Which Surgical Choice will have Least Impact on my Exercises
I'm faced with a variety of choices for surgery to remove the cancer which are, as you probably already know: lumpectomy + radiation, mastectomy without reconstruction or mastectomy with reconstruction. I wondering if anyone can give any advice on which option is best for me to quickly regain my strength and balance and get back to the activities I enjoy doing.
So far, I've pretty much ruled out lumpectomy with radiation because I don't want to risk side effects of radiation. Thus, I'm narrowed down to mastectomy with or without reconstruction. For reconstruction, I'm thinking I would probably chose the saline or silicone implant - though I'm leaning toward saline so I don't have to be paranoid all the time about leakage.
I'm thinking not having reconstruction will create balance problems in my body, and possible neck and shoulder problems in the long-term. Probably reconstruction would take care of the balance issue, but are there other side effects caused by reconstruction that will impact my exercises? I read they put the implant behind the pectoral muscle. I think stretching that muscle would definitely impact my yoga practice if that muscle isn't normally stretched.
I'm also considering just having both breasts removed with no reconstruction so I'm balanced and have minimum impact to my exercises. But will removing both breasts create a hormonal imbalance in my body?
I'm having a really tough time with this. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.
Comments
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I can only share my story with you
but know that everyone is different too. I had a double mastectomy with reconstruction. Depending on what type of reconstruction you choose to do will depend on the side effects you will have with your recovery time and restrictions. I had tissue expanders placed in at the time of my double mastectomy. When you are healed enough from the mastectomy, they start injecting saline into the expanders to allow your tissue to expand to get ready for the actuall reconstructive part of surgery. This part is a little uncomfortable but not really painful. I had implants placed in at first but i kept getting infections so eventially they chose to do a different type of surgery to reconstruct my breast. I had both sides of my upper back cut and they brought the dorsal muscle around to form my breasts. For me it was painful, but i heard that for others it isnt. I like my breasts more this way. They hang naturally for me. I just had my nipples reconstructed and get my tattooing for the areolas done next week. Its all been a long road, but i am finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel with this journey. As far as the hormonal balance goes they should place you on a breast cancer hormone therapy of medication to help with that. Good luck in what you choose. prayers are with you
laura0 -
We're all different!
Not everyone has the options of lumpectomy or mastectomy - just as recon is not always an option at time of surgery.
I am a very active person though older than you - was 63 when had a single mod. rad. mast. 2 1/2 yrs ago. I have horses, bicycle, have lawns I mow (my own and 3 to help out neighbors) and work out at the gym several days a week. Have no clue about yoga - never did it. Being Inflammatory Breast Cancer, recon was not an option for a year post surgery and I still haven't decided rather or not I want to do it - I'm quite comfortable with myself and Hubby does not want me to have any unnecessary surgeries though. IF I decide to he'll support me - it's up to me.
I have no balance issues at all. Where I liive winters are brutal (surgery was in late Oct), so it was longer than I'd have liked to be back riding, biking and mowing - doing things outside but was back in the gym probably a week after for light workouts. I was fortunate in that I had very little loss of ROM. But also 3 weeks after surgery, I started 12 weekly Taxol that totally exhausted me and a week after last Taxol started rads. But by Spring I was back doing anything I wanted to do.
I have not heard anyone that said that there would be hormone issues with removing both breast. But you didn't mention what your ER/PR status is. If you're ER+ then will need estrogen blockers. Didn't mention your HER2 status either.
Remember we are each unique as are our cancers and their involvements. No 2 of us will react the same to everything.
Winyan - The Power Within
Susan0 -
Additional InfoRague said:We're all different!
Not everyone has the options of lumpectomy or mastectomy - just as recon is not always an option at time of surgery.
I am a very active person though older than you - was 63 when had a single mod. rad. mast. 2 1/2 yrs ago. I have horses, bicycle, have lawns I mow (my own and 3 to help out neighbors) and work out at the gym several days a week. Have no clue about yoga - never did it. Being Inflammatory Breast Cancer, recon was not an option for a year post surgery and I still haven't decided rather or not I want to do it - I'm quite comfortable with myself and Hubby does not want me to have any unnecessary surgeries though. IF I decide to he'll support me - it's up to me.
