Hello

Hello Rainbow61,

I know exactly how you feel. I had surgery to remove my right lung and was also offered adjuvant chemotherapy.

In my case I was told it would likely add 5 percentage points to average chance of long term survival (I didn't ask what the starting point was - too scared at the time!).

I thought about it for a short while and although I didn't like the idea decided to have it. I reasoned that I was still relatively young (58), had recently lost a couple of people close to me to lung cancer and didn't want to follow them and was petrified of my cancer coming back. My final reason was simply that it wasn't compulsory to have it so if the side effects became too bad I could stop at any time I wanted.

So I had it and, although it wasn't the best experience in the world, I did finish it. That was in 2014 and I've been clear since. 

I also had cisplatin and vinorelbine, immunotherapy wasn't available back then.

I wish you all the very best whichever route you decide to take.

Derek.

The only person that can answer this question is yourself, I had Chemotherapy because I was told that there was 50/50 of it returning elsewhere and having chemo gave me an extra 10% so I went for it but it still metastasised to my brain. That has successfully been treated with radiotherapy I was then offered immunotherapy but I refused that because I still suffer from the side effects of chemo If it pops up elsewhere I'll deal with it then. I don't regret having the chemo because if I hadn't had it I would be kicking myself thinking I could have stopped it from spreading 

Thank you. The battle I am having with myself is if I say no to the chemo and it comes back I will blame myself. It's not an easy one, especially as I am terrified of getting an infection while on the chemo and it turning serious. That is probably my biggest worry.

Hello there,

I was in the same position as you and had to make that same decision. I decided not to go with chemo.

Now 3 years later I’ve needed some chemo and then targeted radio therapy (SABR) to deal with a small tumour in my right adrenal gland. I also have a 3mm nodule in my right lung which they are monitoring. I had the chemo as they were hoping to remove the adrenal gland but the procedure proved to have an unacceptable risk. 

The chemo was not nearly as bad as I expected. I didn’t feel bad just nauseous for a while. I was given medication for that. There was also plenty of support. I didn’t loose any hair either but I have a wig just in case.

This is my story. Only you can decide what to do.

With love Daisy

It's not an easy one, have you spoken to your macmillan nurse mine knew as exactly where I was coming from and was very helpful.  

Thank you, that is really helpful xxx

I was only given the option yesterday and it's literally bouncing yes/no in my head constantly. I have set myself a decision deadline of Monday, otherwise I will drive myself insane!

I spoke to them yesterday after my appointment but I will probably speak to them again before my final decision xx

I have made my decision - I am not going to have the chemo, going for surveillance. I am going back to work this Thursday.

It all feels very strange at the moment, after 3 months of appointments, scans, tests, surgery - now my life is back under my control. I think I have cried and felt the most emotional in the last few days since making the decision.

Onwards and upwards!

 when I told my oncologist that I wasn't going to proceed with immunotherapy her reply was I don't blame you, which is what I am going to say to you. You can always deal with it in the future if it does decide to pop it's ugly head up again. All the issues I have with my health now are down to the treatment. All the best x

Thank you. To be honest, although the oncologist and others won't tell me what I should do, I did get the feeling they were steering me away from the chemo. My daughter was with me too and she felt the same. They didn't really "sell" it x

I am happy with my decision.