2nd Opinion

I had a treatment for metastatic breast cancer. I was first diagnosed with breast cancer 6 years ago and Earlier this year I got the news that it has metastasised into other organs. I had chemo every week for three months and was told that my cancer hasn't spreaded further and stays the same. I am off the chemo and starting a new treatment which will help to stop the growth of cancer. Has anyone experienced the similar situation? In the beginning of the treatment I was told my Tumor might go away with chemotherapy and I was very positive that this treatment will get rid or at least will reduce my cancer massively. I know you all might think I should be happy as it hasn't spreaded anymore but i feel what was the point of the chemotherapy which made me extremely ill and has left me with some long term side  effects. Also is it wrong of me to ask for a second opinion from another hospital????

  • Hello Sarah,

                      yes chemo is not a benign friend who only provides nice things in your life but can be both a saviour and a sinner. From the outset you would have been aware that there are no promises of cast iron success,only the possibility,with no forewarning of the degree of either. From what you write it seems you have had some of its benefits at some of its cost.

                                                       Its always disappointing when treatment fails to live up to our initial hopeful expectations,with the constant daily reminder from the long term side effects reinforcing the anguish of only partial success in your eyes.Looking objectively it has reduced your cancer massively in the sense that it has halted what would have been an overwhelming continuation of spread and the inevietable result of that.

                                          From this point on it is all about how you view your position,from the standpoint you take,no one else can do this for you,and if you feel the need for a second opinion on such a long term and what should be a well understood issue,then l would not see this as being wrong.

                                                                                                                                    l carry issues from my chemo experience,and although l would have wished otherwise, l view them as both a price worth paying and a reminder never to take for granted my good fortune of being extremely lucky to be one of those who shared a treatment journey to have survived.

                                                                                              Peoples personal perspectives are unique to themselves,l am just grateful that l manage to find ways around my shortcomings and retain a very positive outlook that enables me crack on with life,but appreciate we cannot all be the same.

                  l hope your new treatment proves to be a success,and that it brings a little more peace to your mind,

                      David

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

                                                

  • Hi Sarah did you a Taxol or Paclitaxel chemo weekly?I am on it every week since August 2019 I have breast cancer mets in my lungs and before chemo even in my kidney and liver.The April scan this year showed no tumor in my liver and kidney and lung nodules keep shrinking still.My oncologist is not talking to me too much about my further treatment plan so I dont know for how long I have to have it.One side I am glad I dont have many side effects and the cancer keep shrinking but the other side I am really fed up with the chemo and just want to live normal life.How strange different hospitals have different treatments.

    Are you going to have immunotherapy now?

    If you are not happy have a go for a second opinion.I am trying to get transferred to another hospital because I am not happy either with my oncologist.

     

    Denise

  • Hi David,

     

    Thank you so much for ur reply, ur right there's a price which worth paying. I just need to stop being so paranoid and think about the positive things. 

  • I was on paclitaxel every week and now only Herceptin and Ptuzumab which will be every three week. Are you on Paclitaxol too?? I am so glad to hear from you and well done for coming this far and achieving brill results. This is the sort of results I was hoping to get and I strongly feel there could have been more progress if I carried on with chemo. I think second opinion will put my mind at rest as i don't want to have a regret later on that I didn't try.