I have no balance issues at all. Where I liive winters are brutal (surgery was in late Oct), so it was longer than I'd have liked to be back riding, biking and mowing - doing things outside but was back in the gym probably a week after for light workouts. I was fortunate in that I had very little loss of ROM. But also 3 weeks after surgery, I started 12 weekly Taxol that totally exhausted me and a week after last Taxol started rads. But by Spring I was back doing anything I wanted to do.
I have not heard anyone that said that there would be hormone issues with removing both breast. But you didn't mention what your ER/PR status is. If you're ER+ then will need estrogen blockers. Didn't mention your HER2 status either.
Remember we are each unique as are our cancers and their involvements. No 2 of us will react the same to everything.
Winyan - The Power Within
Susan
Thank you Susan for sharing your experience. That is very helpful to know your balance wasn't impacted. My husband also fully supports me in whatever decision I make. HER2 is unamplified and estrogen receptor is positive. I'm worried about the side effects of tamoxifen, including additional cancer, and am seriously considering refusing that treatment and seeking out alternative medicine instead.0 -
Don't know about anyone else here but...mimikitty said:Additional Info
Thank you Susan for sharing your experience. That is very helpful to know your balance wasn't impacted. My husband also fully supports me in whatever decision I make. HER2 is unamplified and estrogen receptor is positive. I'm worried about the side effects of tamoxifen, including additional cancer, and am seriously considering refusing that treatment and seeking out alternative medicine instead.
Post treatment lifestyle was not even on my list of priorities when making a decision. I just wanted it not to come back. Better to have a whatever life then no life at all.
Sorry if this offends anyone.0 -
Not taking any chancestufi000 said:Don't know about anyone else here but...
Post treatment lifestyle was not even on my list of priorities when making a decision. I just wanted it not to come back. Better to have a whatever life then no life at all.
Sorry if this offends anyone.
I'm with Tufi. I didn't want to mess around with cancer and did everything to help insure it wouldn't come back. There are no guarantees, but at least I know I did everything in my power to fight it.
I was diagnosed with breast cancer back in June 2009 with ER+, PR+, HER2 +. I underwent two lumpectomies, chemo, rads, and am taking Tamoxifen. Like you, I also exercise and eat plenty of veggies and fruit.
Best of luck with your recovery.
Hugs.0 -
Not everyone who gets a
Not everyone who gets a mastectomy is guaranteed no radiation. If the margins are too close, radiation may be needed after a mastectomy.
In my opinion, from my own case and what I have read on the boards,every cancer treatment comes with it's life impacting side effects.
With a mastectomy you may or may not get any sentinel nodes or axillary nodes removed which puts you at risk for lymphedema or post mastectomy pain syndrome (you can get that with a lumpectomy with node dissection as well), you could get scar tissue adhesions. They may or may not find more cancer.
You never know what will happen til it happens.
I am like Tufi, I never thought about how things would impact my life afterwards, I wanted the cancer gone and made my decision based on the information provided to me by my doctors..multifocal and the amount of precancer and cancer present in the breast, totally unclean margins after the lumpectomy,what would most aggressively treat my cancer.
I had a bilateral mastectomy, and like Rague, I have no balance or back problems. I have heard that there could be if you have a single mastectomy and are large breasted. But there are no guarantees. You don't something will or will not happen.
Good luck with your upcoming treatment decisions.0 -
Everybody is different asmimikitty said:Additional Info
Thank you Susan for sharing your experience. That is very helpful to know your balance wasn't impacted. My husband also fully supports me in whatever decision I make. HER2 is unamplified and estrogen receptor is positive. I'm worried about the side effects of tamoxifen, including additional cancer, and am seriously considering refusing that treatment and seeking out alternative medicine instead.
Everybody is different as everybody has mentioned. I had chemo, then a bilateral mast, then radiation, now I'm taking tamoxifen and am in the midst of reconstruction. I began training for a marathon at the start of chemo. Took 6 weeks off for surgery/drains, resumed during radiation. I am not currently able to run because of the reconstruction but will resume again soon. In the meantime, I have begun biking. I don't do yoga so I'm not sure about that, but as far as exercising, I've had no problems. Good luck with whatever you choose. I didn't make any medical decisions based on my exercising but the treatments I have had didn't stop me either.0 -
Decisions are hard...cinnamonsmile said:Not everyone who gets a
Not everyone who gets a mastectomy is guaranteed no radiation. If the margins are too close, radiation may be needed after a mastectomy.
