To Chemo or not to Chemo
Hi, recently diagnosed with early BC through a routine mammogram, original thoughts were DCIS but turned out to be Invasive cancer. I had the tumour removed 4 weeks ago and it turned out to be a lot b...
Forum Discussion
I knew I had a high risk cancer from the beginning so even though small I already knew before surgery I would be having it.
However that appointment was hard. And there I was waiting for my heart scan sobbing. Somehow. ..I just really hoped that I wouldn't need it.
My chemo regime involved herceptin and I had my treatment stopped after half way as it impacted on my heart. I was then terrified of what that might mean for me. But have accepted the decision and hope it was enough. My heart BTW has now returned to normal function as it was pre chemo.
So ...for cure...we get one shot at this. Once it's stage 4...it's then just trying to reduce pain and extending your life. Cure is off the table. The reality is the time when we are in good health like now certainly means we can recover better and quicker from chemo.
Nobody is pro chemo really. We would all prefer that we didn't need to have it. A 23% chance of mets as opposed to 16% is a reasonable reduction in risk. Why did you do the test if you never intended to follow through with the recommendation? Just wondering, not judging, or was it a way to delay the decision...questions for yourself to ponder ..not to answer me.
I'm sure there are many people who choose not to have treatment but for many they are looking at only 1% to 2% difference and possible much lower risks initially.
I do know of one member who did not choose the recommended path and unfortunately was stage 4 within 4 months. I'm not suggesting this is your path, just that it can happen. Her pathology was different from yours.
People can still progress even when they do everything. It's a bit of a lottery. I know for myself I thought I don't want to be 2 years down the track and regret not trying everything to prevent progression or even local recurrence.
So yes...a big decision.
Chemo is hard for some.
Chemo is easy for others.
Hair grows back.
Energy returns
Cells recovery, we just hope the cancer ones dont.
Australia has some of the best cancer survival stats in the world...why...because of our treatment regimes.
Kath x
However that appointment was hard. And there I was waiting for my heart scan sobbing. Somehow. ..I just really hoped that I wouldn't need it.
My chemo regime involved herceptin and I had my treatment stopped after half way as it impacted on my heart. I was then terrified of what that might mean for me. But have accepted the decision and hope it was enough. My heart BTW has now returned to normal function as it was pre chemo.
So ...for cure...we get one shot at this. Once it's stage 4...it's then just trying to reduce pain and extending your life. Cure is off the table. The reality is the time when we are in good health like now certainly means we can recover better and quicker from chemo.
Nobody is pro chemo really. We would all prefer that we didn't need to have it. A 23% chance of mets as opposed to 16% is a reasonable reduction in risk. Why did you do the test if you never intended to follow through with the recommendation? Just wondering, not judging, or was it a way to delay the decision...questions for yourself to ponder ..not to answer me.
I'm sure there are many people who choose not to have treatment but for many they are looking at only 1% to 2% difference and possible much lower risks initially.
I do know of one member who did not choose the recommended path and unfortunately was stage 4 within 4 months. I'm not suggesting this is your path, just that it can happen. Her pathology was different from yours.
People can still progress even when they do everything. It's a bit of a lottery. I know for myself I thought I don't want to be 2 years down the track and regret not trying everything to prevent progression or even local recurrence.
So yes...a big decision.
Chemo is hard for some.
Chemo is easy for others.
Hair grows back.
Energy returns
Cells recovery, we just hope the cancer ones dont.
Australia has some of the best cancer survival stats in the world...why...because of our treatment regimes.
Kath x