Query chemo

Hi

Oh my! what an awful decision for you to have to make.

I had a friend's Mum who was diagnosed last year at 80 and hers had spread to her sentinel lymph nodes (so would normal have chemo) but she wasn't even offered it.  I guess they figured that given the side effects that chemo gives wasn't worth it for her quality of life at her age? - on top of that her husband had been diagnosed with bladder cancer a month before and she is his carer, so that might have been taken into account when the oncologists didn't even suggest it for her!

I would say, even though you are supposed to have the Picc line today, don't make any hasty decisions.  You can always have the Picc line later - or have it removed.

I didn't have chemo as mine hadn't spread to lymph nodes, so I can't talk about the chemo side effects.  That is something to really look into for you - and I guess if the side effects are too bad, I guess you can stop chemo.  But will part chemo be the same as no chemo at all in regards to results?  Sorry - I don't know, but perhaps something to ask your oncologist.

I guess the question to ask is: how many years did you expect to live (before BC) life expectancy is increasing all the time - 80 for women is no age these days, with many being as fit as a fiddle and living a very full life up to the 90's!  So - 20 years for you is perhaps a long time to gamble on not being in that 3% at 79 / 6% for 84 years old.

Do you have family? What do they think?  If it were my Mum for instance, I would encourage her to have it and would have been there with her every step of the way - she died unexpectedly 5 years ago when I was 49 and I'd give anything to have one more day with her (not cancer).  We saw each other practically every - so we were very close.  Each family is different, I know but it would be good to perhaps bounce off them for thoughts.  If  however it were me with that decision, then, as I have no children and very little in the way of family left then possibly I may feel that I didn't want to put myself through it.  I'm 53 now, so I would have chemo now, so again, I can't really say what I would feel like at 74.

I think the main thing is to not rush your decision just because of the Picc line today.  You must take time and think about it and perhaps write a list of pros and cons and view this against your overall health now and in the future.

Sorry, not much help but I do feel for you with this decision to make.

Kindest wishes,

Hi ,

I think it all depends on your health, are you generally well? Do you have any other conditions diabetes etc?

Personally if your oncol has recommended it, it must be the best course of action for you.

I do wonder about the validity of these so-called prediction tools.  We can predict the weather, it doesn’t always make it right.

They are what they say just a prediction, not facts.

I’d go for it if you are generally healthy.

hi

I'm with you

at 74 do you really want to put your body through a brutal chemo regime?

It looks like the decision making is keeping you up at night or are you a bit of a lark, 05.48 ??

Carolyn

xxxxx

Thanks Carolyn. I had a long chat with a good friend and have decided to go with it. I think I placed too much emphasis on predict which is just a tool. I am thinking of the percentages as a confidence thing knowing I will have done everything I can rather than having regrets if it comes back. First one on Wednesday , xx

Thank you so much for a lovely response. It’s my first post and I didn’t find any replies until just now. My husband says I must choose what I want but I can tell he’s desperate for me to take every option. I am going to have chemo as I feel the first line of treatment is the best option. If I didn’t do chemo and had recurrence you play catch up. They postponed PICC until Tuesday as I start chemo Wednesday. Thank you again xx

You’re right ! I’m well and apart from crap knees absolutely fine. I agree re the Predict tool now that I reflect on it. It was such a total shock that chemo was such a low percentage,I thought it would be more like 20%. I’m resigned to having the whole package now. Thank you x

Hi ,

My oncologist said the same about throwing everything at all...I have 4 children and wanted to be able to look them in the eye and know I was doing everything I possible could to be clear of cancer.

Wishing you the best of luck x x

hi

these percentages ...

I was told by my oncologist that I'd be an idiot to refuse chemo and she threatened to lock me in the room to further persuade me.

I was 52 at the time, May 2015, I had a large area of DCIS with smaller spots of Her2+++ invasive cancer within it. 

The DCIS was 65mm but the smaller spots of Her2+++ were something like 4mm and 5mm. Then there was a second area of Her2+++ on its own. Predict doesn't actually account for this so the experts apply their knowledge and experience. 

My percentage uplift was 30% although looking at the tool now I can't see how we arrived at that figure, it was giving me something like a 20% chance of recurrence or spread/mets, from 50-50 with surgery alone, no chemo or trastuzumab. If I put the figures in now it's down to 73 but these are general stats. and I can cope with that, I've just had my annual scans and they're clear, the right breast has some micro calcifications but they haven't changed in the last 3 years. 

BUT I was also informed that I could have all that chemo, 4 x EC and 4 x T, over six months and it could still come back and spread. 

Even by throwing the kitchen sink at me offered no cast iron guarantee of immunity .

The overall risk associated with chemotherapy in the UK for all patients and all cancers is 10%, that is a 10% risk of death.

Breast cancer is lower because we're an easier group to manage, we turn up for our appointments and we take our recommended medications. We look after ourselves, keep mobile to avoid clots, keep our teeth clean,  we check our temperatures and avoid infections. 

It's still about 3%. 

If you're offered chemo with a 3% uplift carrying a 3% risk that's going to be zero over 5 years and 3% over the 10 years.

May I have your details for The Predict tool ??  I have sent a friend request if you don't want to share on an open forum.  

This is not a decision I'd want to make but I do feel quite strongly that the risks are not clearly explained to us. 

We can only make decisions based on information available to us.

Cancer is so scary we might be too frightened to refuse.

Carolyn

xxx