In my opinion, from my own case and what I have read on the boards,every cancer treatment comes with it's life impacting side effects.
With a mastectomy you may or may not get any sentinel nodes or axillary nodes removed which puts you at risk for lymphedema or post mastectomy pain syndrome (you can get that with a lumpectomy with node dissection as well), you could get scar tissue adhesions. They may or may not find more cancer.
You never know what will happen til it happens.
I am like Tufi, I never thought about how things would impact my life afterwards, I wanted the cancer gone and made my decision based on the information provided to me by my doctors..multifocal and the amount of precancer and cancer present in the breast, totally unclean margins after the lumpectomy,what would most aggressively treat my cancer.
I had a bilateral mastectomy, and like Rague, I have no balance or back problems. I have heard that there could be if you have a single mastectomy and are large breasted. But there are no guarantees. You don't something will or will not happen.
Good luck with your upcoming treatment decisions.
Like others I also agree your main focus should probably be getting rid of the cancer, and most likely is. My breast cancer diagnoses came on the day I was told that I was NED (no evidence of disease) for Anal cancer. After a rough year of treatment for that, just last month I had a double mastectomy with no reconstruction. I contemplated not taking the prescribed Arimidex (similar idea as Tamoxifin) because of side effects......but thanks to GREAT advice (thankyou all), talking to my docs, and a good amount of prayer as of today I'm taking it with hopes for a long future. The reason I'm telling you this is I see also what you are asking. If I had not planned on getting back to my usual physical activities (light yoga and weight lifting, walking, work, and general chasing with 6 grandkids) my recovery would not have gone as smoothly. I kept setting dates and goals of where I wanted to be. I often had to take it one day at a time, but then I would set a goal for that day. Everyone is different, but the fact that you are in good condition will work in your favor. My tumor was in my left breast, but I chose to have a double for several reasons. I am small to begin with and do feel more symetrical. Three weeks after surgery I had to go to physical therapy...I was able to do most of the stretches but need to gain back some flexability yet. I notice it coming back everyday as long as I do the stretches....which I do. Gather info from your doc and do what you must to give you the best long term out come. I'm sure it won't be long before you're back to your workout routines and maybe even with a new sense of emotional strengh to go along. As always,all in my prayers.0 -
It is difficult to add anything newcinnamonsmile said:Not everyone who gets a
Not everyone who gets a mastectomy is guaranteed no radiation. If the margins are too close, radiation may be needed after a mastectomy.
In my opinion, from my own case and what I have read on the boards,every cancer treatment comes with it's life impacting side effects.
With a mastectomy you may or may not get any sentinel nodes or axillary nodes removed which puts you at risk for lymphedema or post mastectomy pain syndrome (you can get that with a lumpectomy with node dissection as well), you could get scar tissue adhesions. They may or may not find more cancer.
You never know what will happen til it happens.
I am like Tufi, I never thought about how things would impact my life afterwards, I wanted the cancer gone and made my decision based on the information provided to me by my doctors..multifocal and the amount of precancer and cancer present in the breast, totally unclean margins after the lumpectomy,what would most aggressively treat my cancer.
I had a bilateral mastectomy, and like Rague, I have no balance or back problems. I have heard that there could be if you have a single mastectomy and are large breasted. But there are no guarantees. You don't something will or will not happen.
Good luck with your upcoming treatment decisions.
As many have mentioned, I made my decisions based on doctor's recommendations and determination of never coming back for another breast surgery, never having regrets that I was not aggressive enough in my approach to combat cancer. My very aggressive approach to cancer saved my life because my after mastectomy pathology report showed that I had a much bigger tumor that showed up at initial diagnosis.
mastectomy will impact everyone for sometime, recovery takes time and get in shape too.
Talk to your doctors both breast and plastic surgeons and ask your specific questions.
