Hi,

I was offered chemo by my oncologist, but my surgeon didn't recommend it as I am in my 70s and apparently the side effects at my age can cancel the benefits, so I refused it.  I even refused the hormone blockers, initially,  because the benefit at five years according to NHS Predict was only 2% more than surgery alone and I dreaded getting the side effects I had heard of.  

In the end I started the hormone treatment because my kids wanted me to, although they said they would support me if I really didn't want to take them, and I have had very little in the way of side effects up to now, just a few hot flushes and aches and pains. I felt a bit sick at the beginning and went off my food for a couple of weeks, even lost half a stone without trying! Unfortunately the half a stone came back with my appetite after the first month. My drug is Letrozole and it stops my body producing Oestrogen, hopefully stopping my cancer from returning.  I am to take it for five years. I only started taking it on condition that I could stop it if the side effects made my life miserable.

At my age, I really believe that, quality of life is more important than just extending the length of it and I'm sure you have done the right thing by stopping a treatment that caused you so much harm! I am really glad that my surgeon disagreed with my oncologist.

Christine xxx

Thank you Christine, I too am 67 , heading for 70 and I  just couldn't take the chemo, it made me so unwell. I maybe will have Letrozole but not sure yet of the medication. I think with the Radiotherapy as well I have done all I can to get well and I'm looking forward to having a happy life for as long as possible. 
Thank you for replying,

Silver 

Hi Silver, I can totally understand your decision and your doubts as I went through the same. I had lung cancer and the tumour was removed with surgery in December but due to the size they offered 4 cycles of adjuvant chemo. At the start the oncologist told me there was only a 1-2% benefit of me having the chemo and at that time I thought even a small benefit was better than none and thought I could tolerate chemo as I was fairly young (49) and otherwise healthy.

I was really ill in Feb after cycle 1, I had neutropenia too and was in hospital for a week, had mouth ulcers etc. They suggested that if I chose to continue that they try different drugs, only do day 1 (and not day 8) and lower the dose. Cycle 2 was much better but then CV came along and when I had my pre cycle 3 consultation the oncologist said the risks associated with CV outweighed the benefits and he suggested I stop treatment.

Part of me now wishes I'd never started it as I'd still have my hair, wouldn't be immunocompromised etc but then part of me hopes that the treatment I did have has zapped any rogue cells left after surgery. None of us could have foreseen Coronavirus.

Take care and keep us posted on your journey.

Ruth x

Yes , I'm the same, hoping that the chemo I've had has zapped any rogue cells and still upset about losing my hair. I never want to go through those mouth ulcers with the Neutropenia so am pleased to stop the chemo. I was kept in isolation in hospital and was tested for Covid, luckily negative. I will still have to go the hospital every day for Radiotherapy, the Doctor is ringing me tomorrow so I'll know when that starts. My friend who has been through breast cancer said the medication is the life saver, hope there aren't too many side effects with that. I was given an 8% chance when I started the chemo so it was worth it, but after 3 cycles I've been told it's less than 5% ...

Keep safe, Ruth, thanks for replying

Silver x