chemo or not?

Suzilyn805
Suzilyn805 Member Posts: 5

I had estrogen + in 2004 in my left breast, had lump removed ,radiation 7 weeks, tamoxofin for 5 years. 14 years later I get a HER2+ in my right breast.  I decided to get a bi lateral mascestomy a few weeks ago. Now I am faced with do I do chemo or stick to my feelings of not wanting to poison myself. I am 58. Have no family pushing me, my mother has alzheimers and is in memeory care and I see this and do not want this as my future. While doctors always say it is your choice a personal choice, you always feel that you should do as they say. I do not want to do chemo, I would rather try anything else, I could deal with hair loss if I thought it would make a difference but I do not think it will. I want to know if anyone else feels same as me, if they are happy with going ahead with chemo or if they regret making that choice. I feel that compromising my healthy body is not worth it. I would rather enjoy my life than being sick for months. Does it make a difference? Doubt many folks that said no chemo still even reading on this forum, but would love any opinions. 

Comments

  • HapB
    HapB Member Posts: 527
    edited March 2018 #2
    Suzilyn805

    I hope you are well. What did you decide? You did not say what stage and type of BC you have.  I think you should get to the best cancer hospital that you can and trust the advice the doctors there give you. Chemo is short term, death is forever. God keep you! 

  • LBM2020
    LBM2020 Member Posts: 3
    16 rounds

     

    Just finished 16 rounds of chemo. 4 AC & 12 taxol. More side effects than I imagined I would get. Still suffering with congestion-neuropathy - continued nail problems on toes and hands that have caused infections- on antibiotics twice- among all the other medications to treat symptoms -list goes on.  Now seeing surgeon to go over new tests and prepare for my surgery as a triple positive that spread to the lymph nodes. Hoping that the chemo worked. Then of course radiation and tamoxifen for 10 years. This is all so scary and my new normal which I can only take one day at a time.  Would feel better if the side effects of chemo subsided.


     

  • HapB
    HapB Member Posts: 527
    edited April 2018 #4
    LBM2020 said:

    16 rounds

     

    Just finished 16 rounds of chemo. 4 AC & 12 taxol. More side effects than I imagined I would get. Still suffering with congestion-neuropathy - continued nail problems on toes and hands that have caused infections- on antibiotics twice- among all the other medications to treat symptoms -list goes on.  Now seeing surgeon to go over new tests and prepare for my surgery as a triple positive that spread to the lymph nodes. Hoping that the chemo worked. Then of course radiation and tamoxifen for 10 years. This is all so scary and my new normal which I can only take one day at a time.  Would feel better if the side effects of chemo subsided.


     

    LBM' the side effects of the

    LBM' the side effects of the chemo will slowly get better. The radiation and Tamox may give you new side effects, but, hopefully you will fewl better soon and on the path to good health!   Hang in there!

  • SLS100
    SLS100 Member Posts: 37
    chemo or not

    i had 20 rouhds of chemo okus 5 weeks of radiation lumpectomy  my doctor says if this chemo doesnt work she would try immunotherapy which  dont really know what that is.  ho0e you give it a lot of thoughts. csn you get seocnd opinion?  Best,

  • LarkAlexis
    LarkAlexis Member Posts: 13
    Chemo or not?

