Decisions

PDKonstan
PDKonstan Member Posts: 6
in Breast Cancer #1
I always found tough decisions take me forever to analyze. I got my results of my tumor and it was rated moderate. They said that radiation and hormone treatment was not an option but chemo was because I would be only gaining a small advantage. Right now I have a 15% chance of reoccurrence; if I do chemo then I would have a 3% gain and have a 12% chance of reoccurrence. Has anyone been in this situation? I am pretty scared of chemo I am really not sure if it worth the 3% gain I would get. But I do wonder if there would be more of an advantage if I did do it or if I would regret not doing it if that is what I decided. Oh decisions……..
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Comments

  • disneyfan2008
    disneyfan2008 Member Posts: 6,583 Member
    #2
    I did not have chemo so no
    I did not have chemo so no advice..but seems like small % to me...!

    I am sure others will give you sound advice.

    Denise
  • MAJW
    MAJW Member Posts: 2,510 Member
    #3
    disneyfan2008 said:

    I did not have chemo so no
    I did not have chemo so no advice..but seems like small % to me...!

    I am sure others will give you sound advice.

    Denise

    I'd take....
    I'd take and did anything no matter how small the percentage to try and prevent a recurrence! There's no guarantee either way...it's a personal decision made by you and your oncologist.... I took it all the first go round and still had a recurrence which I am struggling with now....I personally know a woman who was advised to have chemo to reduce her chance of recurrence...she refused because she didn't want to lose her hair....she passed away in December....

    I wish you well in making your decision....we're just overwhelmed in making decisions...
    Hugs, Nancy
  • joannstar
    joannstar Member Posts: 403 Member
    #4
    I'm with Nancy...
    I am Triple Negative (Stage 1) and was as aggressive as possible. I had 2 lumpectomies (2nd to get clear margins), radiation and chemo. No hormone treatments since I'm TN, just the waiting game now. I did everything I was advised and would have done more. It is all doable--not fun, but I survived and after 1 and 3/4 years, I'm starting to get my energy back and resume life.
    Good luck,
    Hugs,
    JoAnn
  • weazer
    weazer Member Posts: 440
    #5
    joannstar said:

    I'm with Nancy...
    I am Triple Negative (Stage 1) and was as aggressive as possible. I had 2 lumpectomies (2nd to get clear margins), radiation and chemo. No hormone treatments since I'm TN, just the waiting game now. I did everything I was advised and would have done more. It is all doable--not fun, but I survived and after 1 and 3/4 years, I'm starting to get my energy back and resume life.
    Good luck,
    Hugs,
    JoAnn

    Same as JoAnn
    Triple Negative same as JoAnn 3 yrs now and always wondering if it will come back. However I did whatever it took,(chemo, Rads) Decisions Decisions? Good Luck with what you decide. Lots of Hugs...Karie
  • Rague
    Rague Member Posts: 3,653 Member
    #6
    I never gave it a second thought
    I never gave it a second thought - Everything they could offer. If I hadn't done everything possible and had a reoccurance/mets, I could not have faced my Hubby, Son and G-daughter. ('Everything' offered me was chemo, mod. rad. mast., chemo, rads, Femara which I did and do.)

    I never discussed percentages of 'what if' with my Dr as they are not personal to me - my percentages are either 0% or 100% as a part of me cannot have a reoccurance and part of me not - either I do or I don't. Well that's not completely true - we did talk about the odds of making it to 5 yrs post DX of making it to the 'majik 5 yr mark' with IBC (Inflammatory Breast Cancer) is only 25% while the over all chance of making 5 yrs for all BC combined is 87%. So far I'm still riding NED at 2 1/2+ yrs post DX.

    Everyone has to do what they feel is right for them but I do find it hard to understand how anyone would not want to do everything possible to keep this killer at bay - it's not like not wanting to a tylenol for a minor ache y it's life and death. Just how I feel.

    Winyan - The Power Within

    Susan
  • camul
    camul Member Posts: 2,537
    #7
    I did the chemo
    mastectomy, tamoxifen, and anything I could, as we figured it was HRT induced. Had to go off the Tamoxifen after 6 -8 months. I was IDC, ER+, PR+, and Her-. I am now stage 4, grade 3 and the other thing that I guess changed is I am HER+. But I have no regrets.

