Im new at this...

Maybe they need to consult with a renal specialists or you do to weigh up benefits versus risks fully.

I agree you should find out difference with stats with or without chemo.

I remember lots of blood tests in between each treatment as they keep a pretty close eye on how your kidneys are doing. Any bad readings and chemo treatment can be altered or abandoned. Not everyone has each and every dose done but they still come out ok.
I got through it by putting my treatments and symptoms on this forum and also my face book. Every one was just so helpful and told me when I should get this or that checked out. I had heaps of people rooting for me. <3

Oh and kezmusc the CHEMO doc WAS NOT in the Peter Mac Meeting k

Hmm, I guess you have to go back to the old "the benefits must outweigh the risk".  What are your insincts telling you?

Hi kesmusc thanks for your advice they took out 1 node that had a tiny bit of nasty then the 2nd one was clear and I've had my thyroid out twice and the team at Peter Mac said no chemo just remove ovaries and all my other tests blood etc came back clear and the CHEMO doc said there is only a 8% chance that's IF there are NO side affects or kidney damage 

Hi @TerriSteve,

Wow, that's not a fantastic choice at all.  Did they give you a percentage of benefit?  If the chemo only adds a 1 or 2 percent added benefit that might make your choice a little easier.  Was there any node involvement?  Do you have a breast care nurse to speak to?
It's odd they keep changing their minds.  Normally these cases are put to an MDT meeting and a plan is formed with input from various medical gurus then you get to decide whether to proceed or not.
I have a work collegue who recently had a similar choice. 50mm breast lesion, no nodes.  Given she had some other health issues as well that could be worsened and the chemo was only going to offer 2% she opted out of it and the rads and just went on letrozole.
I did chemo because there was node involvement and the benefit rate was 11%. Did the rads and said no to oopherectomy. 

You may just have to ask the oncologist if it were them, would they do it given the big risk to your kidney and that you don't have a spare. 

Horrible choice.  Try to trust your own instincts which is very difficult to do at times.

All the best lovely
xoxoxo

Ok everyone I hope you are all doing well? I need some advice please I spoke to my chemo doctor today and he wants me to have chemo as well as the needles to shut down the ovaries and then have the ovaries out and on top of that have radiation. BUT BUT BUT if I have chemo there is a HUGE chance that it could kill my 1 and only kidney and then I would be on a kidney machine for the rest of my life. But Peter Mac said just to have the ovaries out so that would stop the estragen cause my cancer is all out now it was only less than 1.7 cms and fed by the estragen and all that other technical crap.
DO I take the risk with chemo and maybe damaging my kidney? 

@TerriSteve , we have strength and toughness because we have no choice.
OK, maybe that's not true. We have choices, but if we choose to take the best chance of survival, we choose the treatment. None of us signed up for this and it's fucking horrible at worst and tolerable at best. I'm sure there are a stoic few who don't have some sort of meltdown, but I'd say a good majority of us spend many hours gibbering and flopping around in circles trying to figure out a better way. There isn't one.
If you are needle phobic (welcome to my little club) ask about having a port inserted if you need chemo. It's the lesser of two evils, in my opinion, having had it done both ways. Hang in there, chick. Mxx

Priceless!

@"Beryl C."



 ;)