If you choose not to take Tamoxifen, make sure you discuss your decision with your hubby and family
Good luck with your treatment0 -
:-/
First let me say how sorry I am that you have reason to be here as it is not a place anyone of us wish to find ourselves. I understand that you are being bombarded with decisions that need to be made soon so that your cancer treatment can begin and your road to better health can also start. Please speak openly with both your surgeon and your oncologist to get to the best decision that will result in the best treatment that will result in prolonging your life. I agree that being active and enjoying ones life is important but sometimes we have to lose some of that for a time so that we can have a future. I was 40 the mother of two and very active when I first got cancer (I will be 55 next month). Treatment was a bit daunting but like I said I am now 55 active and I most certainly enjoy life. I tell you this because it would greatly sadden me if you choose not to seek treatment because it may impact your exercise routine, once treatment is over you can again start up an exercise routine, it may not be exactly as it once was but you will still be able to exercise. I am concerned when you mention alternative treatment and hope you are not considering turning away from conventional treatment and opting for alternative treatment only. I know cancer is super scary and the treatment can be as well but it is doable and it can buy you more time here with your loved ones. I personally know of 3 individuals who made the decision to go the alternative treatment road rather than the conventional road and sadly none of them survived. Again please be open and forthright with your doctors, tell them your concerns and get all the information to help you make a decision on the best course of treatment that will result in your best chance of survival.
Wishing you all the best,
RE0 -
Thanks AllRE said::-/
First let me say how sorry I am that you have reason to be here as it is not a place anyone of us wish to find ourselves. I understand that you are being bombarded with decisions that need to be made soon so that your cancer treatment can begin and your road to better health can also start. Please speak openly with both your surgeon and your oncologist to get to the best decision that will result in the best treatment that will result in prolonging your life. I agree that being active and enjoying ones life is important but sometimes we have to lose some of that for a time so that we can have a future. I was 40 the mother of two and very active when I first got cancer (I will be 55 next month). Treatment was a bit daunting but like I said I am now 55 active and I most certainly enjoy life. I tell you this because it would greatly sadden me if you choose not to seek treatment because it may impact your exercise routine, once treatment is over you can again start up an exercise routine, it may not be exactly as it once was but you will still be able to exercise. I am concerned when you mention alternative treatment and hope you are not considering turning away from conventional treatment and opting for alternative treatment only. I know cancer is super scary and the treatment can be as well but it is doable and it can buy you more time here with your loved ones. I personally know of 3 individuals who made the decision to go the alternative treatment road rather than the conventional road and sadly none of them survived. Again please be open and forthright with your doctors, tell them your concerns and get all the information to help you make a decision on the best course of treatment that will result in your best chance of survival.
Wishing you all the best,
RE
Thanks for all your feedback. This diagnosis is very overwhelming for me as I have been against Western medicine for many years. I have a history of refusing treatments and procedures for illnesses though more minor than this one. I don't take any medicines even aspirin for headaches or menstrual cramps. I've mainly used Chinese herbs which have helped for various health complaints and they've worked very well for me. Having cancer is really throwing me for a loop. There doesn't seem to be a guaranteed cure no matter which route I take.
I don't know tons of people with cancer, but the experiences I've had knowing folks with it are why I am struggling with my decision about going alternative or western. My mom, who lived a healthy lifestyle like me, had cancer of the larynx when she was 46 (I was 12). By the time it was discovered it metastasied to her esophagus and trachea. They did surgery to remove the cancer and after that she had to breathe through a plastic tube inserted in her neck and she could no longer speak. Then they did radiation on her which burned her neck skin badly, so badly that the skin died. So she went to the hospital to get skin grafted from her leg to her neck. An artery burst when she was awaiting that procedure and she bled to death. She was conscious and knew what was happening while she was dying. It was 5 months from diagnosis when she died. Those 5 months were horrible for her. Anyway, I found out only recently that her prognosis without treatment was 2 years. I would think that if I was her and could do it again, I would opt out of the radiation treatment and just have two years without all the horror caused by the radiation treatments.
Anyways, this experience and one other including my friend who was diagnosed with ovarian cancer and went all the way with western treatments and died in 2 yrs anyway, are on my mind as I'm trying to navigate my own path. I bought a bunch of books some on on alternative treatments and others that question the western convention, so I know fully what I am in for.
I am very carefully weighing "quality" of life vs. "quantity" of life. I would rather have 5 good years in my currently healthy body rather than 10 years in a body permanently damaged by the toxins of chemo, radiation and medications - where I'm having to deal with constant symptoms and side effects. What kind of a life is that???
I'm very sorry if what I wrote offends anyone. I don't mean to. Perhaps I just don't know enough about this or people who have gone through all of that and came out the other side just fine. I'm still exploring my alternatives and I hope that I can be enlightened on conventional treatments on this forum and other places.
