New and so confused
I am Grade 2, sentinel lymph node free, deciding if the 4 or 5% difference of having Chemo or going straight into radiation and onto tablets and with the added severe family history of kidney and hear...
Forum Discussion
Hi @Newby24.
This question comes up a lot here. One of our members likes to translate the percentages into numbers. It goes something like this: there's one thousand people in a room. They're told they all have breast cancer. 900 have their tumour removed and radiotherapy and they get to leave. 100 are left and are told they're going to die. But then 50 are told that they're going to have chemo and so they too get to leave the room.
I may not have got that exactly right, but you get the drift!
For me it came down to not having any regrets. If my cancer comes back it comes back, but I won't be tortured by an 'if only'. I've thrown the kitchen sink at mine and I will never be tortured by what ifs, if it returns. This is important to me.
Ask your doctor if a genomic test would be useful. If you can afford it (they can cost up to $4000) they can determine if chemotherapy would have a curative benefit if some cancer cells have escaped and are looking for somewhere else to grow in your body.
It's so hard when there's an element of choice. Listen to your gut, be true to yourself and those you hold dearest. Chemo is the best medicine we have now, but it's not without cost to our bodies and minds. You are right to question it, but also know that for most people nowadays it's not the horror show it was a generation ago.
Good luck with your decision and let us know what you decide. K xox
This question comes up a lot here. One of our members likes to translate the percentages into numbers. It goes something like this: there's one thousand people in a room. They're told they all have breast cancer. 900 have their tumour removed and radiotherapy and they get to leave. 100 are left and are told they're going to die. But then 50 are told that they're going to have chemo and so they too get to leave the room.
I may not have got that exactly right, but you get the drift!
For me it came down to not having any regrets. If my cancer comes back it comes back, but I won't be tortured by an 'if only'. I've thrown the kitchen sink at mine and I will never be tortured by what ifs, if it returns. This is important to me.
Ask your doctor if a genomic test would be useful. If you can afford it (they can cost up to $4000) they can determine if chemotherapy would have a curative benefit if some cancer cells have escaped and are looking for somewhere else to grow in your body.
It's so hard when there's an element of choice. Listen to your gut, be true to yourself and those you hold dearest. Chemo is the best medicine we have now, but it's not without cost to our bodies and minds. You are right to question it, but also know that for most people nowadays it's not the horror show it was a generation ago.
Good luck with your decision and let us know what you decide. K xox