Opinions please

kdavis212
kdavis212 Member Posts: 19

Oncoligist wants me to do 6 rounds of chemo, but said he would be happy if I complete 4. I have completed 4. When I asked him why he wanted me to do 6, he said there have been studies showing benefit of 4, but would like to see me do 6 on the concept more is better.....not sure I think that is a good enough reason to continue?

 

Also, surgeon suggested that once I have mastectomy (which I am having hard time getting head around) that reconstruction is fun...WHAT? Did anyone feel it was fun??

Comments

  • coco2008
    coco2008 Member Posts: 418
    Don't know which way is best

    Don't know which way is best om chemo, but reconstruction fun.  Not from what I've read on this forum.  Any chance your onco just has a twisted sense of humor?

    Sandy

  • RozHopkins
    RozHopkins Member Posts: 578 Member
    What a stupid word to use -

    What a stupid word to use - fun - let him have it then doubt he would be laughing.  When feelings are running rampant during treatments we have to be treated with respect and handled carefully with the best up to date advice.  Yes, some people may have a giggle or laugh through this depending on personality.  But the specialists should tune in to patients personality and deal with her appropriately.  Throwing in two more two chemos, is what it sounds like.  You know, a lot of men, not all, don't know how to relate to their loved ones or patients and come out with the wrong words.  Not liking his come back on your chemo treatment.  Google it more deeply, try Cancer Treatment of America site and ask oncol for statistics.  How long had he been practicing?

  • June Bugs
    June Bugs Member Posts: 167
    coco2008 said:

    Don't know which way is best

    Don't know which way is best om chemo, but reconstruction fun.  Not from what I've read on this forum.  Any chance your onco just has a twisted sense of humor?

    Sandy

    I can't answer on the chemo

    I can't answer on the chemo as I didn't have it, nor did I have reconstruction, as I had a lumpectomy, but, I don't think the word fun goes with reconstruction.  Strange that he would say that.

    Good luck!

  • SIROD
    SIROD Member Posts: 2,194 Member
    2nd Opinion Is Needed

    I would go for a second opinion.  Fun for reconstruction is really an awful word to use.

    Could be that 6 will give you an edge.  You don't ever want a recurrence and come back as stage IV.  I your case, I would certainly seek out a 2nd opinion before proceding.

    Best,

    Doris

  • Rague
    Rague Member Posts: 3,653 Member
    We are each unique!

    We are all so different!  When I saw Dr. T. before my 10th of 12 weekly Taxol, I complained how totally/utterly exhausted I was and was told  that the 4 neoadjuvant A/C, surgery and the 9 Taxol already done had done between 85% and 90% of what could be done (I'm IBC) (plus the rads yet to come and Femara) and he'd write a script for me to stop IF I wanted to.  Well to me - I had to fight through to do evevy thing I could considering all I had already been through - I could not quiit so close to the line.  Had there been medical reasons - I would have stopped but just existing on the couch in front of the TV (to me) was not what I'd do.  Hubby, Son and Gdaughter had been there for me to let me fight the battle - so I had to keep 'charging forward' - if not for me - for THEM.  Aug will be 4 yrs since DX and I'm still (as far as I know) NED.

    Recon was never an option at time of surgery.  If it is done with IBC (Inflammatory Breast Cancer) it has to wait at least a year..  A year out I was thinking about doing recon BUT it's more surgeries with the possibilities of problems.   Hubby  did not want me having more surgeries that were not necessary but if I wanted recon he would support me.  I can and do anything I want to - we've been married 37 1/2 years - I'm not the same person I was in 1975 - he isn't either.

    Sorry for rambling but to me - Life is to be lived to the ultimate and there are times that really 'dump on' us but it's up o each of us to allow them to put us down or make us stronger.

