Hi I am in a very similar position to you. I had one tumour removed and a few cells were found in one of my lymph nodes. I saw the registrar who presented the statistical models for outcome which suggested that a combination of chemo and endocrine treatment improved outcome by about 10%. I appear to be a borderline case. My instinct has been that if there was any element of doubt I would go for chemo to be sure and that was the decision I had come to at that point. I hen saw the consultant and felt less clear about things. I have accepted the oncotype test to be able to make an informed choice – I think.

However like you I still am uncertain what a low risk really means. What if something occurs in the future and I haven’t had all preventative treatment. This is the hardest decision of my life. I want someone to take charge and tell me what to do but they can’t. So far my husband has said he would have made all the same choices I have but does not know what he would do in my position.

This has been the hardest time emotionally (including first diagnosis). I have just over a week until I go back and it is hard to think of anything else.

I’m not much help to you but I share your dilemma. I am thinking of you.

Best wishes

Personally I don't see 'a hard decision' here at all!   If you are at risk why would you take a gamble with your life?  Chemotherapy is very manageable in this day and age so why would you spend the coming years worrying that every little twinge is a recurrence?  If it was your partner or child in your position, would you not want them to have everything available to ensure their future health?

 I am pretty sure, despite your doctor's words, he/she would advise their partners to have the chemotherapy or indeed have it themselves!  Take it from someone with stage four breast cancer - this is no fun whatsoever and there is no doubt at all in my mind about what you should do. In your doctor's words though - it's your decision.  I hope you think about your family too.

Just to satisfy my curiosity - please both tell me why you are so worried about chemotherapy and not radiotherapy, surgery or scans etc?  There are risks attached to all of these things - so why have you chosen just the chemotherapy to be in a quandary about?  

Max x

Hi,

I feel the same as Max, I thought of chemotherapy as my insurance policy.  I had stage 2 breast cancer, and although chemo is not nice, it was very doable.  I felt I would have everything to try and stop it coming back.  I did not want a small part of me thinking perhaps I should have had chemo.  Three years later I feel fortunate at being able to work again and carry on life as normal, knowing I did everything I can.

This is a difficult time for you, but hope this helps?

Take care xxx   Diane

That is pretty much the conclusion I have come to anyway. In contrast to many of you my situation seems to be borderline, but a risk is a risk no matter how small. If I had just seen the registrar that is the choice I would have made. I do think of my family, I wouldn’t be where I am without them. Without a scan my tumour would not have been detected as early – it was my first routine scan. Even so in my mind the decision is still huge.

Hi LouL .... How reassuring that a routine test picked up your disease and caught it before you had symptoms!  I am glad that you will consider chemo - it will ease your mind in the future.  The best way is to do all you can to reduce your risk of a recurrence, you cant do more than that, and it will leave you with no regrets.

I have been on weekly or 3weekly infusions for four years now and have had over 100 chemo's.  I wonder if you have thought about why you are so worried about this treatment as opposed to others? If there are any questions that I can help you with regarding side-effects, drugs, cannulas - anything at all, however silly it may seem - please feel free to ask so that I can help you with your worries.  Many people here have also been through chemo treatment and can help you.  If you need to ask something personal, you can use the private messaging facility here to contact one-to-one, or ask the nurses on the freephone number at the bottome of the page Mon-Fri during office hours.  They are great - so supportive and helpful.

Take good care and let us know how you are getting on when you get the chance.  x