hi all,this post just my emotion and what I have in my head that make me cant sleep because of these options.1. chemo and radiation then hormone therapyor 2. radiation and ovaries shutdown and hormone therapyI prefer to choose second option but also anxious wether this is the right one.Oncologist cant give decision, it is on meshe just said chemo only for assurance, some people dont want to take. I can choose this option no chemo if i dont want to.but after that she said my cancer is grade3 and little/ LVI (Lymphovasculer invasion) in the cancer sample. Due to this situation, chemo is better option.So, this means only one option given rather than 2 options?????!Somehow, I thought why should I ruin my body for chemo if this is not 100% can be used As the oncologist said, this chemo is like home insurance, you might or might not need it.. thats why some people do not want to have it...but i also worry if maybe I need it???Oh...goshhh ... I just feel these 2 options only 1 option. the first one - with chemo. who can decide it for me??? Breast surgeon ?? or search for second oncologist opinion??I am anxious with the side effect of chemo, it mentioned can create another different type of cancer...All this things from my head that make me cant sleep.hope i can sleep after this post.

@Della, I feel for you, I have been in exactly that situation (in fact, most of us have). I chose to go the chemo and will go the radiation but if the hormone blockers make life hard, I may discontinue them. (Ten years of hormone tablets is a lot to cope with if it really stuffs me up) My reasons are: the Chemo will mop up anything that may be floating around in my blood or lymphatic system, the radiation will clear up any cancer that may have been left in situ and the hormone blockers will have a final go at starving any cancer that may be left after both the chemo and radiation. (as my cancer is hormone positive). Each one will reduce my risk of the cancer returning. If any was left and it did happen to spread, it could go to the brain, liver or lungs. I figure it may take a while to recover from the nasty side effects but I'm going to fight like hell to make sure I have every chance of living my best life. I'm not going to rule out any medication that can reduce my risk cancer unless the side effects become unmanageable and I won't know that until I'm going through it and then I'll consider stopping it.No one can make this decision for you, you need to decide what is best for you and the risks involved. To make the decision even harder, everyone reacts differently to the chemo. Some people come through fairly easily and some really do struggle and you won't know until you do it. Do you have a breast care nurse? If not you can find one here:https://www.mcgrathfoundation.com.au/get-support/find-a-nurse/You can discuss it with her and she'll help you weigh up the options. Best wishes and care XXXX

@Della, just the fact that you are on here, looking for help, shows that you are brave and strong. Even the strongest of us have down days, scared days, days when we don't know how to go forward. Allow yourself to feel your emotions and try to do what you can to keep a little bit of control. It might be going for a walk and giving yourself time to think, it might be filling the freezer with food for days when you don't feel up to cooking, it might be writing down all your fears and questions to ask your doctors/specialists and nurses. What ever you can do to keep a little bit of control for yourself. For me it was cutting my hair short before it fell out in great chunks. If it was going to come off anyway, then it was coming off on MY terms!This disease is a bastard and journey we all travel is a hard one. You are stronger than you realise, and you will make your decision because you have to. That is most of what people see as bravery, just doing what you have to because there is no other choice.Don't feel bad taking up the time of the breast care nurse, that is what she is there for! Can you call them Monday morning before you see the oncologist? Maybe ask if you can talk to the oncology unit nurse manager to help you decide, they deal with people going through chemo everyday and see all outcomes.Don't be afraid to ask heaps of questions of health professionals (part of their role is to provide you with all the info you need) , ask people going through similar things, ask friends and family for hugs, be kind to yourself - if there was any time when you deserve to put yourself first, now is it!. Wish I could do more to help.Take care xxxx

@Julez1958 I had and still having great service throughout my treatment i went public originally as i had no option i was not sorry. From diagnosis to 1st treatment was 6 weeks. I did get put up on a level 1 category on the other side at the same time in mostly private setting an in-law had an horrific time with her private treatment. And is suffering PTSD badly. Shes now doing public route as a private patient. And is happier than before. i think sometimes it is the luck of the draw a lot if us get on this roundabout with no knowledge of whats going to happen and how long it should take. And we’re scared as hell and just want this cancer out and gonethe online network has been fantastic for me. I don’t comment a lot but i do read heaps and not just recent posts. Usually find the answers to most of my queries I wish you well in your treatment.

Hi della - I must admit wasn’t given a % at start but I knew the triple positive cancer was a concern . ER+ and HER+ Can be a worry The chemo was to target any cancer cells still around after other treatments , with clear margins at surgery and no lymph nodes involvement .No treatment regime has guarantees it will work .That’s the problem .at end of day I figured I had to be able to say I’d tried everything that they’d suggested ( and I have ) .

Hello @Della - These decisions are very hard for us 'ordinary' people to make, and even more so when the 'specialists' are wavering.All I can say is to make a list of the pros and cons for your particular lifestyle and expectations, ask all questions of the treating team so you are clear in your mind. From then on, you need to be sure that you won't regret any decision should something not turn out as well as you'd hoped in the long term.All the best.

