Hello everyone!

My journey so far: 38 years, diagnosed last summer with breast cancer - one affected lymphnode, both tumors oestrogen receptive and HER+ Now going six rounds of neo adjuvant chemo (carboplatin, docetaxel, herceptin and trastuzumab).

BUT fighting a panick over delays and dose reductions (despite feeling gratefully good - not needing any nausea meds, strong appetite, yay). Still, due to low platelet count, round 3 was delayed by a week. Then my dose was reduced for round four (20% less docetaxel and carboplatin) as they said the treatment is more efficient when delivered on time, even at a reduced dosage. Today they phoned me to say my platelets are borderline again (98 - same as last round when I DID get an ok) and I have to wait another week (why always a week and not a few days if delays are such bad news?!), plus they are considering another 10% reduction.... I couldn't keep my tears in most of the day, feel so confused and frustrated.

The way I see it, I get six shots at having cancer cells systematically attacked throughout my body - two rounds / shots left. This is the treatment that maximizes the chance no cancer cells will stick around elsewhere in my body and avoid recurrence in the future. After that treatments are focused on one area (operation and radiation). So what happens now is surely of major importance for my future?! The nurse who phoned me was really lighthearted about it "delays are so normal" the oncologist said "no use beating up your bone marrow"...I don't find that reassuring at all!!!

Did anybody get a better view of what these adjustments to treatment really imply for their long term chances? Is it really thát "normal"? Do they make these reductions differently for each patient or are they simply following standard protocol - would that be good or bad?? Are there second opinions for this? From eight years working in customer service I took away their are always different approaches to a single situation. But nobody seems to explain the approach they are taking, other than "it is what it is" Maybe they are right....that seems to be the *** thing about cancer :P

So sorry for my moaning....hope someone might still feel like sharing their experiences with this. Thanks and my best wishes to everybody.