Guest guest Posted January 18, 2006 Report Share Posted January 18, 2006 I chose to have chemo- if my cancer came back I wanted to know that I had done EVERYTHING in my power from the start to knock this out and never look back- the 13% increase is small- but look at the %20 you had to have your tumor be cancerous in the first place.. even if it is at 1% it means nothing if you are the 1 in 100 that gets the bad draw- Andree www.essentialsoapsinc.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 18, 2006 Report Share Posted January 18, 2006 I chose to have chemo- if my cancer came back I wanted to know that I had done EVERYTHING in my power from the start to knock this out and never look back- the 13% increase is small- but look at the %20 you had to have your tumor be cancerous in the first place.. even if it is at 1% it means nothing if you are the 1 in 100 that gets the bad draw- Andree www.essentialsoapsinc.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 18, 2006 Report Share Posted January 18, 2006 I chose to have chemo- if my cancer came back I wanted to know that I had done EVERYTHING in my power from the start to knock this out and never look back- the 13% increase is small- but look at the %20 you had to have your tumor be cancerous in the first place.. even if it is at 1% it means nothing if you are the 1 in 100 that gets the bad draw- Andree www.essentialsoapsinc.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 18, 2006 Report Share Posted January 18, 2006 Janet, Only you can make the decision. If it were me I would opt for the chemo. I will keep you in my prayers. Hugs nne Breast Cancer Patients Soul Mates for Lifehttp://www.geocities.com/chucky5741/breastcancerpatients.html Check out my breast cancer ornaments at:http://www.geocities.com/chucky5741/bcornament.htmlalso check out my other ornaments and lots of nice gifts at:http://www.cancerclub.com Decision Time I need some input tonight. I saw my breast cancer dr this morning early. He explained to me a lot better about the risk of cancer returning....with surgery and radiation.....and then with and without Chemo. I am supposed to start chemo on Friday morning. However, I am being plagued with Shingles which has shown up again (I had it for three months about 18 months ago). So my two cancer doctors agreed that I should take acyclovir which is an anti virus tablet before the chemo starts. I have started it. The decision is about chemo or not to have chemo......,. BC doctor told me about the actual risk with and without chemo. With surgery and radiation my percentage of cure is 75% But if I add chemo to that percentage it only goes up by 12.5% making it a total of 88%. But there is always a 12.5% chance I could get cancer back. Without chemo...75% With chemo 88% Has anyone else had to make this difficult choice. I am taking a day to decide so I can sleep on it. My children seem to be o.k. whatever I decide. BC dr. said he was not disagreeing with the oncologist. And not recommending anything..... but he thought I should have a little more information. I would rather have the radiation now and then chemo, if needed. But so far that choice has not been given to me. I appreciate your help. Janet dcis Stage I p.s. No cancer cells found in my sentinel lymph gland or in the surrounding blood cells. Biopsy of my left breast in Dec. turned out normal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 18, 2006 Report Share Posted January 18, 2006 Janet, Only you can make the decision. If it were me I would opt for the chemo. I will keep you in my prayers. Hugs nne Breast Cancer Patients Soul Mates for Lifehttp://www.geocities.com/chucky5741/breastcancerpatients.html Check out my breast cancer ornaments at:http://www.geocities.com/chucky5741/bcornament.htmlalso check out my other ornaments and lots of nice gifts at:http://www.cancerclub.com Decision Time I need some input tonight. I saw my breast cancer dr this morning early. He explained to me a lot better about the risk of cancer returning....with surgery and radiation.....and then with and without Chemo. I am supposed to start chemo on Friday morning. However, I am being plagued with Shingles which has shown up again (I had it for three months about 18 months ago). So my two cancer doctors agreed that I should take acyclovir which is an anti virus tablet before the chemo starts. I have started it. The decision is about chemo or not to have chemo......,. BC doctor told me about the actual risk with and without chemo. With surgery and radiation my percentage of cure is 75% But if I add chemo to that percentage it only goes up by 12.5% making it a total of 88%. But there is always a 12.5% chance I could get cancer back. Without chemo...75% With chemo 88% Has anyone else had to make this difficult