Hi Puzzled,

Welcome to Cancer Chat. I'm sorry to read about what's brought you here and the dilemma you're in.

While I can understand this is difficult, it's very hard to advise on this. Your doctor or specialist is really the best person to speak to, as they're involved in your care and can discuss the options with you. You can then weigh up the decision based on any potential treatment outcomes, possible side effects, or any possible risks that they outline. They will be best placed to advise on all these areas, at which point you can make an informed decision.

Of course do browse the forum if you are interested in learning more about people's experiences with chemotherapy - there will be many others here who have had, or are having, treatment for breast cancer.

Wishing you all the best,

Ben
Cancer Chat Moderator

Hi Puzzled,

Welcome to our forum, although I'm sorry to hear of what has brought you here. I haven't had chemo, so cannot give you the answer you want. To be fair, I don't think that anyone can make this decision. It has to be yours and yours alone.

There is much discussion about the side-effects of chemo, but not everyone gets these. Although it can be hard when you are going through it, most seem to be much better after treatment finishes. Ben is quite right. Your care team at the breast clinic will have discussed your treatment in detail and, come up with what they consider to be the best option. The current pandemic makes a decision like this even more difficult.

The hospitals are keeping Covid 19 patients well away from cancer patients and, provided that you isolate yourself completely between sessions, you should be fine. Have you been told how many chemo sessions they plan to give you?

With so many cancer centres having stopped offering chemo for the next few months, you are fortunate to have been given this opportunity. There are a number of factors which will have some bearing upon the outcome. These include age, general health status, type and grade of breast cancer,  and size of tumour.

I hope that others who have had chemo will come along to tell you of their experiences, but remember that we are all individuals, and we all react differently in such situations.

I do hope that, whatever decision you reach, it is the right one for you.

Please let us know what you decide. We are always here for you.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx