Hi I am only 43 and I have a metastatic.breast cancer spread in to my lungs.The chemo which is weekly since August 2019 with breaks made my tumors in liver and kidney to dissapear and my lung nodules still keep shrinking.I was in a such pain in my lungs before chemo,I couldn't breath or walk.Now I have returned even to work.I am working Mondays and Wednesdays and Fridays I have chemo.If I dont have chemo I wouldnt even know I have cancer.And i dont have many side effects either.

But its up to you you need to speak to your doctor what are the positives and negatives of not having any treatment.I am not willing to "pack it" anytime soon yet.

Denise

Thanks Denise, im 60 but been told im fit and ive had no symptoms, no pain, yet told its terminal. x

I am sorry to hear of your diagnosis and my friend is in a similar position. She has advanced rectal cancer spread to vagina, inguinal node, liver and lungs. They too offered treatment to buy her time but said chemo would be ineffective. They offered palliative radiotherapy but the planning scan revealed her liver had deteriorated so she is now beginning a chemo trial. Like you I was thinking what's the point - i don't want her to spend what time she has left having treatment etc. She doesn't want to know in terms of time but I know she qualifies for PIP and I think that's life expectancy of 6 months or less but I may be wrong. HOWEVER some people with bleak prognosis DO stabilise. She wanted chemo because she thought if she didn't try she wouldn't know. To complicate matters she is a drug addict. She looks very unwell and has some pain but is surprisingly active so when she went back to discuss treatment I think they expected her to be in a worse state than she is and she was quite insistent on having treatment - i think it's very much patient led.

She's had her first chemo and is doing OK.  She's on painkillers etc but definitely still has quality of life.

All I can suggest is that you ask in terms of time and the pros and cons of the treatment on offer to help you make a decision x

Hi Jo.bs

               I discussed my situation with the specialists and basically without treatment i was told i may have 3 months. With the treatment they have offered they are hoping up to 12 months. My precious time with my family and especially my grand daughters won the day. I start my treatment on july 11th. I know my life will change but if my quality of life deteriorates too badly i have the option of stopping my yreatment. I still feel i have plenty of life to live but this condition has taken that away from me so i will make the most of what i have while i am capable. Thanks for your message xx

My friend knew her liver was involved about 6 weeks ago but she's waited to have so many tests as they thought it was cancer of unknown primary so from what you describe her prognosis without treatment may be similar. She is having weekly chemo for 3 weeks and then a week off for up to 6 months. I hope you get as much time as possible with your family x

Thank you Jo.bs, sounds like my treatment is basically the same, i have to go to hospital once every 3 weeks and then 2 weeks of tablets, i too get 1 week free of treatment then start again. Keep me informed of your friends progress and maybe we can compare our situation and issues etc. Whatsapp would have been better but at least this site notifies when a message is recieved. Take care xx

Hi Amadaman I am glad you give a try with a treatment you can stop it anytime.I am on weekly chemo since August 2019 and I cant tell you how many times i wanted to give up.I dont have side effects but because of the weekly travelling to hospitals.But everytime i have a scan thats every 3 months my spirits goes up when I hear some tumors dissapeared and other ones keep shriniking.Even the doctors cant tell you exactly how long you have with or without treament.

Look at me my first signs of lung issues started last year in January.In May 2019 i was told my Breast cacer spread to my liver,kidney and lungs.My onco told me to get my funeral ready for this year.And look is more than 1 year and I am still and healthy.

Anyway I hope the treatment work for you as well and take care.Keep hydrated and eat veg and fruits and exerxise if you can.

Denise

Thank you Denise, your post is positive to read by the likes of myself, it helps so much with the mindset when a patient is battling and hopefully having success in their battle. I hope you continue to keep it under control and wish you the very best xx