    Suzilyn- I am so glad you posted this! Thank you. You are not alone: you have me in the same boat. I suspect there are few of us, or the others are not speaking up. I was diagnosed Stage 3, aggressive breast cancer, already spread to lymph nodes, in early Autumn 2014. I had bilateral mastectomy wth 11 lymph nodes, all positive for cancer. By Spring of 2015, it had spread to many ribs (painful!!) Now this is 2018 and the cancer is in lots of bones from my skull to my femurs. Before I got cancer, I always said if I did, I would NOT have chemo. So far, I have not, and I am fairly sure I won't. I was always very healthy, and still am,except for the cancer. I cared for my mother in my home until she died at 84 from stroke-related dementia. I wouldn't EVER want to live like she did. Then I cared for my dad, who died 14 days after a massive stroke. I knew better than to call 911--he had made his wishes very clear that I was not to do that. So, like you, I never want to end up like either of my parents. It is hard, very hard, to resist what it seems like everyone else is doing: chemo and radiation. But I feel pretty strongly that I will stick to my guns in this. Mostly, I am trying to avoid as much pain as possible, while still being able to drive and take care of things at home to some extent. My husband is 83 and in decent health, and we care for a 94 year old friend of the family in our home, too. The 94 year old is in pretty good shape, but his life consists of eating, sleeping a LOT, and a little TV. There is more to life than trying to live as old as you can. Quality, not quantity, you know. I don't want the side effects of chemo trying to fight an incurable disease. So there are at least two of us who are thinking the same.  --LarkAlexis

     

  • Suzilyn805
    Suzilyn805 Member Posts: 5

    Chemo or not?

    Suzilyn- I am so glad you posted this! Thank you. You are not alone: you have me in the same boat. I suspect there are few of us, or the others are not speaking up. I was diagnosed Stage 3, aggressive breast cancer, already spread to lymph nodes, in early Autumn 2014. I had bilateral mastectomy wth 11 lymph nodes, all positive for cancer. By Spring of 2015, it had spread to many ribs (painful!!) Now this is 2018 and the cancer is in lots of bones from my skull to my femurs. Before I got cancer, I always said if I did, I would NOT have chemo. So far, I have not, and I am fairly sure I won't. I was always very healthy, and still am,except for the cancer. I cared for my mother in my home until she died at 84 from stroke-related dementia. I wouldn't EVER want to live like she did. Then I cared for my dad, who died 14 days after a massive stroke. I knew better than to call 911--he had made his wishes very clear that I was not to do that. So, like you, I never want to end up like either of my parents. It is hard, very hard, to resist what it seems like everyone else is doing: chemo and radiation. But I feel pretty strongly that I will stick to my guns in this. Mostly, I am trying to avoid as much pain as possible, while still being able to drive and take care of things at home to some extent. My husband is 83 and in decent health, and we care for a 94 year old friend of the family in our home, too. The 94 year old is in pretty good shape, but his life consists of eating, sleeping a LOT, and a little TV. There is more to life than trying to live as old as you can. Quality, not quantity, you know. I don't want the side effects of chemo trying to fight an incurable disease. So there are at least two of us who are thinking the same.  --LarkAlexis

     

    Thank you, Glad to know I am

    Thank you, Glad to know I am not the only one. 

  • pamelamasterson
    pamelamasterson Member Posts: 3
    Hey, you did not mention the

    Hey, you did not mention the type and Stage of your breast cancer. Talk to your oncologist about your dilemma about chemo, even after, if advised, you should go for chemo. I know its after-effects are terrifying but trust, it is just one phase that will pass. Keep your hop[es high. God bless you.

  • Msmoxie
    Msmoxie Member Posts: 46 Member
    It is Strength in what YOU believe in

    I was diagnosed Aug. 2017 with anal cancer and while checking all of my other parameters... breast cancer was found in my left breast in Oct. 2017... I also have nodules in my thyroid due to exposure to radiation (1950's above ground testing of atomic bombs) ... taking thousands of x-rays as a vet tech (twelve years ... In vet medicine you don't get to stand behind a screen. You hold the animal ... two techs typically... you have a lead apron but no thyroid collar and often you cannot wear the lead gloves because you are trying to hold tiny paws and such) .  So after my MRI's and PET scan and learning everything I could from professional journals, associations, facilities ... talking to the numerous pathologists that I have known over 24 years of working with them... I decided to not even allow the biopsy on the breast tumor (it was only 1cm ... and is also in the place where I put my cell phone in my scrub pocket for many years... and they say cell phones are safe!!)  

