Anyone on the Optima Trial

Hi there, and so sorry to hear you're struggling s little today, i think it's normal for us all to have good and bad days and at times it can feel overwhelming. I had my chemo before the surgery to shrink my lump and I am now about a month past radiotherapy and I am doing well. I managed chemo pretty well, continued to work and the side effects were manageable.  It's tough, but it's absolutely do-able x

Thanks for replying, I saw a list somewhere with a list of things to get before starting chemo but can’t find it now, so can anyone point me in the right direction.

Did you decide against the trial or did the results come back as chemo? Half the women taking part are randomised chemo and the other half are tested and only those with high risk have chemo. I'm in ther trial but had chemo.  No idea if it was random or I'm high risk.  My oncologist doesn't know either as they might skew the results.  She did say that about 30-35% of all participants don't have chemo and obviously know they're low risk. At my hospital she gives 4 (not 3) of EC and I ordered for weekly Paclitaxel as I'm very sensitive to medication.  The EC isn't nice due to nausea and thr high doses of steroids,  but the Paclitaxel was ok. 

I’ve decided on the trial as the oncologist told me I’d be having chemotherapy anyway because that would be standard treatment as I had positive lymph nodes so I may as well opt for the trial. 

Hi, this might help, it's a link to my blog about chemoChemo hints and tips

Thanks so much, I’ve read all your blog and that is where I’ve read the hints and tips but couldn’t remember where I’d read it.

Diane x

So glad I can help Diane x