Forum Discussion
Got told today chemo failed
Today I met with my surgeon, I'm booked in for right mastectomy and full node clearance for 15th August. He told me chemo has failed and done nothing. Hearing that had my head spinning. I've just spent six long months being poisoned with toxic shit for nothing. I'm due for my very last chemo next Tuesday and unless my oncologist can give me one good reason why I should do it, they can get f##ked. All I can think of is if for the last six months it's done nothing then where else has it spread in the meantime. I feel so pissed off right now and am in tears. Also he said the risk of lymphedema is high given I'll be having radiation as well. Does this mean you have it for life and permanently have to wear compression sleeve. I was told at the beginning of all this it would be just the sentinel node, but seeing as chemo failed the lot have to go. Screw CANCER, there is just so much to look forward to.
109 Replies
- @melclarity, thanks. Yes it is fear of the unknown. I've never had an operation and I'm terrible when it comes to medical procedures big or small. But there is no getting out of this one.
- @LMK74 - i sent you a pm
- I'll throw in a redeeming word for my surgeon who went through my post surgery results thoroughly and carefully, but whose reply, when I asked what treatment next, was a prompt " that's up to your oncologist". When pushed by me, he said I might be borderline on chemo (my oncologist was not of that opinion!) but that if chemo increased my 5 year survival odds even a little, I should seriously consider it. I've been with "my boys" for nearly five years and they have been consistent, calm and very helpful.
Surgeons may be good at what they do but they should shut their heads when it comes to commenting on other specialist fields. Mine also made a right arse of himself by pontificating about what my treatment would be after he had finished with me. Wrong, wrong and wrong.
I had the pleasure of telling him he might as well have been a bloody muppet for all the good his advice was. Then went on to tell him that now he's a professor he needs to pay better attention to his wardrobe and wash his white coat (I swear it's the same one with the same stains as when I first met him ten years ago) If he can meddle with oncology, I can meddle with laundry and grooming which are so, so not my thing. But, hey, I hang out with people who do it all the time, so that should make me an expert. No?
Seriously though, we need to call this nonsense when it happens. I know they have huge egos, years of experience and punishing workloads but your personal muppet has put you into a tail spin at a time when you did not need any more stress. Let alone incorrect 'advice' from someone who you had no reason to disbelieve. I'm glad that you are feeling a bit better about the whole shit fight. Marg xxx
- if you need to have radiation, Dr Wong will say no to immediate reconstruction, as he said that the radiation will destroy the reconstructed tissue, so better to wait.
If you like I can see what i'm up to & we can have a coffee catch up if you like? I'll PM you my number - Lisa, i asked if there was any chance of saving my nipples & the sensitivity, he said that yes he could do that but I had to understand there is always a chance that the nipple may die then i would need a further surgery to remove it - i opted to take the chance & I am glad that I did. My scar is so fine & neat, it's now almost invisible already.
The last time i was there he said that he wanted to see me, although he was very busy. The registrar just chased him down.
I only saw him 3 times, but i found him very personable, yet direct & easily approachable. He's a bit of a character. - Hi Lmk74, i had 6months if chemo and was told my tumour had shrunk and didnt need mastectomy as initially said....so I had lymp nodes and lumpectomy done on 31/5/17.
Pathology test done at the time of surgery showed further canxxx, so guess what i had a mastectomy 14 days later.
What I'm trying to say is that somethings are just unknown. .its life - oh he is my surgeon & he is awesome - very funny man
RBWH have an awesome lymphodema physio too - you will have a class to learn how to minimise the risks of lymphodema etc. Hildegard the physio is lovely! - @LMK74
Lisa, that's great news you finished Chemo and even better to hear that your Surgeon had no business commenting. Id agree with that really, Oncologists and Surgeons are so different and look at different things. Seems you are on your way, and really the fear is worse I found with the mastectomy, though I had immediate diep flap reconstruction, I couldnt have done it any other way, it was so mental for me. I'm happy :) Keep going!! ohhh and public system is a little different, I've found Ive had to be more proactive and chase with my last surgery as opposed to all treatment I did private and lumpectomies too.
Hugs Melinda xo - @MKitty68, RBWH. You had yours there from memory. My surgeon is clemence Wong. Hope he's good lol.