    I don't think I would have had the additional 8 1/2 years of dancing with Ned. For me my goal is to do what ever it takes to still be here when a cure, or if not cure, drugs that can take stage iv from terminal to a chronic condition.

    Only you can make this decision as we are all so different.

    Best to you and your decision.
    Carol
  • PDKonstan
    PDKonstan Member Posts: 6
    #8
    Thanks
    Thanks to all your comments. Still not sure it's a tough one. All I know is if they had advised to do chemo I would do it but the fact it's my decision makes it pretty tough......
  • AMomNETN
    AMomNETN Member Posts: 242
    #9
    Choices
    The choice is ultimately up to you, doc. and spouse. I didn't have to have radiation but I did do chemo. I was basically told that the chemo would kill any of those little sneaky cancer boogers hiding somewhere. Mine was caught early but after chemo I'm doing hormone therapy Tamoxifen. All the women here have great experiences to share that will help guide you through this journey. Wishing you the best and a peaceful decision.

    Janie
  • sweetvickid
    sweetvickid Member Posts: 459 Member
    #10
    Wish I could give you the
    Wish I could give you the right answer but I can't. The final decision will have to be yours. Educate yourself well, ask lots of questions. Then do what you feel is right for you.
  • carkris
    carkris Member Posts: 4,553 Member
    #11
    sweetvickid said:

    Wish I could give you the
    Wish I could give you the right answer but I can't. The final decision will have to be yours. Educate yourself well, ask lots of questions. Then do what you feel is right for you.

    i think it depends on the
    i think it depends on the diagnosis type of cancer etc... you will be on a form of chemo because you will be taking an estrogen blocker.
  • Joella41
    Joella41 Member Posts: 2
    #12
    Decisions...
    Your story sounds just like mine... I took the chemo because it lessened the chance of reoccurence. Chemo isn't fun but it isn't anything like I thought it would be either. There are great meds to help with nausea. Never once did I throw up...your Oncologist will make sure you are comfortable. I do not regret the chemo, if anything, it gave me piece of mind and kept me under a doctors watchful eye which is very comforting when going through cancer. Keep us updated on what you decide to do. Listen to your heart okay.
  • Tux
    Tux Member Posts: 544
    #13
    Joella41 said:

    Decisions...
    Your story sounds just like mine... I took the chemo because it lessened the chance of reoccurence. Chemo isn't fun but it isn't anything like I thought it would be either. There are great meds to help with nausea. Never once did I throw up...your Oncologist will make sure you are comfortable. I do not regret the chemo, if anything, it gave me piece of mind and kept me under a doctors watchful eye which is very comforting when going through cancer. Keep us updated on what you decide to do. Listen to your heart okay.

    tux
    I took all treatment offered to me--even a small percentage increase in survival was worth it to me. However, when I thought the onc. was going to give me a choice (he didn't), I was going to ask, "What would you recommend if I were your mother/wife?"

    Good luck in whatever decision you make--we're behind you all the way!
  • Tux
    Tux Member Posts: 544
    #14
    Joella41 said:

    Decisions...
    Your story sounds just like mine... I took the chemo because it lessened the chance of reoccurence. Chemo isn't fun but it isn't anything like I thought it would be either. There are great meds to help with nausea. Never once did I throw up...your Oncologist will make sure you are comfortable. I do not regret the chemo, if anything, it gave me piece of mind and kept me under a doctors watchful eye which is very comforting when going through cancer. Keep us updated on what you decide to do. Listen to your heart okay.

    tux
    I took all treatment offered to me--even a small percentage increase in survival was worth it to me. However, when I thought the onc. was going to give me a choice (he didn't), I was going to ask, "What would you recommend if I were your mother/wife?"

    Good luck in whatever decision you make--we're behind you all the way!
  • jnl
    jnl Member Posts: 3,869 Member
    #15
    PDKonstan said:

    Thanks
    Thanks to all your comments. Still not sure it's a tough one. All I know is if they had advised to do chemo I would do it but the fact it's my decision makes it pretty tough......