Thank you again for your feedback.0 -
Balancing treatmentmimikitty said:Thanks All
Thanks for all your feedback. This diagnosis is very overwhelming for me as I have been against Western medicine for many years. I have a history of refusing treatments and procedures for illnesses though more minor than this one. I don't take any medicines even aspirin for headaches or menstrual cramps. I've mainly used Chinese herbs which have helped for various health complaints and they've worked very well for me. Having cancer is really throwing me for a loop. There doesn't seem to be a guaranteed cure no matter which route I take.
I don't know tons of people with cancer, but the experiences I've had knowing folks with it are why I am struggling with my decision about going alternative or western. My mom, who lived a healthy lifestyle like me, had cancer of the larynx when she was 46 (I was 12). By the time it was discovered it metastasied to her esophagus and trachea. They did surgery to remove the cancer and after that she had to breathe through a plastic tube inserted in her neck and she could no longer speak. Then they did radiation on her which burned her neck skin badly, so badly that the skin died. So she went to the hospital to get skin grafted from her leg to her neck. An artery burst when she was awaiting that procedure and she bled to death. She was conscious and knew what was happening while she was dying. It was 5 months from diagnosis when she died. Those 5 months were horrible for her. Anyway, I found out only recently that her prognosis without treatment was 2 years. I would think that if I was her and could do it again, I would opt out of the radiation treatment and just have two years without all the horror caused by the radiation treatments.
Anyways, this experience and one other including my friend who was diagnosed with ovarian cancer and went all the way with western treatments and died in 2 yrs anyway, are on my mind as I'm trying to navigate my own path. I bought a bunch of books some on on alternative treatments and others that question the western convention, so I know fully what I am in for.
I am very carefully weighing "quality" of life vs. "quantity" of life. I would rather have 5 good years in my currently healthy body rather than 10 years in a body permanently damaged by the toxins of chemo, radiation and medications - where I'm having to deal with constant symptoms and side effects. What kind of a life is that???
I'm very sorry if what I wrote offends anyone. I don't mean to. Perhaps I just don't know enough about this or people who have gone through all of that and came out the other side just fine. I'm still exploring my alternatives and I hope that I can be enlightened on conventional treatments on this forum and other places.
Thank you again for your feedback.
Hi Mimi, i too recently dx with IDC, i am active and I choose lumpectomy based on the path report and doctor recommendation, I knew I still have a high risk to get another cancer in the future but i thought with technology, medicine and herbal medicine, maybe i will free from cancer for the rest of my life. I think we can beat this cancer by taking medicine or treatment that doctor recommend, change our lifestyle, taking herbal/alternative medicine as a supplement only.
I come from the country that we take alternative medicine before see specialist, as my experience I can't ignore the western medicine to beat the cancer, I will use alternative medicine to prevent the cancer coming back, I had small tumor and no lymphnode involved, so they will give me radiation treatment, i read all about side effect but I decide I will face it when it comes, the important thing this disease is out from my system.
After rads treatment, i will traditional medicine from my country, maybe you should try it, it's from Soursop fruit plants, you boiled the leaves and drink it, twice a day.
Hope you can beat the cancer.0 -
Your comments didn't offendmimikitty said:Thanks All
Thanks for all your feedback. This diagnosis is very overwhelming for me as I have been against Western medicine for many years. I have a history of refusing treatments and procedures for illnesses though more minor than this one. I don't take any medicines even aspirin for headaches or menstrual cramps. I've mainly used Chinese herbs which have helped for various health complaints and they've worked very well for me. Having cancer is really throwing me for a loop. There doesn't seem to be a guaranteed cure no matter which route I take.
I don't know tons of people with cancer, but the experiences I've had knowing folks with it are why I am struggling with my decision about going alternative or western. My mom, who lived a healthy lifestyle like me, had cancer of the larynx when she was 46 (I was 12). By the time it was discovered it metastasied to her esophagus and trachea. They did surgery to remove the cancer and after that she had to breathe through a plastic tube inserted in her neck and she could no longer speak. Then they did radiation on her which burned her neck skin badly, so badly that the skin died. So she went to the hospital to get skin grafted from her leg to her neck. An artery burst when she was awaiting that procedure and she bled to death. She was conscious and knew what was happening while she was dying. It was 5 months from diagnosis when she died. Those 5 months were horrible for her. Anyway, I found out only recently that her prognosis without treatment was 2 years. I would think that if I was her and could do it again, I would opt out of the radiation treatment and just have two years without all the horror caused by the radiation treatments.
