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Chemo - bad or good - longterm survivors please help
by Libra1014 on 11/23/2007 at 6:14 amin category SurvivorsI need to hear from anyone who is done with treatment - chemo OR radiation - and is "on the other side" by at least a few years. If you did chemo, are you happy you did so? Do you have your quality of life back? How about those that decided NOT to have chemo and just go for radiation? Are you happy with that decision? I do not want to go through chemo just so I can live the rest of my days "alive" but be frail, weak and regretting the decision. I have had my first treatment (TC cocktail with Neulasta shot) and am wondering if I made the right choice. My OncoType DX test was 24, and my risk of recurrance goes from 15% to 10% with chemo. Is that 5% worth going through this if I may end up with residual effects from chemo that make me unable to participate in life the way I did before? I was very close to a woman who hated that she went through chemo as she ended up frail, thin, weak and unhappy. She lived 15 more years, sure, but she could not work, needed help getting off the couch some days, never drove or worked again. Am I just making money for my doctors and drug manufacturers? Technology has improved, but I need to hear from someone who has faced the chemo decision and let me know how you are doing years alter - pro or con. Thank you so much for your input. I am really needing answers before I continue treatment. My onc team just says "you have to do this, it's an insurance policy" I need to hear from SURVIVORS not doctors.
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Want to leave a comment? Login or Register now!I decided to go for the chemo and finished in January (Taxotere & Cytoxan). Lost my hair, had bone pain, became weak but gained more than 20 pounds which I still cannot shake. Then did 6 weeks of daily radiation and began Tamoxifen. Now have extreme fatigue, hot flashes, peripheral neuropathy, night sweats, joint pain, skin rash and am generally cranky and uninterested in much of anything. My onc. team is sending me to a wellness therapist, thinking I may have depression and/or post traumatic stress disorder in addition to the expected physical effects of the treatments I received. I don't even want my picture taken looking "like this" but am thankful to be alive.
Many thanks for your replies, my sisters. Please - Survivors - continue to comment. I am not the only one who benefits from your advice & encouragement. Thank you. Love and support to all.Thank you to all... I decided to go for the chemo and finished in January (Taxotere & Cytoxan). Lost my hair, had bone pain, became weak but gained more than 20 pounds which I still cannot shake. Then did 6 weeks of daily radiation and began Tamoxifen. Now have extreme fatigue, hot flashes, peripheral neuropathy, night sweats, joint pain, skin rash and am generally cranky and uninterested in much of anything. My onc. team is sending me to a wellness therapist, thinking I may have depression and/or post traumatic stress disorder in addition to the expected physical effects of the treatments I received. I don't even want my picture taken looking "like this" but am thankful to be alive. Many thanks for your replies, my sisters. Please - Survivors - continue to comment. I am not the only one who benefits from your advice & encouragement. Thank you. Love and support to all.
I thought you may like to hear a positive story...
I was diagnosed b/c 2002 and had 6mths of chemo and 6wks of daily radiation.
I was one of the lucky ones with the chemo, the anti nausea drugs they gave me worked a treat, i just felt like i had the flu for a week then got better for a week and back to the 3rd week in again for chemo, i must admit i was rather drained by the end of my chemo. Also i did all my chemo upfront instead of opting for half now then radio then some more chemo, not sure if that helped my situation.
In July 2007 I celebrated my 5yr milestone cancer free.
It is a personal choice but depending on how aggressive your cancer is also. My cancer was stage 111 and 9 of my lymph nodes were involved so not the best outcome.
I am not the same person i was before being diagnosed mentally and physically, i dont think anyone ever is the same after being diagnosed.
Some more positives... I met my husband during my chemo treatment great when i had no hair, but we instantly clicked and are best mates, been together 5yrs married for 2yrs. I recently gave birth to baby girl who is now 8mths old, so for me it was the best decision i made.
All the best in deciding, hope i made you smile at least!
Cheers Kim Hi Libra1014, I thought you may like to hear a positive story... I was diagnosed b/c 2002 and had 6mths of chemo and 6wks of daily radiation. I was one of the lucky ones with the chemo, the anti nausea drugs they gave me worked a treat, i just felt like i had the flu for a week then got better for a week and back to the 3rd week in again for chemo, i must admit i was rather drained by the end of my chemo. Also i did all my chemo upfront instead of opting for half now then radio then some more chemo, not sure if that helped my situation. In July 2007 I celebrated my 5yr milestone cancer free. It is a personal choice but depending on how aggressive your cancer is also. My cancer was stage 111 and 9 of my lymph nodes were involved so not the best outcome. I am not the same person i was before being diagnosed mentally and physically, i dont think anyone ever is the same after being diagnosed. Some more positives... I met my husband during my chemo treatment great when i had no hair, but we instantly clicked and are best mates, been together 5yrs married for 2yrs. I recently gave birth to baby girl who is now 8mths old, so for me it was the best decision i made. All the best in deciding, hope i made you smile at least! Cheers Kim
P.S. check out www.dailyom.com for some very good day to day inspirational articles and check out my Survivor Breast Cancer merchandise on my online Zazzle shop: www.zazzle.com/marquitalenear*
- MarQuita
www.zazzle.com/marquitalenear*
I'm new to this online community. I do not have breast cancer by the grace of the almighty, but I do wish to read other people's stories and to give my support to everyone. May God bless you all and your families. You Will Survive! Please be positive... you must speak it and believe! : ) P.S. check out www.dailyom.com for some very good day to day inspirational articles and check out my Survivor Breast Cancer merchandise on my online Zazzle shop: www.zazzle.com/marquitalenear* - MarQuita www.zazzle.com/marquitalenear*
i had BC 15 years ago,
I had the works cytoxin 5FU(???!!!?!?!) and adrielmyacin
my friend who did not have Chemo had a recurrence had to go through very dibilitating chemo and then tried stem cell but she did not make it.
I did very well on chemo i gained weight which is not the best thing but i was only tired i never got sick or threw up, i lost my hair but it grew back curly and salt and pepper color.
5% is not much but if it can make the difference in years then maybe you should think about it Good luck hi i had BC 15 years ago, I had the works cytoxin 5FU(???!!!?!?!) and adrielmyacin my friend who did not have Chemo had a recurrence had to go through very dibilitating chemo and then tried stem cell but she did not make it. I did very well on chemo i gained weight which is not the best thing but i was only tired i never got sick or threw up, i lost my hair but it grew back curly and salt and pepper color. 5% is not much but if it can make the difference in years then maybe you should think about it Good luck
Technology has come a long way even since I had it 3 yrs ago. I was not sick, I had great drugs to prevent this. Only you can decide what is right for you!
Well, that is my input. Best wishes on the treatments, May you come out on top like me!
CindieI had 8 chemo treatments and 6 weeks of radiation. I would do it again if I had to( praying that I don't) sure, it was tough BUT I AM TOUGHER THAN CANCER! I had set backs throughout the treatments , came out on top and living well, enjoying life MORE now than before cancer. I was positive, watched comedy to laugh alot and gave hugs. I even got my onco dr started giving hugs not only to me but his other patients. Alot has to do with your attitude, if you're dumpy you'll feel yucky. Technology has come a long way even since I had it 3 yrs ago. I was not sick, I had great drugs to prevent this. Only you can decide what is right for you! Well, that is my input. Best wishes on the treatments, May you come out on top like me! Cindie