Declined treatment.

Hi Anne I had chemo 4 1/2 years ago and the first round did nearly kill me. I tried to get out of continuing at first but was talked into keeping on going and I'm glad I did, just because I can say I had all the treatments offered. I had a 10 year old son at the time. I read a great book called Anti Cancer and it talks about natural ways to keep your body well.

Prue

Hi Anne I had chemo 4 1/2 years ago and the first round did nearly kill me. I tried to get out of continuing at first but was talked into keeping on going and I'm glad I did, just because I can say I had all the treatments offered. I had a 10 year old son at the time. I read a great book called Anti Cancer and it talks about natural ways to keep your body well.

Prue

Hi Anne I had chemo 4 1/2 years ago and the first round did nearly kill me. I tried to get out of continuing at first but was talked into keeping on going and I'm glad I did, just because I can say I had all the treatments offered. I had a 10 year old son at the time. I read a great book called Anti Cancer and it talks about natural ways to keep your body well.

Prue

Thanks for writing Fran.  How long ago did you have your treatment ?  Did you have a full mastectomy ?  Most of the stories I've heard are that the cancer does return even after chemo.  I know a couple of women who haven't had treatment and have been cancer free for 10 years or more, but I really think they are in the minority.  I guess I consider myself....cancer free... as no signs of it were found in other scans or in my lymph nodes.  But it's just a waiting game for all of us, chemo or not......but it's still nice to hear other peoples stories.  xx Anne

Hi Ann i had chemo but it is your choice, no one elses and i can tell you it almost killed me so i wonder some times if it's worth it , but i am here and at the time thought i would do what i hoped the doctors knew what they were doing????. i am high risk for it to return too but so far thankfully okay, it is a big decision so good on you, and stay well, it,s your body and life , choice is nearly all we have left when we have cancer.

Yeah, it really was an odd thing that happened.  I haven't fallen over for YEARS.  We were visiting Brians daughter and Brian had parked too close to their driveway garden and when I went to get back into  the car I tripped and came down very hard.  After a week I thought I'd broken a right rib and that's when I found the lump on my side and thought it was also the pulled muscle from the fall.  I deliberately fell on my side when I started to fall, rather than straight onto my face, thinking I wouldn't hurt myself so much if I went sideways.  It certainly seems that I was meant to find the lump.  In actual fact I had broken a rib, but only my surgeon found it after a body scan was done looking for more cancer.  They said.....oh by they way, you've broken your rib at sometime too.  Then I knew I'd done it in the fall.  It had been very painful, but the lump itself wasn't sore at all.

My 2nd bout of breast cancer last year was classed as early b cancer again.All my body scans were clear so it appears they got it all and I'm ok and cancer free.The oncologist seems to think that Tamoxifen will give me the best chance of staying cancer free but no guarantees.I have to see my surgeon for a checkup every 3mths and yearly mammograms to the remaining breast ofcourse.But that's about it so not too bad.Most of the time I feel positive but it's only been one year so sometimes get abit down.It maybe worthwhile to do some research into diet and supplements.I've read alot on vit D and they have found it to be important for your immune system.Many people are deficient and so might help to take a supplement. I've also read about the benefits of flaxseed and how it might reduce tumour size.Obviously there is no magic pill but it's good to be proactive about your diet/health. I guess the doctors have a duty of care and have to offer you chemo even if there is the smallest %of cure.Ultimately it's your body and your decision.Many would say that yours is a brave one.If I was faced with another bout of cancer I really don't know what I would do.I don't think anyone can know unless they themselves are in that position.Best wishes to you and your lovely family.

                                    Tonya xx

My 2nd bout of breast cancer last year was classed as early b cancer again.All my body scans were clear so it appears they got it all and I'm ok and cancer free.The oncologist seems to think that Tamoxifen will give me the best chance of staying cancer free but no guarantees.I have to see my surgeon for a checkup every 3mths and yearly mammograms to the remaining breast ofcourse.But that's about it so not too bad.Most of the time I feel positive but it's only been one year so sometimes get abit down.It maybe worthwhile to do some research into diet and supplements.I've read alot on vit D and they have found it to be important for your immune system.Many people are deficient and so might help to take a supplement. I've also read about the benefits of flaxseed and how it might reduce tumour size.Obviously there is no magic pill but it's good to be proactive about your diet/health. I guess the doctors have a duty of care and have to offer you chemo even if there is the smallest %of cure.Ultimately it's your body and your decision.Many would say that yours is a brave one.If I was faced with another bout of cancer I really don't know what I would do.I don't think anyone can know unless they themselves are in that position.Best wishes to you and your lovely family.

                                    Tonya xx

Thank you so much for your reply....it's so nice to have someone who understands.  My GP...who I love and have been seeing for 20 years, my surgeon and 3 oncologists said.....YOU MUST HAVE CHEMO....but I just really couldn't see the point.  I wasn't eligible for radiation or Tamoxifen. Losing my hair didn't worry me, but why be sick with chemo if they say it's going to come back.......I've heard too many horror stories like yours.

So, what is your situation now.....do you still have cancer and are just living as best you can ???  Do you intend to have futher tests to see how far your cancer has spread ?  I don't think I'll have tests, I'll just get on with my life.  I'm 60, I've seen my kids grow up and have met my grandsons....although unfortunately they all live interstate from me. I have a marvellous husband and other family and friends have been very supportive of my decision. It may cut my life a bit, but I'm not afraid of death.  My GP has promised to take care of me if things get bad.  I live a simple but happy life surrounded by love.  Of course it's always at the back of my mind that the cancer will return...and I wonder when....but even if I had treatment, that would still be on my mind.

Cheers,  Anne.  :-)

I had my first bout of breast cancer(found a lump)back in 2003.I had a lumpectomy,full node clearance followed by radiation.My cancer was eostrogen+,not aggressive and NOT in any of the 18 nodes.I was offerred chemo as an optional extra but declined.So last year( 7yrs later)  cancer came back in the same breast,same spot.Must have been 1 cell lingering around for 7yrs! So had a mastectomy and urged by 2 doctors to have chemo. My body and bone scans were clear.Again it was a non aggressive cancer. Against my better judgement I did one round of chemo and I ended up in hosp. isolation ward for 4 days with no white cells.The whole experience was more than dreadful.My oncologist wanted to swap me to another chemo regime but I said no thanks.He was actually ok with my answer so long as I took Tamoxifen.I honestly believe,at the time,that chemo might kill me before cancer would.It took me 8mths for hair to grow back enough not to wear a scarf.I found this very distressing. If I had had evidence that the cancer had travelled then I probably would have finished my chemo rounds. I guess I have become very sceptical of these cancer treatments because my cancer came back anyway after 7yrs for goodness sake.Anyway,I respect your decision not to have chemo. Having a healthy diet and staying stress free is what I try to maintain now.All the best to you.

                              Tonya xx