back as 24%.
With Tamoxifin (Hormone Therapy) taken for approx 5 years it reduced the odds of it coming back by another 13%, so now the odds would be 11%.
Then to throw a spanner in the works they put the stats in front of you.
Okay Karen if you go the chemo road, low dose over 16 weeks, 4 doses, it will reduce the odds of it coming back by another 4%, so now the odds would be 7%.
Up to me they said. My choice. The assistant oncologist said if it was him, he would do it, wouldn't risk it coming back.
I was in two minds. Part of me was 4%, why would I put myself through that. The other part was, do everything I can.
I seen my sister who had just arrived from nsw, my neice, my daughter straight from the hospital. All 3 were like do all you can to survive this. My sister said there would be no decision, she would do it in a flash.
My son said ( I have 5 young adult children) to think about it, and maybe not put myself through it.
I prayed and thought about it a lot. I spoke to many people.
The only decision I could come to, was that I wanted to be there for all my wonderful children, 3 grandkids, family etc. I couldn't decide to agree to chemo, but I could not make the decision not to.
So in saying that, my decision was made by my indecision if that makes sense. I could not freely say no to chemo. I also decided not to base my decision on fear of the chemo.
So I agreed to go ahead with it. I cut my waist long hair really short, got wig's etc and prepared myself.
After 4-6 weeks, and several attempts to start chemo, the decision was made to scrap it. I had 4 months of post op infections and temperatures so they decided it was too risky. I was relieved as I had begun to feel chemo was not the way to go as my immune system was wrecked long before surgery and after 2 ops, 4 months of infections it didn't feel right anymore.
So in the end the decision was taken out of my hands.
The biggest thing though originally was to go with what felt right for me and to not let fear stand in the way of the guy feeling I had pushing me which way to got.
I could not feel a peace about not doing chemo, so that's how the decision was made.
I hope I haven't confused you, lol.
My odds were 4% better if I had of been able to do chemo, but I am fully trusting God that this was exactly the way it was to be played out with me and I'm grateful the journey took me this direction.
I'm trusting God fully with my future.
Hope this helps.
All the best tomorrow, you will be in my prayers with your decision making...xxx