    Anyway... My primary care physician and my radiation oncologist (who knows that I am not going for chemo or radiation) help me with palliative care... whatever I need.  I also do not want to lose the quality of life that I have.  Yes, I have to carry a diaper bag to clean up often with the anal cancer since the tumors are on my sphincters.  

    My breast tumor is not growing... they say they grow more slowly in older women.  The doctors know (or SHOULD know)... that whenever they perform a biopsy... if it is a malignant cancer... in 50% of the cases that biopsy causes spread of the malignant cancer cells.  I am consulting with a breast cancer surgeon in the next month ... IF he will only do the lump... NO rediculous margin..  NO removal of any lymph nodes... I would consider that.  Our lymph nodes will do their job if we allow them... once you remove them ... chances are you will be dealing with lymphedema (another horrible side effect of standard procedure).  I have an aunt and a niece that both had breasts removed last summer... my aunt was fine and she is 82 for gods sake and now she suffers horribly from chemo brain, lymphedema, balance issues and more from the side effects of her treatment.  My niece broke her pelvis twice in ten days from side effects of the chemo/rad and has now had multiple surgeries ( she was only walking in her home and out of the blue... fractures).

    I refuse to end up constantly in the hospitals and getting "treatments" and tests and losing my ability to assist my family.  I am the one that can drop what I am doing and go help.  That is my purpose in life.  I am doing everything I can think of and everything I continue to research on kick-starting my immune system.  It is my immune system that allowed this cancer to get started.  My cancers were found late 3a... and from what I read here on these bulletin boards... the people that their cancers were found early seem to do okay ... but still suffer the numerous side effects that come with chemo/rad.  Also, if you read enough of the blogs... the concensus is the the doctors do not discuss the side effects ... glossing over them... promising better days ahead.. some even denying that the side effects happen.  It is OUR life.  We need all of the information so that WE can make an informed decision.  I am not trusting a doctor in a cancer center where they are absolutely under pressure to have high patient intake... the hospital that diagnosed my breast cancer BRAGS about treating 4,000 women in 2017 for lymphedema!!!  The number that I found for each patient that signs up for chemo/rad is more than a million dollars cost.  That is why we see cancer treatment centers popping up like CVS and Walgreens every quarter of a mile.  The doctors are "trained" and then they are required to follow "standard protocol" ... my rad. onc. said for me to find someone that can think outside the box I have to go to the larger (top ten) cancer treatment centers for a consultation... I finally was approved (it was out of network but my rad. onc. sent them a letter explaining my situation and desires)... so I will be going to Memorial Sloan Kettering (#2 in the country) for this consultation.  

    Sorry that I get long on my thoughts but I want to share as much as I can ... again... do your homework... trust your gut... if the doctors have no empathy or soul... find another one.  Get multiple opinions if you are not happy with what they want to do to you.  YOU have rights as a patient.  

    Sending positive energy and extra prayers to you and to all suffering here from cancer.