    Winyan - The Power  Within

    Susan

  • SIROD
    SIROD Member Posts: 2,194 Member

    What a stupid word to use -

    What a stupid word to use - fun - let him have it then doubt he would be laughing.  When feelings are running rampant during treatments we have to be treated with respect and handled carefully with the best up to date advice.  Yes, some people may have a giggle or laugh through this depending on personality.  But the specialists should tune in to patients personality and deal with her appropriately.  Throwing in two more two chemos, is what it sounds like.  You know, a lot of men, not all, don't know how to relate to their loved ones or patients and come out with the wrong words.  Not liking his come back on your chemo treatment.  Google it more deeply, try Cancer Treatment of America site and ask oncol for statistics.  How long had he been practicing?

    Facts bases on a specific tumor

    I don't believe Google will give her the answer.  Everyone has different stats and a 2nd opinon is needed by a good oncologist with all the facts about the tumor.

    Cancer Treatment of America can't give her what she really needs an opinon based on her tumor and what it will mean to her to have 2 extra treatments.

    Best,

    Doris

  • Rague
    Rague Member Posts: 3,653 Member
    SIROD said:

    Facts bases on a specific tumor

    I don't believe Google will give her the answer.  Everyone has different stats and a 2nd opinon is needed by a good oncologist with all the facts about the tumor.

    Cancer Treatment of America can't give her what she really needs an opinon based on her tumor and what it will mean to her to have 2 extra treatments.

    Best,

    Doris

    CTA

    CTA (Cancer Treatment of America) has 'great commercial' but they are just that - 'commercials'.  We are each unique as is our DX/prognosis.

    Winyan - The Power Wothin

    Susan

  • RozHopkins
    RozHopkins Member Posts: 578 Member
    I was just suggesting other

    I was just suggesting other places to look in case there were any new comments on more treatment could be a good thing. As in Googling Tamoxifen gives you different sites informing us of the change in thought for treatment five to ten years is being looked at.  Are the poweres that be, be considering generally more chemo is better or is this just a rougue oncologists opinion.  It sounded like an off the cuff remark which concerns me.

  • Cheryl S
    Cheryl S Member Posts: 82
    SIROD said:

    2nd Opinion Is Needed

    I would go for a second opinion.  Fun for reconstruction is really an awful word to use.

    Could be that 6 will give you an edge.  You don't ever want a recurrence and come back as stage IV.  I your case, I would certainly seek out a 2nd opinion before proceding.

    Best,

    Doris

    I know nothing of chemo and

    I know nothing of chemo and can't figure out why he'd use the word fun for reconstruction.  Maybe you should see another doctor for a 2nd opinion?

  • SIROD
    SIROD Member Posts: 2,194 Member

    I was just suggesting other

    I was just suggesting other places to look in case there were any new comments on more treatment could be a good thing. As in Googling Tamoxifen gives you different sites informing us of the change in thought for treatment five to ten years is being looked at.  Are the poweres that be, be considering generally more chemo is better or is this just a rougue oncologists opinion.  It sounded like an off the cuff remark which concerns me.

    No Hard or Fast Rule

    Back when I was diagnose in 1994, my oncologist said that at one time, chemo was given for one whole year.  I knew two people who had chemo during those years and I must say, they never had a recurrence either.

    In 1994, one year was considered overkill, I was given an option of two types CMF or CAF or I could join a trial for Taxol. 

    Now many I notice on here have chemo, surgery and more chemo.  In February, I was unable to Xeloda due to the fact I was taking folic acid with Methotrexate.  My oncologist suggested Taxol and that is what I'm doing.  Stage IV, doesn't have a chemo "end date".  I envy those who do now.

    Hormonals such as Tamoxifen when I began in 1995 was for 5 years.  Then they added an aromatase inhibitor to the deal, adding more years.  In the past few years they have suggested Tamoxifen be used for 10 years.  When Tamoxifen came out back in 1970's, Rita Arditti who I am fond of saying she lived 30 years with mets, used Tamoxifen for 17 years.  When it failed, she went on an aromatase inhibitor.

    When I began Tamoxifen in 1995, aromatase inhibitors was in the future.  When Tamoxifen failed me, I began Arimidex which had just came out a year or two before my recurrence.

    Things change a lot and I don't believe there is a book that says, you must do it this way.  I believe at a METS conference last Fall it was mentioned how widespread everything is, no pattern, no fast and hard rule to follow.

