Hello Jassoscared

I'm sorry to hear that you're feeling so anxious and worried about making the right decision for you regarding further treatment. I hope that your appointment with the BCN went well and that they were able to make you feel more comfortable with the seroma. 

I'm not sure if the Oncologist has phoned you yet but if you'd like to talk things through with one of our nurses then I'm sure that they would be able to offer some support and information. You can call them on 0808 800 4040, Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm. 

It is a difficult situation you're in but hopefully talking things through with the Oncologist and your family will help you to feel more positive about whatever decision you make. 

Do let us know how you get on. 

Best wishes ,
Jenn
Cancer Chat moderator

Hello when I was diagnosed 2,5 years ago with breast cancer I had 7 cycles of chemo,surgery and 15 rounds of radio and I thought I was cured.

Last year in May I was diagnosed with breast cancer recurrence in my lungs and kidney and liver.I am on chemo again and still doing ok.

I dont want to dissapoint you but chemo is not quarantee 100% that it never come back.So its your decision you need to discuss it with your onco team and what are the pros and cons and side effects.

Denise

Have just read your post and wondered what you decided?  I had masectomy and node removal, it was in 2 of my lymph nodes. I decided to have chemo as it treats the whole body, just in case any micro cells have escaped. Radiotherapy targets areas. I decided to throw everything at it to prevent cancer returning. None of it is pleasant but I'm 7 weeks after treatment now and just on hormone tablets for 5 years. I've been where you are, that's what's good about this forum, plenty of support. Your team will help you make the right decision for you.

Best wishes Silver  

Silverdays.

Hi thanks for ssking what my decision was.  As my oncologist said id stand a better chance of it not returning ( i know its not 100% guaranteed it wont) i decided if i didn't and it came  back ,I'd be thinking was it becsuse i didnt have chemotherapy  and if i did go ahead and have it, i could say well i did all i could to prevent it. So i decided to have it.

My oncologist said" id need 16weeks of chemotherapy  then Radiotherapy, and letrazole for 8yrs which i did think was a long time,as moxt people are on Letrazole for five years. I started first chemotherapy of EC last week,i must admit i was petrified. I have this for four weeks, and then change to Paclitaxel for the remaining four weeks. I've had ups and downs,as i had to have a pic line put in my left arm  which still hurts,i only had one vein he could find good enough to use.  Plus my right under arm has a seroma under it,and it has become infected,very red and hot to the touch. Im now on antibiotics  and must admit its uncomfortable having both sides of my body in pain. Im due my second lot of chemotherapy this friday,and know im going to start losing my hair,which is an awful thought. I had terrible troubles with my bowels chemotherapy really upset them ( ive only got half a bowel as i had a bowel resection becsuse of a pre cancerous sessile flat polyp.Ive aleays suffered with my bowels,was diognised with ulcerztive colitis aged 18.But was treated in hospital and it has not reared its ugky head scince. Ive had constipation and then dioreah, bloated belly .

Ive had metal sour tastes in mouth on and off,fatigue felt a bit sick but not actually been sick so far.  I hope you are well now and thankyou  x

It is rough I know, I was supposed to have 6 rounds of chemo, but only had 3 as I had a bad reaction. Its not quite so scary after the first one as you know whaat to expect. I remember taking my temperature all the time. Dont hesitate to ring the oncology nurses if you are not well.  I think you are wise to throw everything at the cancer to prevent it returning and one day be cancer free! Hold on to that thought.....I lost my hair the first round and wore scarves for a while. I did have a wig but it started growing back quite soon after the chemo and I have got used to very short hair now.

I wish you all the best, its only people who have been through it can really understand.

Sending you healing thoughts,

Silver 

Hi Jassoscared,

I feel for you having such a rough time with your treatment and are feeling so miserable, it's a bit of a paradox that you start breast cancer treatment feeling fine and everything they do to make you better makes you feel so bad, as hard as it may be sometimes just try to remember that so many people have been through the same and survived. I too have had chemo suggested, I see the Oncologist on Friday to discuss it, apparently I come out as 4.2% on NHS Predict, in they grey area as to whether benefit outweighs risk, so it will be a hard choice. Was you choice more clear cut or did the Ocologist guide you to getting chemo? I assume that you will be having to shield too because of Covid.

Best wishes

Morley

Morley

Hi Morley  it was just what my Oncologist said" and my son and daughter  that made up my mind,but more my Oncologist. He said " it would give me a better chance of it not returning  ,but also said its not guarantees that it wont", but it would be the best decision to go ahead considering the amount of cancers in my family, my mums sister had breast cancer,then bowel cancer  her other sister has bowel cancer, and another  sister womb cancer, 3 brothers had lung cancer and my dad had prostate cancer.My mum did have a skin cancer on her nose.  So thats what made me make up my mind as well. It was a tough decision, hence my poem on here what do i do,and i also wrote another poem on here when I first joined this chat forum.Hopefully you will make the right decision for you to.

Silverdays 

Hi ,Silverdays  thanks fir your lovely reply.yes it is tough and i am dreading nxt chemotherapy session this friday.  Its my mums 86th birthday on Sat  ,and i have not been able tonsee her for mths now. But now shielding doesn't seem to be a thing ive necer been told tonshield juxt keep a distance  nit go to pubs ( that dorsnt bother me one bit lol) restaurants or partys.  But im.hoping i will feel well enough to pop down with my son to see my mum on sat but as my 2nd chemotherapy is this friday we will have to see. I dont know if my body will wiyhstand 8 chemotherapy sessions, as got an infectiin with the firdt one ,but only time will tell. Hope you will continue to get well and Thsnkyou. 

Hi Jassoscared,

it definitely sounds like you have made the right decision for you, it might be a tough time just now

but it will be behind you before too long and you will have given yourself the best chance. I was interested to read you have not been asked to shield, that would have a big part in influencing my decision and the impact on mental health, family and finances. 
 

Your poems are very good, they really reflect the experience of all this and I hope writing them and posting them helps you as well as others. I think sometimes just knowing your feelings and thoughts are very normal during everything we are going through is very comforting, I'm very grateful to those who have talked about their feelings on here and to understand the emotional roller coaster I have been on is nothing out of the ordinary during this horrific experience. 
 

I hope you can see your Mum for her birthday.