    Moxie

  • Suzilyn805
    Suzilyn805 Member Posts: 5
    feeling resigned

    I am in stage 2 because of the size of the "very nasty" aggressive tumor that was HER2+. I was told that I needed the herceptin for the HER2 protien. I was only 5% estrogen+ . They only will give herceptin with taxol, but I was told I only had to do at least one then I could "get off the bus". I was told that with no treatment there was an 80% chance the cancer would return to most likely brain or liver within 3 years. If that happened I would no longer be "treatable". I know one of the side effects with herceptin was heart issues so he said go ahead and get echo because if heart not able then conversation is over. I returned for results reall rather indifferent to outcome. My heart is in great shape so I have reluctantly agreed to doing this. I only want the one taxol--I worry that he is trying to babystep me--that if I make it through one then nudge me to do the next. While I do not want any of it--i will try since he made a good argument and seemed that my thoughts and feelings did make a difference.  I will discontinue if side effects are not as "treatable" as he claims. I already hate my BP meds making my hands and feet cold, so if the chemo intensifies ?? I also believe that the insurance companies and pharma companies are not interested in the patients, they are only interested in their bonus checks, CEO salary, If the pharma companies cared about the people drugs would be afforadable. Big money in cancer--. In 2004, I had 9 nodes removed,all -. I was never told anything about lymphodema, never even heard about it until my first visit to oncologist this time. Went to first appt for Lymphodema PT friday, and now I'm more paraniod about something I never knew about. I had 13 nodes removed this time, surgeon only planned on taking 5 but she said more came out --on a string--? PT lady saying I should worry about cuts, scrubbing exercising, travel, doing normal activities almost. That I should always wear glove. I am sure I will not like this sleeve. I remember the sock my mother had to wear after hip replacement for blood clot fear, and thought I would never be able to put that on. she said lymphodema sleeve will be more compression than thing my mom had. I hate the way they make you keep coming back for appts all the time. More padding the insurance--. can't refill unless you come back. I am already regretting my decsion to give it a whirl, I would rather take the money and hop on a world cruise and jump overboard if the pain got too intense. I want to see the world not be told to go to the appt and do this don't do that. I was so hoping to do herbal healing. I began drinking essiac tea when I first discovered the lump. It seemed to work for a while, but then the pain set in. I knew I needed to just get the mascestomy and be done with it. I thought that would be the end of it. Then they told me 50/50 chance it might still be in body since no garuntee all cells gone. After all these years of reserch you would think there would be a blood test or something but NO? Wish you and your family all the best.

     

  • Beepositive
    Beepositive Member Posts: 259 Member
    edited April 2018 #11
    PRAYERS AND BLESSINGS TO ALL

    KEEP FIGHTING...PRAYERS AND BLESSING TO ALL

    BEEPOSITIVE 

  • Apaugh
    Apaugh Member Posts: 850 Member
    suz

    I am sorry you have to go through this.  It is rough.  At times I wanted to throw in the towel but I thought of my kids and my grandbabies and I decided I have to fight the best I can.  Somedays are so so bad but the next day comes and you try again.  If you go through some of these older post you will see the struggle, the fear, the frustration in all of us.  I refused the taxol, I had too hard of a time on the 1st type of chemo.  I jumped to Herceptin for  8 mon.  It is tough too, but they kept a close eye on my heart and I had no issues.

      No matter what type of cancer you have, it is a beast and we are all suffering in one way or the other.   But we are also here to encourage ea. other and to allow you too get your frustration out.  We get how you feel all the way.  

    I am now 8 months out from chemo and recovering and it will take a long time.  The meds I have to take for the next five years cause major side effects.  I broke my leg  3months ago and it is taking a long time to heal.  They took me off the 5 yr. pill due to high chance of blood clots and oh it was great to go off it for a spell, but I knew not being on it was dangerous to my future so we chanaged it up to one I had been on before that caused me so much muscle and bone pain, HOWEVER, I am going to try it again because I just have to give it a shot.  I just have to see my kids and grandbabies.  I pray to God all the time and He sees me through.  I try to find a positive note to ea. day.  I have learned the little things are sometimes the best things.

    I too have lymphodema, both arms and hands.  PT does help and will educate you on how to care for it.  you can get it undercontrol and stay on top of it.  It took a long time in PT.  I no longer wear my sleeves (2 yrs out)  but if I did not keep up on the manual massage and keeping them moving, they would be a mess.  I have neuropothey from diabeties and the chemo has enhanced it.  I have two broken disc in my back.  The docs say, "oh your a mess!"  and I say, "oh but doc, I am a good mess!"

    Hugs and prayers going up,

    Annie

     

     

  • zebrainparadise
    zebrainparadise Member Posts: 9
    Happy to be here!