    Ms. Davis best bet is still a 2nd opinion from a qualified oncologist.  I agree with you Roz, her oncologist sounded as though he just made an off the cuff remarked.

    Best to you,

    Doris

     

  • Candi Cane
    Candi Cane Member Posts: 159
    SIROD said:

    No Hard or Fast Rule

    Back when I was diagnose in 1994, my oncologist said that at one time, chemo was given for one whole year.  I knew two people who had chemo during those years and I must say, they never had a recurrence either.

    In 1994, one year was considered overkill, I was given an option of two types CMF or CAF or I could join a trial for Taxol. 

    Now many I notice on here have chemo, surgery and more chemo.  In February, I was unable to Xeloda due to the fact I was taking folic acid with Methotrexate.  My oncologist suggested Taxol and that is what I'm doing.  Stage IV, doesn't have a chemo "end date".  I envy those who do now.

    Hormonals such as Tamoxifen when I began in 1995 was for 5 years.  Then they added an aromatase inhibitor to the deal, adding more years.  In the past few years they have suggested Tamoxifen be used for 10 years.  When Tamoxifen came out back in 1970's, Rita Arditti who I am fond of saying she lived 30 years with mets, used Tamoxifen for 17 years.  When it failed, she went on an aromatase inhibitor.

    When I began Tamoxifen in 1995, aromatase inhibitors was in the future.  When Tamoxifen failed me, I began Arimidex which had just came out a year or two before my recurrence.

    Things change a lot and I don't believe there is a book that says, you must do it this way.  I believe at a METS conference last Fall it was mentioned how widespread everything is, no pattern, no fast and hard rule to follow.

    Ms. Davis best bet is still a 2nd opinion from a qualified oncologist.  I agree with you Roz, her oncologist sounded as though he just made an off the cuff remarked.

    Best to you,

    Doris

     

    I don't know what I would do

    I don't know what I would do about the 4 or 6 treatments of chemo.  Luckily, I was never faced with that decision.  Did he have any stats as to how 6 would help you over 4?  Maybe 4 treatments would be enough. Can you talk to anyone else as to how many they had?  I wish you luck with chemo, no matter how many you have.

    As far as your ps's comment, strange.

    Good luck!

  • Pink Rose
    Pink Rose Member Posts: 493

    I was just suggesting other

    I was just suggesting other places to look in case there were any new comments on more treatment could be a good thing. As in Googling Tamoxifen gives you different sites informing us of the change in thought for treatment five to ten years is being looked at.  Are the poweres that be, be considering generally more chemo is better or is this just a rougue oncologists opinion.  It sounded like an off the cuff remark which concerns me.

    Possibly a 2nd opinion might

    Possibly a 2nd opinion might help you in deciding about the chemo?  Wishing you good luck!

    Hugs, Rose

  • kamcat1962
    kamcat1962 Member Posts: 40

    This man should be made to have reco. and see how fun it is.  I am not exaggerating but mine was horrible and most likely the reason I recurred, but that has been emphatically denied by those in the profession.  Reconstruction is a very personal decision that must be thought about seriously. It is no walk in the park and it is certainly not fun. Pleasde think about it carefully, get a 2nd or even 3rd opinion if possible and don't let any one pressure you.  I let myself be pressured qnd am so, so sorry I did it because I did have severe reservations.  I was having the left prophylactic mastectomy so everyone was "Why not have the reconstruction done at the same time". But I was still having reservations about such a large surgury (8hrs) and they were like "oh it is no big  deal and then you will have your perky new girls.  Well the girls were not perky and I was in extreme pain.  So please educate yourself and don't let yourself be bullied.

    I hope all works out for the best for you. Take care and listen to that inner voice.  It's your body and  your family, friends, or cancer patients should just be glad that you are alive and living. 

    REconstruction fun.  That man/womwn belongs in a mental institution.

    HUgs and srength sent your way,

    Cathy K

  • max2111
    max2111 Member Posts: 8 Member
    I had a double mastectomy

    I had a double mastectomy with implant reconstruction on April 29.   The implant reconstruction means that the surgeon placed what are called "expanders" under my chest muscle wall.   Once you are over the surgery, you will get "fillups" of saline to expand the expanders.   This stretches out the skin.   