choice. I am taking a day to decide so I can sleep on it. My children seem to be o.k. whatever I decide. BC dr. said he was not disagreeing with the oncologist. And not recommending anything..... but he thought I should have a little more information. I would rather have the radiation now and then chemo, if needed. But so far that choice has not been given to me. I appreciate your help. Janet dcis Stage I p.s. No cancer cells found in my sentinel lymph gland or in the surrounding blood cells. Biopsy of my left breast in Dec. turned out normal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 18, 2006 Report Share Posted January 18, 2006 Janet, Only you can make the decision. If it were me I would opt for the chemo. I will keep you in my prayers. Hugs nne Breast Cancer Patients Soul Mates for Lifehttp://www.geocities.com/chucky5741/breastcancerpatients.html Check out my breast cancer ornaments at:http://www.geocities.com/chucky5741/bcornament.htmlalso check out my other ornaments and lots of nice gifts at:http://www.cancerclub.com Decision Time I need some input tonight. I saw my breast cancer dr this morning early. He explained to me a lot better about the risk of cancer returning....with surgery and radiation.....and then with and without Chemo. I am supposed to start chemo on Friday morning. However, I am being plagued with Shingles which has shown up again (I had it for three months about 18 months ago). So my two cancer doctors agreed that I should take acyclovir which is an anti virus tablet before the chemo starts. I have started it. The decision is about chemo or not to have chemo......,. BC doctor told me about the actual risk with and without chemo. With surgery and radiation my percentage of cure is 75% But if I add chemo to that percentage it only goes up by 12.5% making it a total of 88%. But there is always a 12.5% chance I could get cancer back. Without chemo...75% With chemo 88% Has anyone else had to make this difficult choice. I am taking a day to decide so I can sleep on it. My children seem to be o.k. whatever I decide. BC dr. said he was not disagreeing with the oncologist. And not recommending anything..... but he thought I should have a little more information. I would rather have the radiation now and then chemo, if needed. But so far that choice has not been given to me. I appreciate your help. Janet dcis Stage I p.s. No cancer cells found in my sentinel lymph gland or in the surrounding blood cells. Biopsy of my left breast in Dec. turned out normal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 18, 2006 Report Share Posted January 18, 2006 Hi Janet, Not to confuse things, but I'm surprised that with your DCIS diagnosis you were given such low percentages for cure and chemo was even recommended. Are you sure you don't also have IDC? At the breastcancer.org website it states that DCIS is considered Stage 0 and chemo is not needed. http://www.breastcancer.org/dcis_ductal_carcinoma_in_situ.html I have IDC Stage 1, and even with my aggressive tumor characteristics, I was given 82% chance of no recurrence without chemo. With chemo my chance of no recurrence went up to 90%, so I went for it. - Janet Andersen wrote on 1/18/2006, 8:06 PM: I need some input tonight. I saw my breast cancer dr this morning early. He explained to me a lot better about the risk of cancer returning....with surgery and radiation.....and then with and without Chemo. I am supposed to start chemo on Friday morning. However, I am being plagued with Shingles which has shown up again (I had it for three months about 18 months ago). So my two cancer doctors agreed that I should take acyclovir which is an anti virus tablet before the chemo starts. I have started it. The decision is about chemo or not to have chemo......,. BC doctor told me about the actual risk with and without chemo. With surgery and radiation my percentage of cure is 75% But if I add chemo to that percentage it only goes up by 12.5% making it a total of 88%. But there is always a 12.5% chance I could get cancer back. Without chemo...75% With chemo 88% Has anyone else had to make this difficult choice. I am taking a day to decide so I can sleep on it. My children seem to be o.k. whatever I decide. BC dr. said he was not disagreeing with the oncologist. And not recommending anything..... but he thought I should have a little more information. I would rather have the radiation now and then chemo, if needed. But so far that choice has not been given to me. I appreciate your help. Janet dcis Stage I p.s. No cancer cells found in my sentinel lymph gland or in the surrounding blood cells. Biopsy of my left breast in Dec. turned out normal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 18, 2006 Report Share Posted January 18, 2006 Hi Janet, Not to confuse things, but