To have the op or try alternative

Having read your post, I can only echo what others feel too. After getting my diagnosis I did not question anything other than going down conventional route. I have felt from day one that everyone on breast care team was on my side and I have put my treatment and care in their hands. About to start chemo which I am dreading but looking to the future with positive thoughts. My mother has recently passed away with terminal liver cancer which unfortunately they couldn't cure but she would have given anything and done anything to stay with us. She gave me the determination to fight this. 

Hi Chloecat 

That is very good news on the scan front. Your perseverance really is commendable. 

I had TNBC and didn't think about the non conventional route but do see the appeal. It is very difficult though to say categorically what has caused your DCIS too reduce. Your consultants obviously know you are with the alternative methods and I guess you discuss with them what you take? I am also guessing you take quite a lot of supplements? Do the consultants ever offer up an opinion on what you are taking and the results in the shrinkage of the tumour? Do either of them get linked?

I do find it very interesting. 

Julia X 

I'm in Australia so the "cost-effective" NHS isn't an issue for me. I chose conventional treatment because I want to stay alive and that's the best chance I have. Over 90% chance of survival is good enough for me. Yes chemo is horrid, yes radio is tiring and yes surgery doesn't look the best at first but together they'll give you the best chance of survival. 

I can understand that you felt pressured. The worst part of the journey for me was the loss of control - I have always been a leader not a follower and also never liked doctors (didn't go to a dr for over 20 years other than for travel vaccinations). That's all changed - my life is dominated by medical appointments. I don't like it but I accept it. 

Please please opt for the conventional route. Even if your immune system has issues to deal with, at least you'll be alive to deal with them.

I also opted for the so-called 'conventional' route as I felt that the treatments offered had been subjected to proper trials and represented my best chance of survival. Now 21 months on from original diagnosis, I'm glad I did as I'm feeling well again. Of course my treatment is far from over.  I respected that my medical team had spent many years of study to be in a position to judge my best course of action.  That doesn't mean I accepted everything in blind faith. Being a questioning sort, I certainly queried some decisions, often at length. I have also complained when I needed to. Isn't this mutual respect the sort of thing that keeps the wheels of the NHS oiled?

Pepys x

I reported this thread to the moderator some time ago because I was so concerned that women with invasive breast cancer 'dip' in at random and may conclude that 'alternative' 'treatments' may be useful for them and the NHS offerings are lacking. MacMillans have not responded to my concerns, so I will try and outline them now.

The majority of breast cancers diagnosed are invasive cancers which will spread and kill you sooner or later. DCIS are a minority. To put it bluntly, those of us with invasive BC would trade it in for DCIS any day, especially the highly aggressive like TN. (That is not to disregard the impact of Any type of diagnosis, I hope you can see my comment in context. It is not intended to belittle Any disease. DCIS may become invasive). 

Your clinicians in the NHS do conventional treatments because they have a proven track record. Their duty to provide evidenced based care prevents them recommending unproven, non/under researched, possibly dangerous substances (thank goodness!).

If you have invasive BC dont even waste your precious time thinking about forgoing or taking a pick and mix approach to treatments. Its your decision, but if you want hard facts to guide your choices, ask the experts - the professionals and/or try Breast Cancer Care site (which is moderated). They have experienced breast cancer clinicians who can answer specific questions or worries about your treatments.

I do find your comments worrying Annie. 

I appreciate you are trying to create context but as a triple negative lady i have to say that the use of words as 'highly aggressive' creates panic in itself. TNBC likes to recurr just as much as her2 positive BC. My TNBC was grade 2. It's not always grade 3. 

I sound very defensive but there are many tnbc ladies on here and whilst it likes to recurr more so in the first 3 years there are also many positives to TNBC. 

Your comment that the majority of invasive breast cancer will kill you sooner or later is over generalising. Do the majority of us die from it? No we don't. Not by a long shot. The stats prove this. 

Julia 

Hi Annie

I understand your concerns.  However, Chloecat has made it clear that this is her journey, that she is not advocating others to try it, and that she is very much a guinea pig.  

I think some of your language could upset some people, since it comes across as very definite and unfortunately there are quite a few sweeping statements that are just not true. 

If you read the entirety of Chloe's blog, it outlines the treatments she has been offered and the reasons why she has decided not to go down the conventional route.  I applaud her bravery, and I follow her developments with interest.  So far it does appear to be working for her, so I wish her all the luck and await the next development whatever it may be.

This post should be removed it contains many inflammatory and down right inaccurate statements, and is highly irresponsible.

Carol, do you mean Annie's post or Chloe's thread?

My apologies. When I wrote my first comment, I thought this was a new thread. (I have issues with reading things thoroughly - comes from having an overbusy job for years). I now realise that it's been going for years and is really interesting. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences. 

Just one comment in response to someone who said that AC treatment isn't used in the UK as it kills people. AC is the gold standard here in Australia (and I think the USA), so it can't be killing too many people! Where I live there is a documented 93% 10 year survival rate with breast cancer.

BTW I still don't regret opting for conventional treatment.