    It is amazing reading all these stories... I tried so hard to find personal accounts while making my decision on whether or not to have chemo but couldn't find anything except clinical information. I wish I had thought to look here! 

  • Suzilyn805
    Suzilyn805 Member Posts: 5
    Apaugh said:

    suz

    I am sorry you have to go through this.  It is rough.  At times I wanted to throw in the towel but I thought of my kids and my grandbabies and I decided I have to fight the best I can.  Somedays are so so bad but the next day comes and you try again.  If you go through some of these older post you will see the struggle, the fear, the frustration in all of us.  I refused the taxol, I had too hard of a time on the 1st type of chemo.  I jumped to Herceptin for  8 mon.  It is tough too, but they kept a close eye on my heart and I had no issues.

      No matter what type of cancer you have, it is a beast and we are all suffering in one way or the other.   But we are also here to encourage ea. other and to allow you too get your frustration out.  We get how you feel all the way.  

    I am now 8 months out from chemo and recovering and it will take a long time.  The meds I have to take for the next five years cause major side effects.  I broke my leg  3months ago and it is taking a long time to heal.  They took me off the 5 yr. pill due to high chance of blood clots and oh it was great to go off it for a spell, but I knew not being on it was dangerous to my future so we chanaged it up to one I had been on before that caused me so much muscle and bone pain, HOWEVER, I am going to try it again because I just have to give it a shot.  I just have to see my kids and grandbabies.  I pray to God all the time and He sees me through.  I try to find a positive note to ea. day.  I have learned the little things are sometimes the best things.

    I too have lymphodema, both arms and hands.  PT does help and will educate you on how to care for it.  you can get it undercontrol and stay on top of it.  It took a long time in PT.  I no longer wear my sleeves (2 yrs out)  but if I did not keep up on the manual massage and keeping them moving, they would be a mess.  I have neuropothey from diabeties and the chemo has enhanced it.  I have two broken disc in my back.  The docs say, "oh your a mess!"  and I say, "oh but doc, I am a good mess!"

    Hugs and prayers going up,

    Annie

     

     

    herceptin

    after the chemo what meds did they put you on?  I got the port installed last week and didn't even think I had to go to the hospital for it from the way everyone spoke of it. Oh it is nothing just a bump. ah well it isn't just a bump. It was a real surgery, and now I have this thing in my throat, chest. I felt like what I would imagine a gun shot would be. I think this is the same philosophy they give to the side effects--oh nothing to it it is treatable. I am terrified. I have no one. I have 2 nausea meds and got no clue why I have 2 and what the difference is. Guess i'll ask or read before wednesday. I've never had nausea--I've had food poisioning once, but not with pregnacy or sea sickness even during major storm. Figure if I don't eat I won't get sick? I have always been healthy, I only suffer from seasonal allegies, but I worry about my immune system with chemo. I do not believe in getting flu shots--because I first of all think it is a scam between the pharma and insurance companies, but more importantaly why do I need to infect myself to protect myself. I want my life back. I had to leave my job due to this because I could no longer do job requirments. To find a job at my age and being sick--well sure anyone can guess that won't happen. especially with no boobs!!

  • Cliver
    Cliver Member Posts: 3
    Going through chemo has not been all that bad...

    About to take round 4 of AC, with 12 weeks of Taxol ahead.  I was anxious about side effects ahead of the first session but did not need to be.  The anti-nausea drugs included were perfect - almost ZERO side effects, just kind of tired for 3-4 days while my body dealt with the AC infusion and then flushed the residue out of my system.  And using a cold cap has meant minimal hair loss, maybe 8% so far.

    I have been able to work almost normal hours except for the day of infusion and the day after.  As others said: chemo is brief, life is long.  your chances of living are greatly improved by chemo, and these days the side effects are very treatable.  Obviously it's your personal choice, but I would say do not be afraid of chemo, it's not what it was 10-15 years ago, WAY better.  Wishing you the very best of success...

