Chemo, radiation...why....if u r cancer free

Foster70
Foster70 Member Posts: 1
in Long-Term Effects of Treatment #1

Hi. Quick intro. My name is Kevin and I'd like to thank whoever is running this site. I apologize in advance if I'm not showing proper ettiquite.  I'm new to this. The following has all transpired in the last 4 months and it's been a whirlwind as I'm sure y'all know. My girlfriend,  the girl of my dreams, was diagnosed w breast cancer. Fortunately,  she only had to go through a lumpectomy.  They got it all. Hell yeah....right? Initially, they only recommended radiation as treatment. She was reserved about that. Now, after they reviewed her tumor they removed. They want radiation, chemo, and 5 yrs on some medication.

Because it's an aggressive cancer. Wtf? If they removed it all successfully who cares if it's aggressive. It's gone...right?

Rightfully so, she is tripping. She doesn't want to do it because she has has seen the affect that had on her aunt and another friend. 

Here is why I joined this site and posted this thread...she asked the oncologists if she had any other options and what if she chose not to do the chemo, etc... She felt like they were shoving it onto her and when she asked they basically said there are no other options. We find this hard to believe.

It's time to speak to some other real life survivors outside of the medical community.  If she refuse treatment...is she signing her death warrant?

She also has the means to pursue alternative treatment. But, how and who do you ask / research and trust for these answers?

I know this is a selfish post and I truly wish I could somehow give back to all the folks that are sincerely fighting this fight. Much love. 

Comments

  • JerzyGrrl
    JerzyGrrl Member Posts: 760 Member
    #2
    It depends...

    "It depends..." is a miserable answer, but sometimes it's THE answer. After the pathology report comes back, the physicians know more about what they are dealing with, so they have other ideas about how to best treat it. 

    Even with breast cancer, there are different kinds of breast cancer, so that means different treatments. Not to mention, this month's treatment may be different than last year's, this year's treatment mix different than last year's for the same thing. Protocols, best practices, and such change. It's the nature of learning about the specific kind of cancer and how it reacts to available treatments. Then there's the individual's response and reaction to the various treatments. 

    Alternative treatments may or may not be helpful. Go to their websites and they'll let you know they're the best thing ever. Evaluation of their claims is tough. Finding peer-reviewed studies that back up their claims and are cited (in a positive way) by others is a start. The American Cancer Society website (the folks that sponsor this forum) can be helpful. The NIH is helpful (here in the US) be is the UK's similar cancer Society. Eating well, exercising, and using various stress-reduction techniques are always good approaches to life, no matter what the circumstances. 

    Sorry you have to be here, but this is a good place to be when a person or someone they care for has a cancer diagnosis. If you go to the breast cancer specific forum, they can probably provide more specific answers as to their journeys. It would most likely be helpful to know the stage and type of her cancer when you share. Because truly, "it depends..."

    All the best to you both. Keep us posted as you're able. Hugs --

     

  • Judy512
    Judy512 Member Posts: 11
    #3
    Choosing Radiation? I would not...

    I can't speak as someone who has had breast cancer, but as someone who has lived 40 years after being treated with radiation & chemo to the entire left side of my head.

    Radiation treatment in the 70s was not kind to healthy tissues, and have lived my entire life with many, many health issues that resulted from the radiation & doctors have no clue what to do. 

    However...if I were to do it over again...have radiation treatment? I would not.  Oncologists & radiologists have a tendency to sugar-coat all the toxic treatments they prescribe.  Would I select radiation if my life depended on it?  Still...probably not.  Please understand that our bodies were not designed to withstand the type of treatments physicians are offering.  If you've ever questioned if cancer hospitals and research are truly to help save lives, guess again.

    If your girlfriend has already made the decision to undergo radiation, I will pray for her.  Radiation is damaging.  And when physicians pressure you into treatment...back away.  They should never do that.

    Unfortunately, we need to do the research, outcomes of other patients in order to make a wise decision.

    If you or your girlfriend would like to speak to someone who knows more about non-toxic healing, please contact Wayne Blakely with Living Streams, 360.912.2981.  I think you would be facinated to have a conversation with him.

    Blessings,

    Judy

     

       

     

  • ClaCla
    ClaCla Member Posts: 136 Member
    edited October 2017 #4
    Even Though the Tumor Has Been Removed...

    The lower lobe of my left lung was removed in Aug. due to non-small-cell lung cancer.  At the same time they biopsied about 14 lymph nodes, and found two that had cancer.  So even though the tumor and the two lymph nodes had been removed, they still recommended mild chemo 1x/Wk and radiation 5x/wk for 6 wks to help ensure that if any cancer was remaining it would hopefully be killed also.  I'm two-thirds of the way through and it has not been a big deal at all.  Any time I've seen the subject brought up about whether or not to do the chemo and radiation, 95% of the patients have said yes.  One person asked how the patient would feel in a couple of years if they didn't do the recommended follow up treatment and the cancer came back.  Would they always wonder if the recurrence could have been prevented.

    Copy and paste your post as a new discussion in the breast cancer forum, to hear from more people.

    Wishing you and your dream girl all the best.  God bless. 

  • takingcontrol58
    takingcontrol58 Member Posts: 272 Member
    edited December 2017 #5
    Foster 70

    Have your girlfriend get her tumor tested with the Oncotype DX or Mammaprint test.
    They both test a number a genes (Oncotype tests about 21 genes;
    Mammaprint tests about 70 genes) and will tell you your risk factor for a recurrence
    for patients that have early stage estrogen positive breast cancer.
    If the risk is low, women usually don't need chemotherapy. 

    The drug they probably want to put her on for 5 years is Tamoxifen. It can
    increase your risk of uterine cancer, which is what I was diagnosed with,
    though am now cancer free. 

    Takingcontrol58
    (from the uterine cancer site)

     

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