Chemo or not chemo | BCNA Online Network

58 Replies

Afraser
Member
4 years ago
Dear @Della

Variations will depend on many factors, including your location, urgency of other cases (yours is important but may not be quite so
urgent), availability of staff etc. One month for surgery is not unusual. There are those who have had terrific treatment and service in public hospitals and those who have been unhappy with aspects of treatment and service in private ones. It’s very frustrating when you are anxious about your treatment and anxious to
get started. However, are you happy with your surgery? Is the timing the main problem? Perhaps your breast care nurse can reassure you or advise further. Best wishes.
Della
Member
4 years ago
Thank you guys for your input regarding the massage.

I got stress again with the way my public hospital handle my treatment.
when I did my CT planning on Friday 3 dec, the nurse said radiology team will contact me this week and the radiotherapy treatment will start the following week, this means on 13th dec.
Today I found out the radiotherapy schedule is 20 dec.
i just concern the way they postponed or delay my radiotherapy treatment.
i just feel, the service provided by public hospital is so slow.
Even though they think this schedule 20th Dec should be ok for my case but if i can have my treatment earlier on 13 dec, this is even better, right?

Is the planning for radiography treatment and schedule done in private hospital faster than public?

is this always the case here in Australia, you get better service if you pay?
i think i dont think to argue this, the answer is yes
I should think this after my surgery not waiting until this happened to me.

i am so depressing with the process in my public hospital.
i remember, i have to wait almost 1 month for the surgery and now have to wait more than 2 months for the radiotherapy

Many thanks,
FLClover
Member
4 years ago
@noosa_blue150 not at all! You’re supposed to ask your onc first. I forgot to ask my oncologist and had the deep tissue, then found out it was probably not the best thing to do 👀. And I went in for a foot massage, but the lady changed my mind . There was a special 😆. Anyway, definitely best to check with your onc, it’s good you put that in. A foot massage is prob better for now if it’s approved, while the breast area heals.
noosa_blue150
Member
4 years ago
Sorry FLClover - didn’t mean to,put you on the spot! Or contradict you . It’s something I was unaware of differences in opinions re massages and types until recently myself .I’ll miss the old firm massages to be honest but the softer version still,relaxing .
FLClover
Member
4 years ago
Yes @noosa_blue150, it is advisable to speak to an onco about it beforehand 👌🏻. I forgot to but I should’ve.
noosa_blue150
Member
4 years ago
https://www.cancercouncil.com.au/cancer-information/living-well/complementary-therapies/body-based-practices/massage/

It may also be advisable to speak to your oncologist regarding massages.
I was advised NOT lo have regular normal,massages but to have a oncology massage (which means lighter pressure and strokes). There’s some debate about whether normal massage therapy could spread cancer cells altho I don’t believe there’s scientific evidence .I now have osteoporosis as well so I now stay away from normal,massages.
Della
Member
4 years ago
thanks heaps @FLClover
FLClover
Member
4 years ago
@Della it’s not easy going back to ‘normal’ life, but the more you try the better it gets.
Get yourself a foot massage first, while your breast area heals. Massaging the feet can help the whole body feel better 😊.
Della
Member
4 years ago
thank you @FLClover for the advice, will ask my radiologist/oncologist for this cream. Happy to hear that you can get back to your normal life.
I am planning to go for massage as well but just anxious it will push the stitches part of my breast surgery.

many thanks,
FLClover
Member
4 years ago
No problem @Della 🙂.
Ask the clinic to supply the Mepitel. I’m not sure what they’ll say, as they’re not always keen to use it because it’s hard to maintain, as @noosa_blue150 said. You have to wear it all the time, 24/7, and be careful that it doesn’t get wet. It is VERY effective though, so do insist that your oncologist provides it. Without it, your skin can get very burnt and extremely painful for a few weeks. With it, you won’t experience such burns or pain. If they still say no, ask about Strata XR cream. You can’t get Mepitel from a normal chemist, but I think you can get the strata cream. It’s expensive but worth it.
I got my first Zoladex shot in my stomach before radiation started. The oncologist said I needed to start the AI after radiation, but they wanted me to start the Zoladex before,
so it had time to suppress my ovaries properly. So I had Zoladex for 2 months before I started the AI. Zoladex started in June, the AI started in August, after radiation. Don’t panic, your oncologist will give you all the necessary scripts when it’s time. Most cancers are removed through surgery, and don’t grow that quickly anyway. You’re scared and panicked, which is perfectly normal at that stage, but it’s all under control and the doctors know how quickly they need to move. Focus on helping yourself feel good during this time by doing nice things for yourself. Getting treatment for cancer doesn’t mean you don’t deserve to have fun anymore, or that you have to wait til it’s finished to be happy. I started dating a guy just before I started radiation, and during radiation we went on dates and I got dressed up again, which made me feel special and womanly again. It was very nice, especially as I had been feeling so unattractive after my surgery and lockdown. I also had a massage, and visited my old work colleagues and had coffee with them a few times after radiation finished for the day. It was exciting to be part of society again and feel normal again, and not be focusing on the cancer all day. It gave me motivation to get better sooner.
I hope you find joy too, even in little things 😊.

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