Hi all,
I would like some help regarding my situation. Counsellor on the phone suggested to find people who survived this type of cancer.
I got diagnosed her2 triple positive just recently. This cancer was undetected by ultrasound almost 2 years ago. Doctors say that it is stage 2, that it is early stages, that I am young ( just 41), that it is curable with chemo and masectomy. Everyone so far tries to give me hope.
I don't have children and I live alone in low income. I have pstd from childhood with abusive narcissistic parents. I think that I have undiagnosed Asperger's, like my father. I work in a hospital for 5 years and I have seen many things. NHS is overstretched and despite good intentions and overexploited staff, I don't think that there is good treatment in general.
As you see, I am not posive or hopeful person. But I am quite pragmatic and I don't like drama. For me, quality of life is better that living long. I am Buddhist in principle.
I read that her2 triple positive is aggressive and recurrent within 3 years. All the treatments might have side effects. Taxol might give you neuropathy, Masectomy might give you linfodema and upper arm disability. Herceptin or other drugs heart and lung problems. I don't want to become a regular in the hospital just to live 6 months more, that I will spend in hospital.
Private oncologist told me that the taxol is the chemo for elderly over 80, that it is very soft, that I have to try. She told me as well that untreated cancer in the bones is very painful and not a quick ending.
I believe mostly in the targeted therapy as I think that it made this cancer her2 positive curable or at least manageable, not the chemo, not the surgery, unless it is early.
I would like to know your experiences with this cancer, especially people who refused chemo or masectomy or radiotherapy. How long could you live with just herceptin and endocrine therapy?
Sorry for the long post. Some people might find depressive, so you don't need to answer or read it. Life is hard as it is. I would like to know your experiences, especially if you refused or of it is metastatic. Any experience is welcome.
