TIME TO MAKE CHEMO DECISION,CRYED ALL DAY

ppurdin
ppurdin Member Posts: 1,181
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
HeLLO EVERYONE.I SEEN MY Cancer Dr today.My test came back that I am in the middle scale of Cancer comming back.So I have to decide if I will take Chemo.It increases my chances 8% if I don,t take the chemo.She also told me I will lose my hair after the second treatment.I am having a really hard time with the thought of loosing my hair.And I pray that no one says to me that it is only hair.I pray I will make the right decision.I have a cruise vac, comming up.She said we could do the first one before I LEAVE OR WHEN i GET BACK.I think I will wait till I get back if I do the Chemo.Any advice would be appriatted.I hope i don,t sound like I am whining.I know some of you have been through so much more then this.ID like to hear from you ,see what you think.God bless you.PAT.

Comments

  • mmontero38
    mmontero38 Member Posts: 1,510
    #2
    Sorry Pat, it's a tough
    Sorry Pat, it's a tough decision to make but look at it this way, any chance at reducing recurrence is a no brainer for me. I would do everything possible to reduce the chance of having to go through this nightmare again. It's not easy going through chemo but it is doable. Most of us have done it and we'll all be here to support you in whatever decision you make. If your oncologist said you can wait until after your cruise, then go ahead and enjoy yourself and then do the chemo. Hugs, Lili
  • mlmjt1
    mlmjt1 Member Posts: 537
    #3
    Hi Pat
    I am sorry that chemo is being suggested for you, but I agree that any chance of reducing a reoccurrence would be what I would do...But you have to decide for yourself.

    I did A/C for 4 cycles every other week and just had my first cycle of taxol and herceptin today. My oncologist gave me an A for how I did with the A/C which is no cake walk. They tell me that the Taxol/herceptin is much easier to do.

    I did lose my hair and quite honestly, that was tough for me. My hair was thin and yucky anyway, but that wasnt the point. For me, when I had to shave my head, it labelled me a cancer patient in both my eyes and the eyes of others. And though I didnt care what other people thought, I couldnt deny the diagnosis in myself because its staring me in the face everytime I looked in the mirror. That was really hard for me.

    On a brighter note...If it were me I would take the vacation, enjoy making memories with your sister and come back with more strength to tackle this whatever you choose.

    Hugs
    LInda T
  • meena1
    meena1 Member Posts: 1,003
    #4
    Go for the Chemo. I did
    Go for the Chemo. I did weekly rounds of taxol/herceptin. that was 1 year ago, and I am fine now. It was not that bad. I would suggest drinking a lot of water, eat healthy, take long walks during your chemo. I hated when people said to me "you'll be fine", or "its only hair". I will not lie to you, losing my hair was awful. I bought cute hats, scarfs and a really cute wig. Also, you may lose all the hair on your body, i was not aware of that! Lost my eyebrows and lashes. On the good side, my hair grew back awesome! Drink green tea, it has alot of antioxidants. I am sending you positive energy to get through this, I will pray for you.
  • tasha_111
    tasha_111 Member Posts: 2,072
    #5
    meena1 said:

    Go for the Chemo. I did
    Go for the Chemo. I did weekly rounds of taxol/herceptin. that was 1 year ago, and I am fine now. It was not that bad. I would suggest drinking a lot of water, eat healthy, take long walks during your chemo. I hated when people said to me "you'll be fine", or "its only hair". I will not lie to you, losing my hair was awful. I bought cute hats, scarfs and a really cute wig. Also, you may lose all the hair on your body, i was not aware of that! Lost my eyebrows and lashes. On the good side, my hair grew back awesome! Drink green tea, it has alot of antioxidants. I am sending you positive energy to get through this, I will pray for you.

    Oh Pat
    It's just a horrible nightmare that you never wake up from.........You have to make these awful choices RIGHT NOW......even though you havn't had a chance to digest what the heck is going on........
    I couldn't take it all in either, I suppose that's normal.

    Just fight for your life hun.............Please

    Hugs Jxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
  • ppurdin
    ppurdin Member Posts: 1,181
    #6
    meena1 said:

    Go for the Chemo. I did
    Go for the Chemo. I did weekly rounds of taxol/herceptin. that was 1 year ago, and I am fine now. It was not that bad. I would suggest drinking a lot of water, eat healthy, take long walks during your chemo. I hated when people said to me "you'll be fine", or "its only hair". I will not lie to you, losing my hair was awful. I bought cute hats, scarfs and a really cute wig. Also, you may lose all the hair on your body, i was not aware of that! Lost my eyebrows and lashes. On the good side, my hair grew back awesome! Drink green tea, it has alot of antioxidants. I am sending you positive energy to get through this, I will pray for you.

