No to chemo yes to radiotherapy (TNBC)

AR66 21 days ago

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So, for those who read previous posts, which were perhaps incorrectly titled ( no treatment, I couldn’t amend, I really meant no chemo)

I have stayed with my decision to refuse chemo. I am lucky in that cancer hasn’t spread to lymph nodes and didn’t really have any ill effects from lumpectomy apart from a seroma which was drained, painless and no after effects.

Met oncologist yesterday and signed all the forms for radiotherapy, they have all been amazing and totally respect my decision, no trying to persuade me just talking me through what it all means.

CT 18/8 then the tattoos to mark up where they will do the radiotherapy ( I thought they would disappear but met a friend yesterday who still has the markings from her breast cancer 23 years ago ! Lucky my page 3 days are done)

Really good news in that I will have 5 days of radiotherapy on full breast then 4 days of targeted therapy on site where tumour removed. I had thought it was going to be 15 days then 4.

Obviously Im not out of the woods yet and I know there can be difficulties with radiotherapy side effects but for me personally the decision to say no to chemo has been such a relief.

i also know that TNBC is aggressive, but hopefully caught in time and I can continue to live a quality life.

Sparkle498uk 21 days ago

Hi. Just wanted to say good for you sticking to saying no chemo, it’s a completely individual choice and as much as I found it doable the hair loss, less energy and other side effects have made me really sad and they couldn’t say what it would reduce the risk by. My friend had 1 sentinel node and 1 lymph node affected and she was told she didn’t need chemo whereas I only had 1 sentinel node affected. I know there are other factors but just wanted to reassure you of someone who had lymph node involvement didn’t need chemo.

Thanks for the info re radiotherapy, I have my initial consultation next Thursday where they’ll confirm how many sessions are needed. My friend said no to the ink mark ups as she read up that they can enter your blood stream and it worried her so they didn’t do any!

AR66 21 days ago in reply to Sparkle498uk

Thank you, so many people have been negative about me saying no to chemo.

I had already decided I wouldn’t have chemo and then when I told my oncologist she was fine and offered me radiotherapy. I did ask why that hadn’t been an initial option and she basically said it is down to stats. If I had chemo, op, radiotherapy and it worked I would have 87% chance of surviving 10 years. If I do my way, lumpectomy then radiotherapy and it works I have 76% chance of surviving 10 years.
Everyone’s decision is personal but the differential isn’t much.

Good luck next week hope you don’t need too many take care

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