Anyways, this experience and one other including my friend who was diagnosed with ovarian cancer and went all the way with western treatments and died in 2 yrs anyway, are on my mind as I'm trying to navigate my own path. I bought a bunch of books some on on alternative treatments and others that question the western convention, so I know fully what I am in for.
I am very carefully weighing "quality" of life vs. "quantity" of life. I would rather have 5 good years in my currently healthy body rather than 10 years in a body permanently damaged by the toxins of chemo, radiation and medications - where I'm having to deal with constant symptoms and side effects. What kind of a life is that???
I'm very sorry if what I wrote offends anyone. I don't mean to. Perhaps I just don't know enough about this or people who have gone through all of that and came out the other side just fine. I'm still exploring my alternatives and I hope that I can be enlightened on conventional treatments on this forum and other places.
Thank you again for your feedback.
Your comments didn't offend me. We just help each other by posting our individual experiences.0 -
Mimi sorry for your lossmimikitty said:Thanks All
Thanks for all your feedback. This diagnosis is very overwhelming for me as I have been against Western medicine for many years. I have a history of refusing treatments and procedures for illnesses though more minor than this one. I don't take any medicines even aspirin for headaches or menstrual cramps. I've mainly used Chinese herbs which have helped for various health complaints and they've worked very well for me. Having cancer is really throwing me for a loop. There doesn't seem to be a guaranteed cure no matter which route I take.
I don't know tons of people with cancer, but the experiences I've had knowing folks with it are why I am struggling with my decision about going alternative or western. My mom, who lived a healthy lifestyle like me, had cancer of the larynx when she was 46 (I was 12). By the time it was discovered it metastasied to her esophagus and trachea. They did surgery to remove the cancer and after that she had to breathe through a plastic tube inserted in her neck and she could no longer speak. Then they did radiation on her which burned her neck skin badly, so badly that the skin died. So she went to the hospital to get skin grafted from her leg to her neck. An artery burst when she was awaiting that procedure and she bled to death. She was conscious and knew what was happening while she was dying. It was 5 months from diagnosis when she died. Those 5 months were horrible for her. Anyway, I found out only recently that her prognosis without treatment was 2 years. I would think that if I was her and could do it again, I would opt out of the radiation treatment and just have two years without all the horror caused by the radiation treatments.
Anyways, this experience and one other including my friend who was diagnosed with ovarian cancer and went all the way with western treatments and died in 2 yrs anyway, are on my mind as I'm trying to navigate my own path. I bought a bunch of books some on on alternative treatments and others that question the western convention, so I know fully what I am in for.
I am very carefully weighing "quality" of life vs. "quantity" of life. I would rather have 5 good years in my currently healthy body rather than 10 years in a body permanently damaged by the toxins of chemo, radiation and medications - where I'm having to deal with constant symptoms and side effects. What kind of a life is that???
I'm very sorry if what I wrote offends anyone. I don't mean to. Perhaps I just don't know enough about this or people who have gone through all of that and came out the other side just fine. I'm still exploring my alternatives and I hope that I can be enlightened on conventional treatments on this forum and other places.
Thank you again for your feedback.
Mimi,
first of all you did not offend anybody, please come back and keep us posted. Everybody here is very caring and sincere person, and have been through decisions you need to made.
I am very sorry that you lost your mother very early and it significantly impact your life. From what what you have described she did not have the best treatment, doctors have failed her allowing to bleed to death. I understand that you do not trust western /conventional medicine, and agree that you have a reason for it.
Alternative medicine is a very controversial subject. it is a personal decision, which MUST be discussed with people, who are dependent on you, your hubby, children,relatives and pets.
Most of us this board used to have relatively healthy life style, haven't seen specialist in years, and was stunned by cancer diagnosis.
Quality vs quantity
Caving a cancer means that body has been seriously damaged, at least the immune system does not work well. It needs help , and how to fast and constructive your help is going to be will impact the outcome. I did a very extensive research alternative medicine 4 years ago and from what I have read cancers treatment by alternatives is very gradual process. from what I read the best results were achieved at very late stages when conventional medicine gave up on patients.
Diagnosed at 46, I have had a very aggressive treatment, and year initially it did impact my quality of life. So for recovery from my conventional treatmentI used Chinese medicine. UCLA has a special clinic, which specialized in Complimentary treatment of cancer patients. Moreover, the founder of this clinic, my doctor, has a wife, a breast cancer survivor. His wife was treated by the same medical oncologist as I. She underwent conventional treatment and in Additional was treated with Chinese complementary options.