  • Apaugh
    Apaugh Member Posts: 850 Member

    herceptin

    after the chemo what meds did they put you on?  I got the port installed last week and didn't even think I had to go to the hospital for it from the way everyone spoke of it. Oh it is nothing just a bump. ah well it isn't just a bump. It was a real surgery, and now I have this thing in my throat, chest. I felt like what I would imagine a gun shot would be. I think this is the same philosophy they give to the side effects--oh nothing to it it is treatable. I am terrified. I have no one. I have 2 nausea meds and got no clue why I have 2 and what the difference is. Guess i'll ask or read before wednesday. I've never had nausea--I've had food poisioning once, but not with pregnacy or sea sickness even during major storm. Figure if I don't eat I won't get sick? I have always been healthy, I only suffer from seasonal allegies, but I worry about my immune system with chemo. I do not believe in getting flu shots--because I first of all think it is a scam between the pharma and insurance companies, but more importantaly why do I need to infect myself to protect myself. I want my life back. I had to leave my job due to this because I could no longer do job requirments. To find a job at my age and being sick--well sure anyone can guess that won't happen. especially with no boobs!!

    Suz

    I dont know if your asking me or not about what meds I am on for 5 yrs.  I was on Arimedex which can cause and it did, bone and joint pain.  Because I was post menopausal and had a complete hysterectomy yrs ago, I went to Tomoxifen, but broke the leg and had to go off due to high chance of blood clots.  2 months later still healing from I the leg I still could not go back to the Tomoxifen.  My onocologist was having fits because my breast cancer was estrogen positive and my numbers were high so he wanted me back on a 5 yrs pill ASAP.   I agreed to try Armidex again but told him that if I got all that pain again, we would have to revisit the issue.  So far (3 wks.) the side effects are not as bad as they were when I was on it the first time.  So the doc and I think the first time I was also recovering from the Herceptin treatments on top of it. 

    I know this will be hard to believe but I still have my port in.  Many docs leave your port in place a whole year after chemo.  I am glad they did.   I dont even notice it now.  Because of my lymphedema in my arms, they do my blood draws from it.   I get it out in August of this year and I will miss it due to those blood draws needed every 3 months but your cant keep it forever!

    While going through chemo your immune system will be compromised.  Those flu shots are in your favor, so are the pneumonia shots.  I stayed away from people alot during cold and flu season.  I told people, dont come around me if you got a sniffle, my life depends on it!  They respected that. 

    I had to quit my job.  I was so sick.  I am now on permanet disablity due to my back and diabeties neuropothy being so bad, not my cancer.  It took 2 yrs to get it.  It was tough. 

    One of my biggest frustrations is my loss of memory, how to spell and the proper use of grammer.  I had a 4.0 all the way through college and my chemo brain wiped that out.  They say they dont know how long it will last.  Some people get it right back and some people never do.  We understand that here and it's ok.  My friends and family understand and love me anyway.  I get mad but move on and dont let it ruin my day. 

    Keep a journal, it will help you see the progression and the patterns.  None of it is easy.  My fight started Feb of 2016.  I am way way better now and I try to find the silver lining and blessings to everyday, that is how I have gotten through this. 

    Prayer, laughter, positive energy surrounding me.  I have been mad alot, I have cried alot.  I have pouted and then got up the next day and said, OK, try try again.  I remind myself I am a warrior and I go to this site and read all my other comrads stories and struggles and I learn from them and find some inspiration from them and many times, I make my some decisions based on some helpful hints from them.  We are all alike and we are all different.  In the end it is your choice, your life and we dont judge.  We are here for you.

    Hugs and prayers,

    Annie

    PS: Dont forget water water water and lots of veggies help!

  • JayDeee
    JayDeee Member Posts: 5
    edited June 2018 #17

    Happy to be here!

