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CellyK's avatar
CellyK
Member
8 years ago

To chemo or not to chemo

Hi there, any thoughts on this would be appreciated.  
My early breast cancer is:  no node involvement, no blood / vascular involvement detected, HER2 negative.  I've had a complete single mastectomy.  The invasive mass was 10mm, grade 3.  But there were also 3 non-invasive, (grade 2 or lower / DCIS) masses of ~5mm size.  I have smaller, dense boobs - so they took the whole thing.  

Now, I've been told that my 10 yr prognosis with hormone therapy is 83-88% depending on how they describe the mass - which as you see - didn't fit neatly into categories.  Chemo would only add 2-3% to that - maybe.  Whereas there are all sorts of short, medium & long term potential risks with chemo.  So my initial gut reaction was - hell no.  The oncologist says I'm really 'on the fence' as to if chemo is worth it at all.  She's left it up to me.  I'm pretty sure I'd rather invest in nurturing my body - you know, fitness, good food and stress management, which could equal the 2-3% benefit anyway.  I know there's no guarantees either way.  Anyone been in similar situation??
alternative-therapies
chemotherapy
hormone-therapy

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  • melclarity's avatar
    melclarity
    Member
    8 years ago
    @cellyk I agree it's a really good question, like Tonya and @Zoffiel I too am twice on the BC ride. It was the recurrence in 2015 I had 2.5cm IDC Stage 2 Grade 3, no node involvement. my Oncologist said based on Grade 3 he always does Chemo as rule of thumb. I am only ER+ yet you have Her2 negative as well. Its so so hard, I was so against chemo but I did it because of recurrence. 

    It would be great to think that healthy food and exercise will do the trick but if that were the truth none of us would have gotten it in the first place I guess. I do all these things plus nurture me, the biggest key to it all...but for no other reason do I do these things to feel good only, I enjoy a glass of wine when I want and chocolate too LOL. 

    I was on Tamoxifen for 4yrs and had a recurrence, im now on Aromasin after being pulled off Arimidex, will that do the trick?? ummm no idea but I don't think about it anymore. It's the million dollar question really if chemo was necessary for me as I then 14 months post chemo had a single mastectomy/diep flap recon in February, pathology of the breast was perfect bittersweet I guess :/ So it really is super personal you really do need their expert opinions. 

    In hindsight after 6yrs?? of this shit road?? in 2015 I should have done a mastectomy and no treatment, but its done, but if I had my time again that's what I'd do. 

    Oh and I had so many people say to me...YOU HAVE TO DO IT FOR YOUR KIDS!!!! My Response??? If I cannot do it for myself first and foremost how the hell can I do it for anyone else. It has to be about YOU and nobody else...theyre not going through it. So try and filter what people say to you trust your gut and you'll choose the right thing for you..Hugs Melinda xo
  • TonyaM's avatar
    TonyaM
    Member
    8 years ago
    In my experience (twice on the bc ride) if your oncologist says you MUST have chemo then you need it.If they leave it up to you,then you probably don't need it. They have to offer it because some women will want that 1% help regardless. Just get all the info and stats for your situation and then go with what feels right for you now.
  • Romla's avatar
    Romla
    Member
    8 years ago
    Oops radiotherapy completed just starting hormone therapy 
  • Romla's avatar
    Romla
    Member
    8 years ago
    Hi Celly -have been given a similar prognosis 2-3% risk reduction with chemo - and all 3 oncologists didn't think worth it in my case . I was recommended to have radiotherapy followed by hormone therapy which I've just started. As am post menopausal and er+ am on an aromatase inhibitor Letrozole trade name Femara for 5 years.Am also osteoporotic so Prolia injections 6 monthly to counter bone fractures. Have been told by oncs and read Prolia also helps prevent recurrence. My medical details are on my profile if it's of interest.Re nurturing just found out about Encore a free 8 week course run by YWCA incl hydrotherapy might be of interest have been told it's great
  • Zoffiel's avatar
    Zoffiel
    Member
    8 years ago

    Hi @CellyK

    There has been a great deal of discussion about this over the years. It is a really tough personal choice and the risks and benefits are hard to weigh up, particularly when the statistics suggest improvements in survivorship are small for people in your circumstances. Sometimes there appears to be a significant percentage difference between chemo and going without, sometimes not. 

    One thing that does seem to be a constant is that regardless of how well you look after yourself, you can not completely mitigate the risks of cancer returning. Yes, you can not do really bad stuff--which you would think should help--but there are many examples of fit, healthy people who have lead exemplary lives getting cancer. Which totally sucks. Studies recently are suggesting that luck--or a lack of it--has as much a part to play as lifestyle or genetics. Which basically means no-one really knows.

    You'll have to go with your head on this one. Others weighing in and pressuring you can make those sorts of decisions really hard to make as well. In my case the increase in survival was about 7% if I had chemo (for the second time) Like you, I initially went 'Nah' then made the mistake of letting my son and partner know that it had been offered and I was going to refuse. I should have kept my mouth shut.

    This really is a shit of a disease. Marg xxx