Opinions please

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?

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

RozHopkins said:

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?

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

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.

RozHopkins said:

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.

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

RozHopkins said:

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 help you in deciding about the chemo?  Wishing you good luck!

Hugs, Rose

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 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 and chemo!

Hugs, Diane

CypressCynthia said:

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!  Keep us updated!