Only had 2 out instead of 3 EC

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Hi warriors,

I’m feeling a bit numb and disappointed today! Had a phone call of my oncologist, she’s not happy to give the last/3rd cycle as my heart isn’t as good as it was expected to be or should be!! She further told me that cardiologist suspects that I may have had a heart attack at some point!!  She’s going to continue to give me paclitaxel  and would be happy to give more than 9 cycles as originally scheduled!  I’m so upset and don’t know how to take this really!! It’s like one thing after another!  Has anyone been in a position when their treatment had to re-adjusted/stopped? How did you move forward and stayed positive? 

I’ve been doing so well with hardly any side effects and now this! 

  • I’m sorry that you have had this disappointment and that it is worrying you.

    A similar thing happened to me. I experienced really severe side-effects to EC so had my dose reduced, but the oncologist was not happy to give me my last dose due to how it made me feel, even on the reduced dose. I explained that would like to have it, but she was not happy to give it to me, so I just had to trust her. it really floored me and felt like a big blow at the time, but she explained that all treatment is a balance between potential benefit and side effects, and there are other treatments that I can have. 
    I still do have some residual disappointment and concern about not being able to have my last dose, but know I need to move on from this and put my energy into my treatment pathway. I do trust my oncologist. She explained that some people do not even have EC at all, for example, people with heart conditions. it sounds like this is the concern with you, so it’s really good to hear that they are taking care of your most important organ. I hope you can see it that way once you have got over the shock. 

  • Hedera thank you.  We’re very lucky to have such a good service with great people.  My oncologist is very good too and you’re right, we should trust the professionals. It’s funny isn’t it, initially I was devastated when I was told that I was going to need chemotherapy and now  upset that I can’t finish it!  I’m hoping that missing the last one won’t make a huge difference.

    I like your approach.  I’m sure I will get over the shock and disappointment by tomorrow and continue to be as positive as I’ve been so far.  I hope everything goes well for you too. Thank you Pray 

  • I think one of our greatest challenges is having to look positively upon all these horrible, unwanted, and worrying things which happened to us on a cancer treatment pathway. 
    I was exactly like you in not wanting the chemo, but then devastated when I couldn’t have it!