none treatment

Hi

I am looking for some help/advise

I have a friend who has been dianosed with breast cancer around 12 months ago, she has decided that she does not want any treatment and as much as i or any of her friends would make that decision we are fully supporting her, She has lost some friends due to her decision, The issue she is having now is that her consultant has basicly washed her hands of her! She went to her GP to ask for advise as it is progressing and GP wrote to organise a CT scan from head to pevis. Her consultant has sent a letter rejecting the request as"it is not required"! She also found out that the consultant had written to her GP advising it had gone from stage 1 to stage 2, but had not informed my friend. surely my friend has the right to care/pain relief/mental and physical support the same as someone who has decided to fight it and take all treatment available.

Also is there any kind of support group of patients that have made the same choice as herself?

 

Thank you in advance

  • Hello, 

    oh how sad. The best thing would be to contact her breast cancer nurse, they are the people who can get things moving, also Macmillan is a good starting point....

    I can't imagine how her family and friends are dealing with her decisions not to have treatment. Stage 1 is early doors, it feels like she's given herself an unnecessary death sentence, I of course don't know the whole picture and can only imagine other factors have come into play....

    my sister categorically told me not to have chemotherapy, I went ahead as it was my decision not hers, we have since fallen out....so I do understand.....

    good luck, and it's lovely she has you as a good supportive friend....xx

  • Hi there ...

    Well I'm someone that thinks the person with the cancer should listen and weigh up everything .. and be supported no mater what ... 

    Firstly .. what are her thoughts .. is age / health playing a part .. or maybe she's scared witless of chemo and radio ... many of us have a huge spectram of reasons .. so I'd say, sit down and ask her ... without interrupting... then you may get to see into her heart .. not judging .. just listening ..

    Those friends who are not talking to her, I'm sorry but they were never true friends .. yes they may want her to fight .. but it's not their fight or yours it's hers ... 

    Like Marlyn says grade 1 and 2 have a good rate of beating this cancer .. that's why I had surgery but no treatments due to health .. but yes to tamoxifen .. I had a grade three... masectomy in July 2017 ... still here .. my surgeon' backed me all the way .. and said he was only a phone call away if I need him .. I've not regretted my decision ... I've had a wonderful two years .. but if I'd been younger with a family at home , id have done anything and everything ...

    So I'd say listen to her .. ask her oncology team what % it will give her on outcome ... where is her cancer ..  and to those who turned away they should hang their heads .. cancer takes away our control over everything .. us leading the way what we do or don't want , gives us some back ..

    Chrissie xx