After 2 violent allergic reactions to the Docetaxel component of my TC chemo, my medico team has given me 2 options.....1. Be admitted and do desensitisation and then continue original regime,if all goes well. 2. Change over to AC chemo.Yes, the decision is up to me but hashing out things on this wonderful forum has helped me so much already. I appreciate any and all comments. Thankyou all so much.For anyone that has read my prior comments on other threads.....suddenly I don’t care less about my hair loss! Go figure! Lol.Best wishes to all.xxx

Glad to see that you've had inspiration from some on here. I agree 3%, you've gotta wonder don't you, however, you are giving it your best shot and keeping up your frequent flyer points at ED...…….damn! Hope that is your last visit there, not pleasant!Best wishes for the balance of treatment, Take care

Yet again this forum has helped me! Thankyou all. No avail stats on desensitization so I have decided to change to AC. Big decision made. My medical team was also leaning towards that decision too. Now starts all the little extras but ! Surely it cant be any rougher than what Ive been through.....Anyway, i have until Thursday to gather strength and a calm mind and find some brand new big girl panties and then away we go !!!!!!!Tomorrow me thinks me have a BC free day......winery ? Royal Adelaide Show ? Beach walk ?Cheers to all.xxx

Thanks @Sister, yea, after much consideration i have decided to continue. Possibly my biggest hurdle is accepting that I actually had BC in my body. Like many , i have only felt pain, illness etc from surgery and treatment, NOT the cancer.I need to let go and be guided. That is difficult for me but im doing it. I ask too many questions etc. Your quote is very good. I must remember that I am fortunate to be having chemo as a mop up and not to reduce any cancer etc as many do. That i think is my answer.

Hi all, so had my almost mandatory visit to the ED over the long weekend just gone, for high temp. (Adel had a public hol) 12 hours in the ED because there was no bed in a ward for me. I’m sure you can all fill in the rest......Since my last post I have had 2 SUCCESSFUL rounds of AC. Yes, that is great. But the 2 hiccups I have had along the way have broken me. Why bother for 3% ( that is my personal % only for how much AC adds to my survival). There are so many variables and no guarantees for anything. Humpty is broken, this morning I’ve decided to keep going with chemo and see what humpty looks like at the other end. I continue to be grateful for everything in my life, family, friends, free cancer treatment, and a roof over my head. But I’ve only just really worked out that I am allowed to feel sad and frustrated and it doesn’t mean I’m ungrateful. I thought I knew a lot about myself, this BC roller coaster has taken me thru twists and turns that I didn’t know existed.I have also been reading some of your old posts, there’s some truly “tuff chics” on this forum. Thanks again. Xxx

@Fletch - I am feeling it with you. This shitty disease just keeps on giving ..... and it is perfectly fine to be sad & frustrated & downright angry at times! Vent away when ever you need it ..... we are here for you xx

Looking for reassurance please! Big decision to make......

38 Replies

Fletch
Member
7 years ago
Good grief ! 3 very different scenarios......just goes to show!
kmakm
Member
7 years ago
Never been raised with me at all even though I was still menstruating when I was diagnosed.
Zoffiel
Member
7 years ago
I drove the conversation about the ovary removal so it came as no shock and I'd carefully considered the pros and cons. I was more concerned that no-one had suggested I take that action in 2006
Always bear in mind that you don't 'have' to do anything and, yes, it is a big deal. The removal of any body part is a big deal. If your onc is a man I wonder how he's take the casual statement that his nuts were disposable? Never mind, mate, you won't miss them. We'll just whip them off and you won't feel a thing....
I certainly don't regret my decision and it is a very sensible thing for some women to do. I was perimenopausal and as I'm going to be having hormone therapy for some years, getting rid of the egg machines cut yet another intervention (Zolodex) out of the equation.
Even in my not-quite-menopaused state, the last step was a doozy when it happened in an afternoon. Autopaused. Those hormones--in addition to feeding some cancers--do some lovely stuff and I miss the benefits of them circulating through my body. Not enough to die for them though.
The operation itself is--usually--non eventful. I had mine out when I had my port put in, ten days before I started chemo. Not a great idea as I had some minor wound infections when my white cells crashed and I had issues with dissolvable stitches.
Anyway, it is a big deal, but I think it is worth the consequences if it increases your chance of survival.
Kiwi_Angel
Member
7 years ago
@Fletch I have discussed having my ovaries removed with my surgeon and oncologist - my surgeon doesn’t think it has much additional benefit unless you are a youn woman and my oncologist is abit non-commital on the subject so I was going to question her more on the subject when I see her in a few weeks. As I understand it it’s a very simple procedure though.
Fletch
Member
7 years ago
Anyway, today during my chat before chemo, I was told for the FIRST time that I have to have keyhole surgery in January to remove my ovaries. I understand it’s not a big deal.....but that was the very first mention of it. Does anyone else remember when they were told this during their roller coaster ? Thanks again everyone.xxx
Fletch
Member
7 years ago
Hi my friends, today I had my last AC chemo. So hooray for that!
My infusion suite has a bell that patients can ring when they finish treatment, yes, I rang that bell! May even work out how to share a photo......
Sister
Member
7 years ago
It's not an easy road. I hope the next treatment is kinder.
Fletch
Member
7 years ago
Thanks @Sister, yea, after much consideration i have decided to continue.
Possibly my biggest hurdle is accepting that I actually had BC in my body. Like many , i have only felt pain, illness etc from surgery and treatment, NOT the cancer.
I need to let go and be guided. That is difficult for me but im doing it. I ask too many questions etc.
Your quote is very good.
I must remember that I am fortunate to be having chemo as a mop up and not to reduce any cancer etc as many do. That i think is my answer.
Sister
Member
7 years ago
While I never ended up in hospital @fletch, chemotherapy, and particularly AC, was a hard road - one I hope to never have to go down again. And while you have every right to pull the pin if you want to, remember that you're halfway through it. Make sure that your onc is completely aware of what you have been through - give it to him/her in writing. Anyway, the following is what the inimitable @allyjay posted a while back. It's a pretty powerful image and I have shared it with others in the past because for me it made things very clear.

"Purely on the statistical side, for me, when faced with the same decision as you now are, I looked at it from different angles. One of the scenarios for me was this. I was in a room with 1000 women who were told that they had been diagnosed with my type and grade of breast cancer. We were all told to have such and such surgery, which we did. We were then taken back to that same dreaded room and given a card with a number. Then 830 numbers were read out, and those women were allowed to leave the room and go next door for a celebratory cup of tea and slice of cake....considered cured (10 years). The other 170 shocked women looked at each other with dread. Just then the compere said...."Oh sorry, I forgot, I have another 70 numbers to draw, that is the women who had additional chemo, they can pick up their bags and join the others". If, perchance I was one of the 100 left behind to the future of stage four, would I wish that I might have been one of the other 70, or would I go "Que Sera Sera..." and accept it? For me the answer was "Fuck no" bring it all on, and if the wheels still fall off, at least I would have given it my best shot, and not have been left with the perhaps..." Each of us has to weigh it all up, make our decisions and then go forward. As Afraser says, having started chemo, you can always stop. But it doesn't work the other way. Best of luck."
arpie
Member
7 years ago
@Fletch - I am feeling it with you. This shitty disease just keeps on giving ..... and it is perfectly fine to be sad & frustrated & downright angry at times! Vent away when ever you need it ..... we are here for you xx