Chemo - to have or not have?

Hi Dogskivvy,  Well you certainly have been through a lot and I can certainly understand that you are sick and tired of this medical merry go round that doesn’t have much relief.  I am older too, 73, but my situation was different and I went with the program as I did not have pre existing conditions to think about.  Had bilateral lumpectomies as had stage 1a invasive cancer in one and DCIS in other.  Had 3 weeks radiation and a boost of 5 more on right side.  Now on anastraxole for 5 years.  
it is a hard decision as we all want to have the best odds of staying cancer free but we also want quality of life.  60 % vs 80% is a big difference.  I wish I could help you get to an answer but that is a personal decision that you have to make.  There are so many women who have had chemo and they should be able to help you.  Take care and we are not old just vintage.

Barbara

Hi.  All the chemo is different so what you've heard others suffer with might not affect you.  You should ask the oncology nurse for advice but I totally understand what you mean and it sounds like you know your own mind.

Hello Dogskivvy, I understand what you are feeling at the moment, it seems like there is no end in sight to your treatment journey.

Everyone is different of course so you must do what is right for you but  I think that 12 weeks is nothing in the grand scheme of things, and will be over before you know it, and it sounds like it could give you a significant benefit in the longer term. 

Also, just wondering why your depression is untreated? That is not going to help you whether you go for this treatment or not.  If you are not keen on taking antidepressant pills maybe talking- therapy could be an option for you and may help you cope better?

Good luck with whatever you decide. 

Thanks Barbara - love the ‘not old just vintage’ comment! I m pension age but still go to rock/metal concerts so maybe ‘overgrown teenager’ might be more apt! 

Thank you for responding. I have to go into Oncology within the next day or so to collect a blood test form so my current plan is to visit the MacMillan centre there & ask for some honest answers. 

Thanks Citybee - I know that 12 weeks is not very long & that there are lots of other people who have to have chemo for much longer periods of time and even repeat treatment but ….. 

think the depression is caused by the fact that my body is getting older & failing but my mind hasn’t caught up with it yet if you can understand that. I ve always worked - at least up until 2 years ago & had I not had lung cancer would still be working. In the past 2 years everything seems to be failing - I have osteoarthritis in my hip (hip replacement offered & refused by me),  lung cancer (lobectomy), neuropathy following the lobectomy (current), Raynaud’s disease (medication refused so far), COPD, hyperthyroidism & now breast cancer. I m left constantly wondering ‘what’s next’ hence my ‘is it worth it’ stance. I do realise that there are a lot of people worse off than me as well . Thank you for your advice though - much appreciated.

Go girl.  I dance all around to the great R&B & soul music almost everyday.  Makes me feel so good.  We got to do what we love!!

Barbara

Hi, I think you are doing amazingly well given what you have been through. Not surprising if you sometimes feel down but the fact that you are on here asking questions and engaging shows how much spirit you have. You can beat this. I think my oncologist gave me reduced-level chemo drugs I was coming up to 70 and I think this helped me cope better. 

xxx