You can check it out:UCLA web side.
Wishing you the best0 -
your comfort levelmimikitty said:Thanks All
Thanks for all your feedback. This diagnosis is very overwhelming for me as I have been against Western medicine for many years. I have a history of refusing treatments and procedures for illnesses though more minor than this one. I don't take any medicines even aspirin for headaches or menstrual cramps. I've mainly used Chinese herbs which have helped for various health complaints and they've worked very well for me. Having cancer is really throwing me for a loop. There doesn't seem to be a guaranteed cure no matter which route I take.
I don't know tons of people with cancer, but the experiences I've had knowing folks with it are why I am struggling with my decision about going alternative or western. My mom, who lived a healthy lifestyle like me, had cancer of the larynx when she was 46 (I was 12). By the time it was discovered it metastasied to her esophagus and trachea. They did surgery to remove the cancer and after that she had to breathe through a plastic tube inserted in her neck and she could no longer speak. Then they did radiation on her which burned her neck skin badly, so badly that the skin died. So she went to the hospital to get skin grafted from her leg to her neck. An artery burst when she was awaiting that procedure and she bled to death. She was conscious and knew what was happening while she was dying. It was 5 months from diagnosis when she died. Those 5 months were horrible for her. Anyway, I found out only recently that her prognosis without treatment was 2 years. I would think that if I was her and could do it again, I would opt out of the radiation treatment and just have two years without all the horror caused by the radiation treatments.
Anyways, this experience and one other including my friend who was diagnosed with ovarian cancer and went all the way with western treatments and died in 2 yrs anyway, are on my mind as I'm trying to navigate my own path. I bought a bunch of books some on on alternative treatments and others that question the western convention, so I know fully what I am in for.
I am very carefully weighing "quality" of life vs. "quantity" of life. I would rather have 5 good years in my currently healthy body rather than 10 years in a body permanently damaged by the toxins of chemo, radiation and medications - where I'm having to deal with constant symptoms and side effects. What kind of a life is that???
I'm very sorry if what I wrote offends anyone. I don't mean to. Perhaps I just don't know enough about this or people who have gone through all of that and came out the other side just fine. I'm still exploring my alternatives and I hope that I can be enlightened on conventional treatments on this forum and other places.
Thank you again for your feedback.
You didn't offend anyone! These boards are a place where you can say what you feel and yes, still have support from those that may feel otherwise. Everyone of us has to find our own comfortable place with this disease and how we want to treat it. Please keep up posted via this thread, people do care for you. I'm sorry you are here, but you have found a very good place to be on this journey.0 -
Many here are not easily offended.
I had a lumpectomy but had to have 14 lymph nodes removed. As far as recovery time I think the lumpectomy time is the shortest especially if you don't have to have lymph nodes removed. The doctor would have let me return to work the next day had I not had to have nodes removed. I know that you have pretty well decided not to do a lumpectomy. I too was fairly active prior to bc chosing to do a lot of my own landscaping and lifting patio stones and field stones. These are things I can still do though I admit that some of this had to be avoided durring chemo as heavy lifting is not reccomended at the time of treatment. So think it over and make your decisons on what will best suit your needs. Actually they like it when you choose to exercise durring treatment, though often you may not feel up to doing much more than walking.0 -
I was not at all offended bymimikitty said:Thanks All
Thanks for all your feedback. This diagnosis is very overwhelming for me as I have been against Western medicine for many years. I have a history of refusing treatments and procedures for illnesses though more minor than this one. I don't take any medicines even aspirin for headaches or menstrual cramps. I've mainly used Chinese herbs which have helped for various health complaints and they've worked very well for me. Having cancer is really throwing me for a loop. There doesn't seem to be a guaranteed cure no matter which route I take.
I don't know tons of people with cancer, but the experiences I've had knowing folks with it are why I am struggling with my decision about going alternative or western. My mom, who lived a healthy lifestyle like me, had cancer of the larynx when she was 46 (I was 12). By the time it was discovered it metastasied to her esophagus and trachea. They did surgery to remove the cancer and after that she had to breathe through a plastic tube inserted in her neck and she could no longer speak. Then they did radiation on her which burned her neck skin badly, so badly that the skin died. So she went to the hospital to get skin grafted from her leg to her neck. An artery burst when she was awaiting that procedure and she bled to death. She was conscious and knew what was happening while she was dying. It was 5 months from diagnosis when she died. Those 5 months were horrible for her. Anyway, I found out only recently that her prognosis without treatment was 2 years. I would think that if I was her and could do it again, I would opt out of the radiation treatment and just have two years without all the horror caused by the radiation treatments.
