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 bigger than expected at 35mm (mammogram estimated 15mm), there was no evidence of cancer in the lymph nodes. As the tumour was 35mm Chemotherapy was suggested, I am very chemo adverse and decided to have the Endopredict test done in the hope that it would come back low risk as expected by my Breast Surgeon and Associates (therefore Chemo not beneficial). Unfortunately for me it came back as high risk with a 23% chance of a Metastatic cancer within 10 years without Chemo (just radiotherapy and hormone tablets) and a 16% chance of a Metastatic cancer with Chemo/Radiotherapy & tablets. I still don't want to go down the Chemo route and have a decision to make, has anyone else refused Chemotherapy and just opted for Radiotherapy?
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.
Thank you so much for your comments @Zoffiel and @Clemis your comments certainly resonate with me, it's a bloody lottery isn't it. I have my appointment with the Chemo Dr tomorrow who I know will give me the lecture you mention @Zoffiel, I even had the Radiotherapy Dr call me yesterday to cancel my appt as he assumed I would be a Chemo patient!! Fortunately my family are being very supportive of my thoughts of "No Chemo" (I do not have a partner and my children are adults), it's my life, my body and my decision, let's just hope Lady Luck will be on my side
I agree @Zoffiel. For me there was no question I needed chemotherapy but was so scared of potential side affects told my oncologist on morning of 1st session I wasn't having it. My husband freaked out & said I had to do it for the family & so felt pressured to have it. Glad now I did it but don't know if I would go back a second time. You just have to be happy with the decision you make. The statistics lump everyone together & so I don't really have confidence in them.
Hi @Beachlady It's a dilemma, isn't it? I tossed a coin. I thought my partner was going to stroke out when I told him it had come down to that. When I saw it was 'heads', which was the chemo option, I immediately wanted to make it best of three....
You are right, the odds are not terribly convincing. All that for a 7% better chance? Really? The scientist in me has found that equation less than motivating. Twice. So, I went back for a second go purely on a 50/50 bet. If cancer comes in threes, chemo certainly won't for me.
Having an oncologist lecture about what will happen if you don't (as if it's a sure thing) and ask how you will live with yourself if you have a recurrence (already had one, thanks, lady) really doesn't help. It only made me adversarial. In the end, the only reason I even contemplated it was pressure, subtle but impossible to ignore, from the people closest to me. People who's opinion I respected and who I cared enough about to put myself to considerable, and probably pointless, trouble.
We are almost all chemo adverse. Some will do anything to increase the chances of escaping this disease, but I think most feel like a rat caught in a trap, desperately trying to find a way out if it. I guess it comes down to how adverse you decide you are, and how lucky you feel. Because I really think it all comes down to luck.
