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Her2 Positive - Herceptin Without Chemo?

Dogwalker1
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My first post and I would like to say how sorry I am that we all find ourselves here. 
 

In early December a 12mm lump was found on a routine mammogram and 9 days later removed (how wonderful is our NHS). At mammogram I had lump and lymph gland biopys with the breast cancer confirmed and the gland clear. After surgery the margins were clear and 2 clear lymph glands were removed. 
 

At my follow up apt on Friday I was told the lump was Her2 positive and that I could have chemotherapy which would from the NHS Predict tool give a 4% 10 year survival rate increase. 
 

I have family history of cancer and had a very difficult childhood with constant family illness and time spent in hospitals with them. As a child I had a breakdown as a result and some completely self confidence crushing counselling, one of the worst experiences of my life. As a result I have an overwhelming terror - not too strong a word - of cancer and hospitals. My follow up apt on Friday was the first I've had in oncology and it took all of my strength not to run away. 

I'm now in the tortuous position of having to choose treatment (chemo, a week of radiotherapy and tablets for 5-10 years for a 4% potential benefit) or a week of radiotherapy ans tablets for, potentially, 4% less. 
 

Throughout this diagnosis and treatment no one except a small group of very close friends know and it is of vital importance for my mental health that no one learns that I have this, for my own perception of myself. I have a full time job, run a business after that paid employment and my soul mate husband has leukaemia (call so on watch and wait) and my mother has Alzheimer's and I'm caring for her as I am an only child (aged 52). 
 

Does anyone who has been through this have any advice about what I should do about treatment or how I can cope mentally with this? I'm only just holding myself together and think I would have a breakdown if I had chemo both because of losing my hair and having to have frequent hospital visits, but choosing not to and turning down that 4% is causing me huge unexpected stress too.

 

 Is it possible to have Herceptin without chemo (thereby missing the hair loss and anyone finding out about my illness? 
 

Thank you so much. 

  • Offline

    Hiya. My wife has went through cancer treatment for the last year and a bit for HER2+ BC.

    She had no choice but to have chemo due to the aggressiveness and the fact it was in 2 lymph nodes. So that choice was taken out of her hands so to speak.

    However, the follow-on treatments like the bone infusions and tamoxifen were kinda optional, and only offered minimal benefits. We as a couple discussed the ins and outs, but we, or more to the point, I, came to the conclusion it was a choice she had to make. If that 5% or so survival add on was worth it to her personally. I wasn't the person that was going to have to live with the side effects, or down sides. Had we been talking about 30%+, it would have been a no-brainer in my book, but when you're talking fine margins, I think it has to be a personal choice once you have all the facts at hand.

    You are the person that's gonna be sat there having to go through chemo, not me or the next person, nor will we be the people sat there being consumed by the "what ifs" should the cancer return. You will be the person sat there having to live with your choices, good or bad.

    The question you need to be asking yourself, is 4% worth the trade off either way? I know what I'd be opting for, but won't tell you because that is because it would be my choice and don't want to influence you either way.

    There is no right or wrong answer when it comes to smaller percentages, only what is right for you. I've seen how difficult those choices can be first hand, so I fully understand your dilemma.

  • Offline in reply to ProfBaw

    Thank you for taking the time to reply. It's not an easy choice and clearer if there was a larger likely percentage benefit. Going round in circles but think I am unlikely to have it. 
     

    Very best wishes for your wife's good health. 

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