My "choices" regarding treatment spelt out

LisaO said:

For me it seems to come down to statistics, making a decision and then learning to live with my new self and remaining positive and confident in my decision.
What a horrid journey this cancer trip is. 

We all have to make the decision that is right for us and then do our best not to regret that decision if things don't go to plan.

A few weeks before my diagnosis I had lunch with a group of friends to celebrate life of one of our workmates who had just passed away. She chose not to have chemo as she had small children and felt that doing chemo would be too difficult. Sadly she spent her last few months desperately wishing she had chosen the other option. Her regret and sorrow at her decision was very difficult for everyone as it really overshadowed her time with her family and friends. 
At lunch we all promised each other we would never refuse chemo. Haha - that's very easy to do when you don't have cancer! 

Fast forward a few weeks and I was in my oncologist's office being told my own risk statistics. Personally my improvement was an additional 7% with chemo over just hormonal treatment. I explained to my oncologist that I couldn't live with myself if I refused chemo and the cancer came back. I said I was willing to accept the risks of chemo.
Now I am almost 4 years after diagnosis and sometimes I wonder what I would have chosen to do if I hadn't had a friends story influence me so much. I do have some ongoing issues with peripheral neuropathy but I do think overall I made the right decision for me. 

I'm not writing this to scare anyone into having chemo as that might be the wrong decision for them but it is important to think of all the possibilities and then make the best decision you can. For some the risks of chemo are too much and for others the risk of not doing chemo is too much. 

It's a horrible decision to have to make. Good luck xx