So on Thursday I had my first appointment with my oncologistMy details were keyed into his computer and I was spit out as a statistic. My oncologist mentioned that he would respect any "choices" I would make in deciding my treatment.It comes down to playing a very serious game of cards. I dont know how to play cards at all, but I do need to make choices and play my hand of cards and make a decision, by next week.My history..1st June total right hand mastectomy, no reconstruction. 12th June aux clearance. Grade 2 , 3cm, ER + PR positive, 1 node positive HER-2 negative.My statistics were based over a 10 year period. 44 were alive with no further treatment. 60 were alive with hormone treatment only, 76 were alive with combined hormone and chemo. Obviously there is always risk of recurrence, there is no "cure" 100% to be classed cancer free. There is also a risk that I might get run over by a tram and be killed next month!!My oncologist stated his treatment path for me would ideally be 6 months of chemo followed by 10 years of Tamoxifen. We all have been faced with our "choices" regarding treatment. There is no right or wrong decision. For me personally, I feel the option of hormone treatment only sits the best with me so far. My anxiety and depression factors..for which I have never had prior to this ride, will need professional follow up in my new life..which I will seek out once Ive made a "choice". Is there any women who have made the same choice as me? I mean no disrespect to the women who have the attitude of taking on cancer by "throwing everything at it". I have the utmost respect for those who have gone down the chemo path, and for many there were no choices given. 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.

I did go down the chemo path so I hope someone who didn't will also respond. Fear of chemo is a mighty powerful beast, and for some rightly so. For others, it's not so bad. In your thinking, remember that if you find it terrible, you can stop. Best wishes for whatever decision you make.

Hi @LisaO, I had a similar diagnosis to you but with 3 nodes positive. I wasn't given a choice. My surgeon's words were "we are throwing everything at you & you will be knocked flat". To say I was frightened is an understatement. On my first chemo day I told the oncologist I wasn't going through with it but she talked me round & said "surgeons can be very dramatic" & she was right. I came through treatment & worked all the way through & wasn't as bad as I thought although I had my bad days. For me it was a risk but not doing it I believed was a bigger risk & they do lump us into one basket instead of individual treatment but science is a long way from that yet. Good luck, it is very difficult.

I'm afraid I'm one of those "go hard or go home" ones, who've "chosen" to chuck everything at this horror in my life. Six months of chemo (clocking up 56 days in hospital due to horrendous side effects), followed by The Big Chop (both boobs), followed by continuing Herceptin for another six months, followed by the next decade of hormone therapy. I too took a close look at stastics. I've used this analogy before in another post, but I feel it's still relevant (at least to me). I used to be (in my distant and vigorous youth), a very active skydiver with 1634 jumps under my belt. If there were (theoretically) two different types of rigs for students, some with reserve parachutes.....big bulky, heavy and cumbersome. and others without reserves...smaller, neater, lighter and easier to wear, and a first jumper asked me which I would choose, given that 99% of main parachutes open without problems each and every time...I would still strongly advise them to take the one with the reserve. Who the hell would want to be plummeting to earth with a bundle of tangled washing above you, and then think...shit...I should have chosen the one with a reserve!! As it happens, in all those jumps, I only ever had one reserve ride, but I would never have stepped out that door from 12 000 feet without one....guaranteed. So my question is this, does that extra 16% chance 60 versus 76 make enough of a difference to you? Would you step out of a plane without a reserve if 16% of mains didn't open? Because, for me, my chemo was my reserve parachute....perhaps unnecessary but chosen all the same.

I chose chemo. Looking at your choices 17% is quite a big difference with or without chemo. If it were 1 to 2 % fair enough I'd totally be thinking the same way. I was unwell on chemo yes. But I can still say...I'd do it again given the choices and knowing the experienced side effects I had. Best of luck with your decision, don't not choose your best options purely due to fear. Address the fear. Discuss concerns with the oncologist and bc nurse and hear how they will address it. Most side effects (even the anxiety component) can be managed and if it can't, like Afraser said, you can always stop. Yes...those predict tools are interesting. The sad thing is ...they can't tell you which statistic you are in. Kath x

I had right side mastectomy, 3/26 nodes,6 months chemo, 25 rads plus 4 year Tamoxifen before being changed to Aromasin/Zolodex last year. I was stage 2b, grade 3, er+ pr+ her2- 35 and pregnant. Just recently been diagnosed mets to liver and bones after 6 years. All I can say is statistics be darned. If you have a choice to throw everything they have at it. Then do it. There are no guarantees at the end of the day but at least you know you did everything you could.

