To chemo or not to chemo?

@primek Thanks for that. That's interesting, that it was possible. 

@Flaneuse Yes i had tear drop tissue expanders in from first surgery. 3/4 filled and left alone during chemo as I lived 500km from sugeon. I had my 2nd a final filled after chemo then changeover which was quite minor surgery.

Thanks Kath @primek. When you say "changeover surgery" - do you mean insertion of the implant? Did you have the periodic inflation device in during that 6 months? Fran x

@Flaneuse that sounds like a sensible plan. I agree I went into surgery at my healthiest and healed quickly. Started chemo 6 weeks after. My surgeon did my reconstruction changeover surgery 6 months later...once I was fully recovered from chemo. I was sulky on the wait initially but in the end I really think it was best choice. Kath x

@Kerry66 @onemargie @Zoffiel I have just two days ago made this decision to NOT have chemo before surgery. Diagnosed 1 December. I got myself all psyched up for mastectomy and reconstruction. At my first consultation with breast surgeon and registrar, they said the cancer may have spread and recommended chemo before surgery. I hated the idea. I just want the cancer chopped out. I saw the oncologist for the first time on Thursday (28 Dec) and she said Invasive Lobular Carcinoma doesn't shrink much with chemo because it's so diffuse, and there's no strong medical reason to do chemo before surgery for ILC. I said I felt I'd be stronger psychologically to go into surgery if I'd not had the 6 months of chemo with its side effects and lost my hair beforehand. I asked, "What if I do nothing until surgery?" It didn't occur to me until late that night, that of course they can't allow me to do nothing; because I'm Category 1 urgent, they're bound by Qld govt regulations to begin treatment of some kind within 30 days of my first consultation. The oncologist suggested a third option: start endocrine blockers now until surgery. She said they're more effective than chemo for ILC and HR+ and potentially have fewer unpleasant side-effects. I agreed and she wrote the prescription immediately. I feel unbelievably relieved and having made the decision not to have chemo before surgery. I'll have to have it later, but I'll deal with that then. I'm going to start Letrozole today. I've had an MRI yesterday (what fun!) and shall have a bone scan 3 Jan and am waiting for an appointment for a CT scan. The oncologist thinks my decision will mean that the surgery will be within a couple of months. I hope this sort of experience might help you in your decision, @Kerry66. Fran x

Relax @Kerry66 just pick one of the threads you have started -- maybe this one--and talk to us.

I'm guessing you are having trouble deciding if you will have chemo or not? Very, very tough decision to make. 

Some people will do whatever they can to get this mongrel disease out of their system, others look at the statistics and think twice about options that seem to offer tiny percentages when it comes to ten year survival.

Get on here and try to clear your head. It helps to talk honestly about what is troubling you.

Marg xxx

Are you ok lovey?  Honestly just get on here and talk about it we are all family on here xx

Umm