New and just diagnosed with TNBC
This discussion was created from comments split from: Triple Negative.
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Hi @Heathy78
I am so sorry that you are facing these types of choices. As the other ladies have said, Chemo can make a significant difference to your chance of recurrence and you have the numbers for your particular situation.
What might be helpful is to consider this alongside the statistics for the chance of a second (chemo or radiation caused) cancer sometime in the future. Ask your doctors for this info.
As I understand it, the chance of this is very small. My oncologist explained to me that I was in far more danger of a recurrence from the cancer I already had than treatment causing another cancer sometime in the future.
I was 47 at diagnosis, had a mastectomy, chemo and radiation. Almost 6 years later, no recurrence or any sign of a treatment caused cancer. I am very fit, strong and healthy but know that while it gives me a good quality of life (and helps minimise side effects of treatment), it was not enough to stop me getting cancer in the first place. Having the treatment my doctors recommended gives me the best chance of staying cancer-free.
Ask for the statistics on treatment caused cancers. You need all the info before you can make the best choice for you. Take care. Deanne xxx
I am so sorry that you are facing these types of choices. As the other ladies have said, Chemo can make a significant difference to your chance of recurrence and you have the numbers for your particular situation.
What might be helpful is to consider this alongside the statistics for the chance of a second (chemo or radiation caused) cancer sometime in the future. Ask your doctors for this info.
As I understand it, the chance of this is very small. My oncologist explained to me that I was in far more danger of a recurrence from the cancer I already had than treatment causing another cancer sometime in the future.
I was 47 at diagnosis, had a mastectomy, chemo and radiation. Almost 6 years later, no recurrence or any sign of a treatment caused cancer. I am very fit, strong and healthy but know that while it gives me a good quality of life (and helps minimise side effects of treatment), it was not enough to stop me getting cancer in the first place. Having the treatment my doctors recommended gives me the best chance of staying cancer-free.
Ask for the statistics on treatment caused cancers. You need all the info before you can make the best choice for you. Take care. Deanne xxx