My "choices" regarding treatment spelt out

18 Replies

fairydust
Member
8 years ago
We take panadol if we have a headache. We take antibiotics for serious infections. We have tablets for diarrhoe and constipation. We wouldnt think twice if we were bitten by a snake and take anti-venom.
So the point I am trying to make is what is the problem having chemo. Chemo is just a very powerful drug. It helps us live if we have cancer. I had chemo because there was no option. I had a large inoperable tumour that thankfully shrunk with chemo and could be removed. I am alive today because of chemo.
It is your choice but hormone therapy is just another drug. To say yes to one drug and no to another does not make sense to me. If only a small margin of benefit okay but if it can keep you alive I would not hesitate.
Anonymous
8 years ago
My surgeon said that the statistics do not show the general health of individuals and that everyone is different. I am cancer free after being given very bad odds initially. I had surgery, radio, chemo and one year of Tamoxifen. It's good to know your options. I listened to a great podcast by Deepak Chopra about the negative impact statistics can have on people's health. He said that if you were given a 90% risk of not making it, who is to say that you won't be in the 10% who make it? I like his philosophy. Doctors can only guide you. You make the best decisions with the knowledge you have at the time. Chemo wasn't too bad and radiotherapy was tiring, but ok. Don't be guided by negative comments and I say that as someone who has posted a few about treatment options I've had. Ultimately, they saved my life. All the best with everything,
Molly001
Member
8 years ago
I also chose to 'throw everything at it'. Right mastectomy with full node clearance (zero positive) stage 2 grade 2 IDC 9cm of multifocal tumor, one area of close margin. I've had 6 cycles of chemo and will soon start 30 rads and 10 yrs hormone. Chemo was horrid, but not as bad as I expected. Would I do it again... absolutely! For me, I couldn't bear the thought of regret if I ever get a reoccurance. At least I will know I've done all I can. I was terrified of chemo, but I got through it. It took 5 months of my life but hopefully has given me many years.
Tennille
Member
8 years ago
I had right side mastectomy, 3/26 nodes,6 months chemo, 25 rads plus 4 year Tamoxifen before being changed to Aromasin/Zolodex last year. I was stage 2b, grade 3, er+ pr+ her2- 35 and pregnant. Just recently been diagnosed mets to liver and bones after 6 years. All I can say is statistics be darned. If you have a choice to throw everything they have at it. Then do it. There are no guarantees at the end of the day but at least you know you did everything you could.
primek
Member
8 years ago
I chose chemo. Looking at your choices 17% is quite a big difference with or without chemo. If it were 1 to 2 % fair enough I'd totally be thinking the same way. I was unwell on chemo yes. But I can still say...I'd do it again given the choices and knowing the experienced side effects I had. Best of luck with your decision, don't not choose your best options purely due to fear. Address the fear. Discuss concerns with the oncologist and bc nurse and hear how they will address it. Most side effects (even the anxiety component) can be managed and if it can't, like Afraser said, you can always stop.

Yes...those predict tools are interesting. The sad thing is ...they can't tell you which statistic you are in.

Kath x
AllyJay
Member
8 years ago
I'm afraid I'm one of those "go hard or go home" ones, who've "chosen" to chuck everything at this horror in my life. Six months of chemo (clocking up 56 days in hospital due to horrendous side effects), followed by The Big Chop (both boobs), followed by continuing Herceptin for another six months, followed by the next decade of hormone therapy. I too took a close look at stastics. I've used this analogy before in another post, but I feel it's still relevant (at least to me). I used to be (in my distant and vigorous youth), a very active skydiver with 1634 jumps under my belt. If there were (theoretically) two different types of rigs for students, some with reserve parachutes.....big bulky, heavy and cumbersome. and others without reserves...smaller, neater, lighter and easier to wear, and a first jumper asked me which I would choose, given that 99% of main parachutes open without problems each and every time...I would still strongly advise them to take the one with the reserve. Who the hell would want to be plummeting to earth with a bundle of tangled washing above you, and then think...shit...I should have chosen the one with a reserve!! As it happens, in all those jumps, I only ever had one reserve ride, but I would never have stepped out that door from 12 000 feet without one....guaranteed. So my question is this, does that extra 16% chance 60 versus 76 make enough of a difference to you? Would you step out of a plane without a reserve if 16% of mains didn't open? Because, for me, my chemo was my reserve parachute....perhaps unnecessary but chosen all the same.
Glemmis
Member
8 years ago
Hi @LisaO, I had a similar diagnosis to you but with 3 nodes positive. I wasn't given a choice. My surgeon's words were "we are throwing everything at you & you will be knocked flat". To say I was frightened is an understatement. On my first chemo day I told the oncologist I wasn't going through with it but she talked me round & said "surgeons can be very dramatic" & she was right. I came through treatment & worked all the way through & wasn't as bad as I thought although I had my bad days. For me it was a risk but not doing it I believed was a bigger risk & they do lump us into one basket instead of individual treatment but science is a long way from that yet. Good luck, it is very difficult.
Afraser
Member
8 years ago
I did go down the chemo path so I hope someone who didn't will also respond. Fear of chemo is a mighty powerful beast, and for some rightly so. For others, it's not so bad. In your thinking, remember that if you find it terrible, you can stop. Best wishes for whatever decision you make.

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My "choices" regarding treatment spelt out

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