    CHEMO
    Hi,thanks for your reply.I dodn,t know you lost all your body hair.did your eye brows grow back?And eye lashes as well.I CAN,T IMAGINE NO HAIR,AND WILL i SHAVE IT OR LET IT FALL OUT?I GUESS I am not their yet.But it is going to be here soon probly.Pat.
  • meena1
    meena1 Member Posts: 1,003
    #7
    ppurdin said:

    CHEMO
    Hi,thanks for your reply.I dodn,t know you lost all your body hair.did your eye brows grow back?And eye lashes as well.I CAN,T IMAGINE NO HAIR,AND WILL i SHAVE IT OR LET IT FALL OUT?I GUESS I am not their yet.But it is going to be here soon probly.Pat.

    Hi, my eyebrows and
    Hi, my eyebrows and eyelashes did grow back really fast, I would suggest mascara. My friend and I had like 5 eyelashes and still wore mascara! No leg or arm hair either! I did not shave my hair, i just cut it really short, but i would suggest shaving it, There was hair all over. It will only be for a few months though, there were positives, it was so easy to get ready with no hair. Don't be discouraged, Say "I can do this, I am strong" or something like that, make a mantra that you say every morning when you wake up...take care, You are in my prayers.
  • survivorbc09
    survivorbc09 Member Posts: 4,374 Member
    #8
    meena1 said:

    Hi, my eyebrows and
    Hi, my eyebrows and eyelashes did grow back really fast, I would suggest mascara. My friend and I had like 5 eyelashes and still wore mascara! No leg or arm hair either! I did not shave my hair, i just cut it really short, but i would suggest shaving it, There was hair all over. It will only be for a few months though, there were positives, it was so easy to get ready with no hair. Don't be discouraged, Say "I can do this, I am strong" or something like that, make a mantra that you say every morning when you wake up...take care, You are in my prayers.

    Pat, does your oncologist
    Pat, does your oncologist recommend it? I would think anyone would want to do anything to help their chances of not having a recurrence. Because if it came back, wouldn't you always wonder, what if I would have just done chemo? Good luck with your decision.

    Hugs!
  • Alexis F
    Alexis F Member Posts: 3,598
    #9
    survivorbc09 said:

    Pat, does your oncologist
    Pat, does your oncologist recommend it? I would think anyone would want to do anything to help their chances of not having a recurrence. Because if it came back, wouldn't you always wonder, what if I would have just done chemo? Good luck with your decision.

    Hugs!

    Hi Pat
    Only you can make that final choice of chemo or not. And, if chemo gives you that extra bit of safety that the bc won't come back, I would do it. But, you do what is best for you!

    Lex♥
  • creampuff91344
    creampuff91344 Member Posts: 988
    #10
    Alexis F said:

    Hi Pat
    Only you can make that final choice of chemo or not. And, if chemo gives you that extra bit of safety that the bc won't come back, I would do it. But, you do what is best for you!

    Lex♥

    Hey Pat, I have posted this
    Hey Pat, I have posted this before, but still rely on the following placque a friend of mine gave me at the beginning of my chemo. "Courage isn't always a loud roar. Sometimes it is a quiet voice at the end of the day that says, "I will try again tomorrow". Your decisions now will affect the rest of your life. Please heed your doctor's advice, and before you know it, you will be on the backside of treatment, looking forward to being labeled a "survivor". Any help you need, someone here on this Board has been there, so don't hesitate to ask questions, no matter how insignificant. Good luck in your decision. Hugs.

    Judy
  • susie09
    susie09 Member Posts: 2,930
    #11
    creampuff91344 said:

    Hey Pat, I have posted this
    Hey Pat, I have posted this before, but still rely on the following placque a friend of mine gave me at the beginning of my chemo. "Courage isn't always a loud roar. Sometimes it is a quiet voice at the end of the day that says, "I will try again tomorrow". Your decisions now will affect the rest of your life. Please heed your doctor's advice, and before you know it, you will be on the backside of treatment, looking forward to being labeled a "survivor". Any help you need, someone here on this Board has been there, so don't hesitate to ask questions, no matter how insignificant. Good luck in your decision. Hugs.

    Judy

    Ditto to what Judy wrote!
    Ditto to what Judy wrote! It was perfect!
    ♠♣ Susie ♠♣

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