    Not sure what I'd do
    You're right, this is a tough decision. Honestly, I don't know what I would do. I didn't have chemo and didn't have to even face this.

    You do what is best for you and what you can live with. Don't worry about what anyone else thinks. It's your life, your choice.


    Good luck in whatever you decide,


    Leeza
  • AngieD
    AngieD Member Posts: 493
    #16
    Tux said:

    tux
    I took all treatment offered to me--even a small percentage increase in survival was worth it to me. However, when I thought the onc. was going to give me a choice (he didn't), I was going to ask, "What would you recommend if I were your mother/wife?"

    Good luck in whatever decision you make--we're behind you all the way!

    Of course, it's your
    Of course, it's your decision. But, I would not pass up a chance to increase my chance of survival.
    Angie
  • laughs_a_lot
    laughs_a_lot Member Posts: 1,368 Member
    #17
    You didn't say
    what type of breast cancer you had. It is probably not tripple negative though as TNBC has chemo as it's biggest ally in the breast cancer fight. One thing to keep in mind is that chemo is no longer the great horror it once was. They have better ways of controlling the nausea. So if you were worried about nausea you may want to reconsider doing chemo.
  • survivorbc09
    survivorbc09 Member Posts: 4,374 Member
    #18
    carkris said:

    i think it depends on the
    i think it depends on the diagnosis type of cancer etc... you will be on a form of chemo because you will be taking an estrogen blocker.

    I am wishing you good luck
    I am wishing you good luck in this difficult choice, to have chemo or not. Chemo was not part of my treatment, just surgery and rads.


    Keep us updated.


    Hugs, Jan
  • tdpepp
    tdpepp Member Posts: 1
    #19
    chemo
    Hey, I am really new to this chat room thing. Is this your first occurrance?? It sounds as if it is. You have to take the chemo at this point. I took my first chemo in 1999 and now doing it again 13 YEARS LATER. I don't mean to scare you, but it is my opinion breast cancer will be back, period. Your only hope is to forstall it as long as possible. So get to work girl! Take your chemo and whatever else they tell you within reason. Then bombard yourself with every healthy thing you can: extremely healthy foods, exercise, supplements, etc. I have made it a long time, but not doing so great now. I think I might be doing better now if I had done the "healthy thing" after my first chemo. Need to change your chemisty, pH or metabolism somehow. But still, 13-years and counting with this disease is good. You could have a lot less if you don't do the initial treatments is my opinion.

    Good luck and get with the Lord!

    Friend in Christ,
    Teri
  • debi.18
    debi.18 Member Posts: 850 Member
    #20
    tdpepp said:

    chemo
    Hey, I am really new to this chat room thing. Is this your first occurrance?? It sounds as if it is. You have to take the chemo at this point. I took my first chemo in 1999 and now doing it again 13 YEARS LATER. I don't mean to scare you, but it is my opinion breast cancer will be back, period. Your only hope is to forstall it as long as possible. So get to work girl! Take your chemo and whatever else they tell you within reason. Then bombard yourself with every healthy thing you can: extremely healthy foods, exercise, supplements, etc. I have made it a long time, but not doing so great now. I think I might be doing better now if I had done the "healthy thing" after my first chemo. Need to change your chemisty, pH or metabolism somehow. But still, 13-years and counting with this disease is good. You could have a lot less if you don't do the initial treatments is my opinion.

    Good luck and get with the Lord!

    Friend in Christ,
    Teri

    You've received
    You've received lots of wonderful advise. It's your decision, so do what feels best for you. Chemo wasn't fun, but is doable. I didn't think twice about it, wanted to kill off every little nasty cell. Good luck and keep us informed. We're behind you 110%.

    Hugs, Debi
  • SIROD
    SIROD Member Posts: 2,194 Member
    #21
    If Only...
    I do hope you have made a decision. They are so very hard to do.

    You may never have a recurrence. However, there is no guarantee either. Words that you might not want to haunt you if you did are those words, "if only".

    Wishing the best on this journey,

    Doris

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