Anyways, this experience and one other including my friend who was diagnosed with ovarian cancer and went all the way with western treatments and died in 2 yrs anyway, are on my mind as I'm trying to navigate my own path. I bought a bunch of books some on on alternative treatments and others that question the western convention, so I know fully what I am in for.
I am very carefully weighing "quality" of life vs. "quantity" of life. I would rather have 5 good years in my currently healthy body rather than 10 years in a body permanently damaged by the toxins of chemo, radiation and medications - where I'm having to deal with constant symptoms and side effects. What kind of a life is that???
I'm very sorry if what I wrote offends anyone. I don't mean to. Perhaps I just don't know enough about this or people who have gone through all of that and came out the other side just fine. I'm still exploring my alternatives and I hope that I can be enlightened on conventional treatments on this forum and other places.
Thank you again for your feedback.
I was not at all offended by your comments. I do want to point out that you are comparing very different cancers and stages. I will be the one to say that my quality if life has been great. I am two years out from diagnosis and lead a much more active lifestyle than I did 3 years ago. Everybody is different and reacts differently to treatment. I was never sick during chemo or radiation and never took pain meds for the mastectomy. (I did for reconstruction but that's an entirely different subject). Research research research. Good for you. I personally went full force with aggressive treatment but like somebody pointed out, it was a family decision. I was determined to see my young children grow. I've never regretted how I went with my treatment but I agree, it's a very personal decision. I like what somebody on here said about supplementing the two together.
good luck to you! 0 -
Thankslaughs_a_lot said:Many here are not easily offended.
I had a lumpectomy but had to have 14 lymph nodes removed. As far as recovery time I think the lumpectomy time is the shortest especially if you don't have to have lymph nodes removed. The doctor would have let me return to work the next day had I not had to have nodes removed. I know that you have pretty well decided not to do a lumpectomy. I too was fairly active prior to bc chosing to do a lot of my own landscaping and lifting patio stones and field stones. These are things I can still do though I admit that some of this had to be avoided durring chemo as heavy lifting is not reccomended at the time of treatment. So think it over and make your decisons on what will best suit your needs. Actually they like it when you choose to exercise durring treatment, though often you may not feel up to doing much more than walking.
Thanks for your kind comments everyone. And I just found the private messages as I am just getting familiar with how this website works. You all brought up really good things for me to consider and I very much appreciate that. I will definitely be keeping you posted via my random questions as I'm trying to figure my way through this. Hopefully at some point I can reciprocate!0 -
:-)
Hello again Mimi,
You most certainly did not offend, you simply stated what your concerns are and we all jumped right in to do our best to help you as you work through all of this.
I too have lost my Mom and my sister to cancer as well as others. My mom live 26 years some on chemo and fight cancer and some of those years she was cancer free and having a grand time as she was quite feisty. My sister also lived with cancer for I think 8 years I am not sure right now. Like many illnesses there is no for sure cure, just like when we get the diabetes, MS and other nasty diseases. I see cancer like having a chronic illness that sometimes is more active than others and that is when we must strap on the armor and battle for our lives. My mom was first ill when I was 17 and her treatment was much worse than treatment is today, it has truly come a long way. The radiation your Mom had is much kinder these day's as they have learned a lot in that time. I have had 16 weeks of radiation (80 treatments) and yes you do sometimes burn but it is more like a severe sun burn that hurts like the dickens until it heals. I have had 2nd degree burns on my arm and it was far more painful than was the radiation burn. Chemo is also improving as time passes, and the longer we can survive the better chance we will be here for the cure.
I mention all this because I am hoping you do not give up on conventional medicine as I truly believe it is you best chance for survival and yes once you survive it you can have a good active life as I most certainly do. I am not saying you cannot also do unconventional medicine I am just saying perhaps you can use them in tandem with the guidance of your oncologist. You have a lot of your plate right now and it can be daunting, I again wish you the best please let us know how things go.
Hugs,
RE0
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