    It is amazing reading all these stories... I tried so hard to find personal accounts while making my decision on whether or not to have chemo but couldn't find anything except clinical information. I wish I had thought to look here! 

    chemo or not

    I had double mast diag   stage 2  1.9 size  est pos her2 neg, i had two nodes tested no cells found.  Then they hit me that i "should do easy chemo as my doc put it"  I was told My nodes were neg now they want chemo, why!  She said just in case.  I said no to that, i am taking the AI.  I also have a stage three on the replecation rate  onco score 50-65 they say this is high and i should do the chemo.  So far i am taking my chances the chemo is off the table now from my doctor.  I can only hope that i made a good decision.  Just my story,  What have you chosen?

  • LisaMaria27
    LisaMaria27 Member Posts: 2
    chemo or no chemo?

    This is a really personal decision...the problem is, you don't know how chemo will affect you.  i have triple neg, and just finished 3 months/4 treatments of TC.  I worked most of the time; minimal tummy issues, aches and pains, major fatigue, and of course the hair loss.  Probably a total of 10-15 days actually down for the count.  The hair loss is a thing...You think it's nothing (compared to dying it is nothing), but it puts something very personal out there.  So the cancer is always on your radar, can't forget about it when you get those sad looks from strangers.  I opted to do neo-adjuvant (pre-surgery) chemo (stage 2, no lymph nodes impacted)...figured i was pretty lucky, and didn't want to push it in case there was some microscopic cancer cell waiting to pop.  Plus, it looks like it shrunk the tumor, so surgery will hopefully be a minor lumpectomy.  But everyone is different, and if you chose to go without, more power to you!  I wish you lots of luck whatever you decide.

  • kingjenia
    kingjenia Member Posts: 2
    edited July 2018 #19
    Thank you all - same boat here

    I too am so afraid of chemo and poisoning myself.

    My oncologist says she won't know if I need chemo until after the double masectomy.  I'm still in the meeting stages with the surgeons and haven't even been put on the chopping block schedule yet.  Just today I got the reults of my scans that it has not spread.  Doc says that they won't know about lymph node infiltration until they tests some after surgery.  I am also super afraid of them removing my lymph nodes.  I know I can spare some for testing, but the surgeon said earlier he might have to remove them all - NO THANK YOU!  

    I have a nasty cancerous tumor (4cm x 3cm) on the right side.  They are doing double masectomy by choice - my famile oncologist highly suggest both and so do 2 of my aunts who both had singles and would have opted for both if they could do it over.  Biopsy shows ER+; HER=1+.

    So any way, I am even thinking of going with an alternative treatment center just to avoid chemo and also perhaps skip the major surgery too.  Seriously consderign the Oasis of Hope in Mexico.  Have any of you considered the alternative plans?  They say my cancer is not aggressive so I might have time to try both?  Has anyone considered this?  I mean try alternative and if it doesn't work go back to the traditional cut, burn, poison routine?

    Thanks for the sounding board.

  • Hillaryt
    Hillaryt Member Posts: 1
    edited July 2018 #20
    JayDeee said:

    chemo or not

    I had double mast diag   stage 2  1.9 size  est pos her2 neg, i had two nodes tested no cells found.  Then they hit me that i "should do easy chemo as my doc put it"  I was told My nodes were neg now they want chemo, why!  She said just in case.  I said no to that, i am taking the AI.  I also have a stage three on the replecation rate  onco score 50-65 they say this is high and i should do the chemo.  So far i am taking my chances the chemo is off the table now from my doctor.  I can only hope that i made a good decision.  Just my story,  What have you chosen?

    Chemo or not?

    I was diagnosed with Paget’s Disease of the nipple, and then breast cancer the month I turned 40.  I quickly had a double mastectomy and no cancer was found in my lymph nodes.  I had the Paget’s and dcis and 2 small tumors. It was all stage one.  They just told me I am HER2+ and should do chemo. 

    I really don’t want to do the chemo. 

    Thoughts? Advise?