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Chemotherapy

Jobieejo
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Hi,

so I have stage 1 grade 3 breast cancer and was fully expecting to have surgery then chemotherapy or radiotherapy.

instead I’m having chemotherapy then surgery which has sent me into a complete spiral of doom.

instead did ask my breast doctor why it was being done this way but I’m still none the wiser ( my doctor has  a very thick accent that I’d struggle with in the best of times) all I know is that I have to wait for oncology.

my questions are

why this way round is it better?

is it because my cancer is worse than they say

is the cancer spreading while I wait?

what can I do to prepare.

i have read the leaflets and googled and everything says this way round to shrink a tumour or to kill of the spread of it, I’ve been told nothing concerning on my MRI it’s not spread to the lymph nodes and I have dcis on my records which doesn’t tally with what I’m reading.

can you offer some clarity? Has anyone else had the treatment this way round? 

mentally I’m not dealing very well with all this and at the moment I’m struggling to function properly, I did mention this to my breast doctor but I’m in the hands of oncology now so I’m completely lost.

thanks

jo

Parents

  • Hi there Jo and thanks for the post

    I am sorry to hear about your diagnosis and appreciate you having some questions about needing to have neo-adjuvant ( before surgery) chemotherapy. Times like this can feel overwhelming and I hope you can get some more information to put your mind at ease soon.

    Every patient and cancer is different and because of this the recommended treatments will vary depending on the type, stage ( size and extent) as well as grade and the individual patients fitness levels.

    Although neo adjuvant chemo is commonly given to triple negative type breast cancer patients. It can also be given to reduce the size of a tumour to be able to perform breast conserving surgery in early stage breast cancers.

    As no one here is involved directly in your care we can't answer the reason why this is being recommended for you.

    I would suggest speaking with the breast care nurses at your hospital who may be in a position to best answer your questions more precisely and hopefully reassure you. In the meantime remember that your team will be wanting to give you treatment for the best possible outcome.

    Hopefully you will see the oncology team soon. They will be able to explain the aim of your treatment plan, the chemotherapy drugs they are planning on giving you and what to expect from these.

    It is often the waiting and not knowing that is a tricky path to tread with so many things running through the mind. Try not to let your thoughts run away with themselves until you have all the facts.

    Looking after yourself as best you can whilst you wait can help. Eating as balanced and healthy diet, getting regular exercise ( even if that is a walk around the block) and restful sleep can all help in the lead up to any cancer treatment.

    I hope you also have the support of friends and family at this time to help you through.

    All the best

    Naomi

Reply

  • Hi there Jo and thanks for the post

    I am sorry to hear about your diagnosis and appreciate you having some questions about needing to have neo-adjuvant ( before surgery) chemotherapy. Times like this can feel overwhelming and I hope you can get some more information to put your mind at ease soon.

    Every patient and cancer is different and because of this the recommended treatments will vary depending on the type, stage ( size and extent) as well as grade and the individual patients fitness levels.

    Although neo adjuvant chemo is commonly given to triple negative type breast cancer patients. It can also be given to reduce the size of a tumour to be able to perform breast conserving surgery in early stage breast cancers.

    As no one here is involved directly in your care we can't answer the reason why this is being recommended for you.

    I would suggest speaking with the breast care nurses at your hospital who may be in a position to best answer your questions more precisely and hopefully reassure you. In the meantime remember that your team will be wanting to give you treatment for the best possible outcome.

    Hopefully you will see the oncology team soon. They will be able to explain the aim of your treatment plan, the chemotherapy drugs they are planning on giving you and what to expect from these.

    It is often the waiting and not knowing that is a tricky path to tread with so many things running through the mind. Try not to let your thoughts run away with themselves until you have all the facts.

    Looking after yourself as best you can whilst you wait can help. Eating as balanced and healthy diet, getting regular exercise ( even if that is a walk around the block) and restful sleep can all help in the lead up to any cancer treatment.

    I hope you also have the support of friends and family at this time to help you through.

    All the best

    Naomi

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