Chemo - yes or no?

yes it was something mentioned by the oncologist - I think not all oncologists look at it - its reasonably new for them to take these results into account. If the ki67 had not had a high reading I would not have had chemo - but the recurrence and spreading as my tumour was aggressive was too high a riske for me. I have my life on hold really til this chemo is over (aside from work) - can't wait til its finished. and I will be so happy I gave it everything even though its the "hard road". The nuelasta helped me - I felt soooo tired first round, still tired this round but not so much and did not suffer the mouth ulcer I had last round. 

good luck whatever you decide. 

Marg x

yes it was something mentioned by the oncologist - I think not all oncologists look at it - its reasonably new for them to take these results into account. If the ki67 had not had a high reading I would not have had chemo - but the recurrence and spreading as my tumour was aggressive was too high a riske for me. I have my life on hold really til this chemo is over (aside from work) - can't wait til its finished. and I will be so happy I gave it everything even though its the "hard road". The nuelasta helped me - I felt soooo tired first round, still tired this round but not so much and did not suffer the mouth ulcer I had last round. 

good luck whatever you decide. 

Marg x

My chemo regime is the same as yours, it was the third choice of the oncologist he was concerned about my heart issues and this treatment was the least invasive. My second session of chemo is due on the 29th, still thinking..... I will have to check to see if they did the Ki67, did they give that information to you without requesting it? 

I had the nausea, bone pain etc, so if I have the second session am hoping that it will not be so bad.  But everyone seems to say that each session is different and you never know what to expect.

Still having major issues with the lymphodemia and the bi lateral scar, so it's hard to face the further pain...Maybe the nuelasta will make a big difference, and hopefully I will not get the flu like symptoms and bone pain.  Think I am having a wuss day, will try to wear the big girl panties tomorrow.. and think again about what I want out of all this.

Thanks for sharing your info

Maggie x 

Hi 

I was diagnosed in february, had my lumpectomy on the 6th march and I had what I thought were great results and thought we would just go on the radiotherapy and tamoxifen path. I had clear margins, no lymph node involvement, her 2 negative, oestregen and progesterone positve. but my surgeon always said that due to my age chemo was not off the cards. when I went to see the medical oncologist she was not too concerned about my age. I had a high ki67 reading, and although the pathologist had graded my tumour as a grade 2, the ki67 reading said to her that my tumour was "proliferative" - meaning it was aggressive and there is concern that it might recur or spread. so her recommendation was chemo - I have had 2 of my 4 doses of docetaxel and cyclophosphamide - tuesday I have my 3rd dose. It is "doable" - the fatigue a few days after means I am out of action for about 5 days - but other than that I work full time the rest of my 3 week cycle. I have not had nausea and as my blood count dropped dramatically I had the nuelasta injection last chemo and will have it for the next 2 - and I think it did help. 

at least I know I have given everything to this and won't be upset that I did not give it all if it comes back. but thats the idea of the chemo so it does not come back. 

good luck with your decision. 

Marg xx

Depending on where you live ive got a suggestion for an oncologist; who i felt really looked at clinical info and gave considered opinion  and up to date with research but felt personable

i do have thoughts that some seem to go on automatic--or what training they did 20 years ago etc

Yes they are talking about giving me the Neulasta injection, and as I already have severe osteoporosis, am used to bone pain, just hope the Neulasta does not amplfy it too much. 

I do want to give myself every opportunity, just wondering which is the best way to go.  After 7 months do you suffer with any side effects now?  I always thought that I would go the natural way, but was convinced by family to go the chemo etc route.

How did you go with Radiation?  I hear that after a bi lateral there could be more burning and pain..than after a lumectomy.

Glad you view your treatment time as a blur now, thanks for the well wishes, and they are returned to you.

Maggie

Has there been any suggestion for you to have the needle the day after your chemo, this is to counter the neutropenia? I found this was a great help but there may be some bone pain associated with it.

Really moving forward with your treatment or not is such a personal decision for me I wanted to give myself every opportunity and help to get better that I could. For my part I am 56 years old I had my surgery (lumpectomy), my chemo, my radiation I had my tubes and Ovaries removed and I am now on Tamoxifin for 10 years. I am 7 months finished my treatment and in full remission with most of that a blur now.

I wish you well.

Donna

Has there been any suggestion for you to have the needle the day after your chemo, this is to counter the neutropenia? I found this was a great help but there may be some bone pain associated with it.

Really moving forward with your treatment or not is such a personal decision for me I wanted to give myself every opportunity and help to get better that I could. For my part I am 56 years old I had my surgery (lumpectomy), my chemo, my radiation I had my tubes and Ovaries removed and I am now on Tamoxifin for 10 years. I am 7 months finished my treatment and in full remission with most of that a blur now.

I wish you well.

Donna

Has there been any suggestion for you to have the needle the day after your chemo, this is to counter the neutropenia? I found this was a great help but there may be some bone pain associated with it.

Really moving forward with your treatment or not is such a personal decision for me I wanted to give myself every opportunity and help to get better that I could. For my part I am 56 years old I had my surgery (lumpectomy), my chemo, my radiation I had my tubes and Ovaries removed and I am now on Tamoxifin for 10 years. I am 7 months finished my treatment and in full remission with most of that a blur now.

I wish you well.

Donna

Thank you lovely ladies for responding to my call out!  I am really struggling with this and reading your responses is helping me to see how "grey" this whole chemotherapy thing is.  It is so hard to get a sense of risk from the available online sources.  I had a really good talk with my Breast Care Nurse today (who is lovely and really helpful).  She did some reality testing with me - I trust her views and I do understnad size is an issue but I really want to be able to balance the risks (which for me professionally are big).   I am going to get a second opinion and try to find a Medical Oncologist who will talk through this with me and present positives and negatives, as well as absolute and relative risks in an unbiased way.  Wish me luck and best wishes to you all with your recovery!  It is really reassuring to hear there is a light at the end of the tunnel:)