Hi I’m 60 just had therapeutic mammoplastery and axillary node clearance only 1 out of 10 nodes effected I also had BC 14 yrs ago because of the node effected this time it’s estogen positive lobular I have been recommended to have chemo however if there are clear margins and cancer removed why put myself through this when I feel ok or will I forever regret this decision I just don’t know what to do all my friends and family support whatever decision I make I just wondered if anyone else feels this way or if if shouldn’t be a tough decision
Hi Missy60 Welcome to the forum. I imagine that the reason chemo is being suggested for you is because of that positive node. The issue with nodes is that cells can travel and Chemo mops up any strays.
Nobody can make up your mind for you you have to make the choice that feels right for you based on the best available evidence for you..
Sorry not to have been of more help but Im sure that others will be along soon who may have thoughts about your query.
Hi Missy60, I was diagnosed with lobular hormone positive BC 11 years ago. Had mastectomy and radiotherapy but refused chemo. I had 10 fabulous years but was diagnosed with recurrence last year. This time it has mutated, inoperable, incurable, triple negative. I have the same oncologist as before so I asked him if not having chemo had affected the recurrence he assured me it made no difference.
I guess from my experience, I know my decision was right and have never regretted it or thought what if. Life for me is about quality, not quantity.
Hi missy60 - I’m sorry to hear of your dilemma - you could ask your oncologist about the predict app. If you haven’t already been told about it they can put your results into it and it will give you statistics of success rates for each treatment they recommend e,g operation, chemo, targeted therapies over 5, 10 years etc. I found it really helpful as I was unsure whether to have chemo. I’m not sure if it can be used for all types of breast cancer but might be worth asking to see if it can help you with your decision. good luck with everything
Hi - the Predict tool is what the Oncologists look at, and also patients can use this. That's what I was told. It's all to do with benefits of certain treatment and prolonging life as far as can be told......after all, there are many other ways of dying, not just through cancer but I take the view personally that if in say 2 years time I got cancer back again, I might regret not having had the treatment offered to me now. It's a personal choice. I had a therapeutic mammoplasty, no problem with nodes removed but was recommended radiotherapy, and going ahead with it. I was asked to choose and said I didn't know, what would the Radiotherapy Consultant suggest ? I took her advice. That bloody cancer starts off somewhere and I for one don't want it back again. Having a boost of radiotherapy to the cancer bed.
An awful dilemma. As others have said the decision is ultimately yours but my thoughts since you ask are that once you have that positive node you really don’t know where that one cell could be lurking. Initially I was having surgery first then chemotherapy but after my results (bone, mri, ct clear for spread but well established cancer in nodes) they switched to chemo first then surgery. My consultant said to me, ‘let’s treat the potential cancer we can’t see, what we can see we can monitor’ that made sense to me. I hope that’s useful xx
Thank you for your reply the onocologist did say had it just been the lumps removed and no nodes effected she probably would have just recommended radio which I was always going to have anyway . Good luck with everything
Thank you for your reply. I know the fact that something had strayed is worrying me immensely and I know I will have radio and hormone treatment she did say it’s slow growing but of course that is only for the breast area doesn’t take the rest of your body into account I did have an mri and ct scan prior everything ok there but who knows I really appreciate everyone responses good luck with everything
