Only partial response to chemo

After my horrible sessions of chemo, my scan revealed the chemo had put holes into my tumour but hadn't shrunk it enough to warrant a successful lumpectomy, I opted for single mastectomy with lymph nodes removal. After op I was told there were still active cancer cells in tumour. I was told by my surgeon that I will need more chemotherapy treatment as well as radiotherapy. I'm devastated. I'm currently receiving Herceptin injections every three weeks. I cannot face the awful chemo again. If it had little effect with first session I can't understand why another lot of awful sessions will be needed. Surely radiation will mop up any stray cancer cells. My oncologist is on holiday so no idea when I will be speaking to her about what surgeon told me. I feel so depressed, as I was assured that the neoadjuvant chemo was highly successful. I was not told it wasn't guaranteed. All through my awful chemo sessions I was given positive messages that it would be all worthwhile and would be killing the cancer. I was even given a clip inserted into tumour just incase it completely obliterated it, so they'd know where it originally was. I was left  with a 5cm tumour instead of a 6cm I've with a few holes in it. I really don't want to have more chemo. It has been 8 weeks since last session, and I've still not got my full sense of taste back, so food tastes bland. My hair has just started to grow back, and that had cheered me up. I was feeling so happy after my end of chemo sessions and people telling me the worst was over now it was finished. Even the mastectomy didn't bother me. I'm still in pain with lymph node removal but it's only been just under two weeks and seems to be getting a bit less painful each day. I can't stop crying when I think of going through chemo again. I've got a telephone appointment with a doctor regarding my radiotherapy treatment next Tuesday, so I'm hoping I'll be having that soon and not chemo. I just want them to be totally honest with me now, and not give me false hope, to then me feeling so disappointed, and disillusioned when it doesn't turn out like I've been told it would. I've got cancer trying to kill me, and I can't even hug my son and grandson because of this virus that could possibly kill me too. Sorry for the rant. I'm just feeling sorry for myself and a bit angry at the world right now. I'll feel better once I've had a good old cry. 

  • Hi [@Kajay8]‍ 

     I found your post after searching for 'partial response to chemo'. I am in a similar position to where you were over a year ago. Just finished gruelling chemotherapy and have been told it hasn't really shrunk the tumour or lymph nodes so after surgery and radiotherapy I'll likely be on kadcyla. Which is pretty devastating.

    I'm wondering how you are, several months on. Have you been on the kadcyla? Any tips from further down this horrible journey?

    I am sending love and good wishes 

    Jennet

  • Hi [@Jennet]‍ 

    I am just wondering how you are getting on with Kadcyla, I am due my 2nd cycle on Wednesday, I found my 1st one tough but unsure if it was SE of the Kadcyla or because I developed an infection in my surgery scar that made me feel so rough or maybe a combination of both

    take care

  • hi 

    sorry your going through this 

     

    im currently going on my 4th round chemo on 29th june im on neoadjuvant chemotherapy ,i have bc 2 tumors in my left breast not touching but very close measuring 10 cm , and its in my lymph nodes several and rest abnormal 

    sept i will be having single masectomy and all lymphnodes removed then radiotheraphy 

     

    saw my oncologist what next after surgery and radio , was told more chemo maybe my heart sank,but for me if that what is needed then so be it 

    before i started treatment i had to stop my warfarin which i take for life due to blood clotting condition i have to go onto daily blood thinning injections , and out of all this chemo , op etc 

    im more scared being on daily injections then anything else im going through 

     

    please call macmillion or nurses here , i have called few times and yes i cried but they listerned and explained things in way i understood 

     

    good luck x