Hi,

I can understand why you're asking this! Maybe even CRUK adverts need to be taken with a pinch of salt?

There's some background information including what the treatment was at www.itv.com/.../breast-cancer-survivor-at-heart-of-new-campaign-could-feel-cancer-disappearing

I find it hard to believe her consultant actually said she was "cancer free". I've had a similar outcome (after a LOT longer time) and, sensibly, the most my consultant will commit to saying is "the latest scan, endoscopy and biopsies show no visible symptoms of cancer"! I asked if that meant I was cancer free and he just repeated "the latest scan, endoscopy and biopsies show no visible symptoms of cancer".

I guess the patient on the advert was just lucky to be put on what seems to be a successful trial. 
 

All the best

Dave

Hi Pipestril, 

Thank you for your message and your feedback. I just wanted to let you know that we are referring your comments to our support services team.

Best wishes, 

Lucie, Cancer Chat Moderator

Hi

I agree, some chemotherapy treatments are brutal and have lasting side effects long after treatment is finished. After what is essentially successful cancer treatment there is the collateral damage to your quality of life. It's very difficult to accept that your hair is never going to grow back,  

Thanks davek, nice to have some support. Just having a down moment. 

Hi city1976, thanks for the support,  sorry your having a tough time. I hate the treatments too, ' it's life at a shocking cost " I had hoped for hair to return . All I can say is stay strong.  

Hi, if I understand the term correctly, it does seem to have been the case for me. I am almost a pensioner! After 7 rounds of chemo and 4 Herceptin injections, there was no evidence of cancer. I then had surgery and radiotherapy. I will continue with Herceptin injections for a total of 1 year (18 courses at 3-weekly intervals). What was your diagnosis and treatment plan? Best wishes, Amy x

Amy 321 

amazing news to be told this and so well it may continue .

love Lara x

I completely agree with you Pipestril and don't get that advert either. I got what is called a complete response to my chemo which the hospital were excited about and so was I. I'd been on 3 chemo drugs and the last was in the Taxane group. My Oncologist called it a cancer melter. But my breast tumours turned to calcification and so the same large area still needed cut out. Does anyone's cancer actually melt to nothing meaning they don't even need an operation? Is this possible? 

I kind of get the other advert that says You don't see it, you feel it. You feel what the cancer treatments do to you. And then everyone tells you how well you look after the cancer treatments but you're exhausted, especially from the chemo. But nobody can see that. I doubt that anyone other than those who've had cancer treatments will understand that message though. 

I wish we could be asked for input into the CRUK adverts. I'd love to be involved. 

Hi Amy321, 

I think you'll find the operation you had was the cancer or dead cancer cells being cut out to send to Pathology for checking. If the cancer just melted away, it seems unlikely you'd need an operation. Which some people get first in their list of treatments. I had 7 rounds of chemo like you and 18 injections of Herceptin and Perjeta. It's amazing what they can do for us and I'm truly grateful. I got a complete response to chemo which isn't guaranteed but I still had to have my whole tumour areas cut out in the operation as calcification was left. Are you getting the 6 bone infusions too? The bisphosphonates to strengthen your bones? I didn't like the idea but do now. I'll have strong old lady bones. Keep going with the Herceptin, it's do-able xx