    Somewhere down the road, you will have another sugery to get your "real" implants.  Some ladies have the surgery where your own tissue is used instead of implants.  I have to have that surgery since I am having to go through radiation after my chemo.

    Let me tell you - the April 29 surgery was no picnic.  I won't lie - it was painful.   If you take your pain meds, you will be fine.....just make sure you eat something before you take your pain meds......  After about 4-5 weeks post-op, most of the pain was gone.   The first few weeks are the hardest.

    That oncologist had to have been making an attempt at sarcastic humor.  This surgery was not fun but I wouldn't consider it unbearable either....

    Good Luck  :O)

  • kdavis212
    kdavis212 Member Posts: 19
    max2111 said:

    I had a double mastectomy

    I had a double mastectomy with implant reconstruction on April 29.   The implant reconstruction means that the surgeon placed what are called "expanders" under my chest muscle wall.   Once you are over the surgery, you will get "fillups" of saline to expand the expanders.   This stretches out the skin.   

    Somewhere down the road, you will have another sugery to get your "real" implants.  Some ladies have the surgery where your own tissue is used instead of implants.  I have to have that surgery since I am having to go through radiation after my chemo.

    Let me tell you - the April 29 surgery was no picnic.  I won't lie - it was painful.   If you take your pain meds, you will be fine.....just make sure you eat something before you take your pain meds......  After about 4-5 weeks post-op, most of the pain was gone.   The first few weeks are the hardest.

    That oncologist had to have been making an attempt at sarcastic humor.  This surgery was not fun but I wouldn't consider it unbearable either....

    Good Luck  :O)

    Thanks for the feedback

    I decided to go all 6 chemo, don't want regrets later. Also am having double mastectomy with reconstruction....scares me a little based on feedback, but will just have to remember the pain will go away. Feeling good about my choices.

     

    Thanks everyone.

  • DianeBC
    DianeBC Member Posts: 3,881 Member
    kdavis212 said:

    Thanks for the feedback

    I decided to go all 6 chemo, don't want regrets later. Also am having double mastectomy with reconstruction....scares me a little based on feedback, but will just have to remember the pain will go away. Feeling good about my choices.

     

    Thanks everyone.

    Good luck with your surgery

    Good luck with your surgery and chemo!

    Hugs, Diane

  • CypressCynthia
    CypressCynthia Member Posts: 4,014 Member
    kdavis212 said:

    Thanks for the feedback

    I decided to go all 6 chemo, don't want regrets later. Also am having double mastectomy with reconstruction....scares me a little based on feedback, but will just have to remember the pain will go away. Feeling good about my choices.

     

    Thanks everyone.

    I would do all 6 too, because

    I would do all 6 too, because I like to fight!  Sometimes less is more, but this disease is so treacherous!

    Fun was a terrible word to use.  However, stupid words sometimes spring out of my mouth...Lol. 

    I hope he meant to say that reconstruction can be a positive.  Not for everyone, but, for me, it was a relief not to have to fool with a swimming prosthesis, etc. and I do appreciate having breasts even though the nipples and breast are not perfect.  Maybe it was being 33, but I was glad to have that option.  I couldn't do implants because the plastic surgeon said there was not enough left (large tumor) for an implant to be cosmetic.

    Keep fighting!

  • taylor manny
    taylor manny Member Posts: 113

    I would do all 6 too, because

    I would do all 6 too, because I like to fight!  Sometimes less is more, but this disease is so treacherous!

    Fun was a terrible word to use.  However, stupid words sometimes spring out of my mouth...Lol. 

    I hope he meant to say that reconstruction can be a positive.  Not for everyone, but, for me, it was a relief not to have to fool with a swimming prosthesis, etc. and I do appreciate having breasts even though the nipples and breast are not perfect.  Maybe it was being 33, but I was glad to have that option.  I couldn't do implants because the plastic surgeon said there was not enough left (large tumor) for an implant to be cosmetic.

    Keep fighting!

    Wishing you good luck too! 

    Wishing you good luck too!  Keep us updated!