I'm surprised that with your DCIS diagnosis you were given such low percentages for cure and chemo was even recommended. Are you sure you don't also have IDC? At the breastcancer.org website it states that DCIS is considered Stage 0 and chemo is not needed. http://www.breastcancer.org/dcis_ductal_carcinoma_in_situ.html I have IDC Stage 1, and even with my aggressive tumor characteristics, I was given 82% chance of no recurrence without chemo. With chemo my chance of no recurrence went up to 90%, so I went for it. - Janet Andersen wrote on 1/18/2006, 8:06 PM: I need some input tonight. I saw my breast cancer dr this morning early. He explained to me a lot better about the risk of cancer returning....with surgery and radiation.....and then with and without Chemo. I am supposed to start chemo on Friday morning. However, I am being plagued with Shingles which has shown up again (I had it for three months about 18 months ago). So my two cancer doctors agreed that I should take acyclovir which is an anti virus tablet before the chemo starts. I have started it. The decision is about chemo or not to have chemo......,. BC doctor told me about the actual risk with and without chemo. With surgery and radiation my percentage of cure is 75% But if I add chemo to that percentage it only goes up by 12.5% making it a total of 88%. But there is always a 12.5% chance I could get cancer back. Without chemo...75% With chemo 88% Has anyone else had to make this difficult choice. I am taking a day to decide so I can sleep on it. My children seem to be o.k. whatever I decide. BC dr. said he was not disagreeing with the oncologist. And not recommending anything..... but he thought I should have a little more information. I would rather have the radiation now and then chemo, if needed. But so far that choice has not been given to me. I appreciate your help. Janet dcis Stage I p.s. No cancer cells found in my sentinel lymph gland or in the surrounding blood cells. Biopsy of my left breast in Dec. turned out normal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 18, 2006 Report Share Posted January 18, 2006 Hi Janet, Not to confuse things, but I'm surprised that with your DCIS diagnosis you were given such low percentages for cure and chemo was even recommended. Are you sure you don't also have IDC? At the breastcancer.org website it states that DCIS is considered Stage 0 and chemo is not needed. http://www.breastcancer.org/dcis_ductal_carcinoma_in_situ.html I have IDC Stage 1, and even with my aggressive tumor characteristics, I was given 82% chance of no recurrence without chemo. With chemo my chance of no recurrence went up to 90%, so I went for it. - Janet Andersen wrote on 1/18/2006, 8:06 PM: I need some input tonight. I saw my breast cancer dr this morning early. He explained to me a lot better about the risk of cancer returning....with surgery and radiation.....and then with and without Chemo. I am supposed to start chemo on Friday morning. However, I am being plagued with Shingles which has shown up again (I had it for three months about 18 months ago). So my two cancer doctors agreed that I should take acyclovir which is an anti virus tablet before the chemo starts. I have started it. The decision is about chemo or not to have chemo......,. BC doctor told me about the actual risk with and without chemo. With surgery and radiation my percentage of cure is 75% But if I add chemo to that percentage it only goes up by 12.5% making it a total of 88%. But there is always a 12.5% chance I could get cancer back. Without chemo...75% With chemo 88% Has anyone else had to make this difficult choice. I am taking a day to decide so I can sleep on it. My children seem to be o.k. whatever I decide. BC dr. said he was not disagreeing with the oncologist. And not recommending anything..... but he thought I should have a little more information. I would rather have the radiation now and then chemo, if needed. But so far that choice has not been given to me. I appreciate your help. Janet dcis Stage I p.s. No cancer cells found in my sentinel lymph gland or in the surrounding blood cells. Biopsy of my left breast in Dec. turned out normal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 18, 2006 Report Share Posted January 18, 2006 Thanks . I am fairly sure I don't have IDC because it was not in the surrounding breast tissue or even in the blood cells around the site. And they are saying that invasive breast cancer spreads to the surrounding areas. However, I still don't know enough about the biopsy report and the type of cancer I had. It might not be DCIS but it certainly sounds like it after reading that page. The two things that might suggest chemo is that I had two small tumors that were cancerous...and that the type of cancer I have is aggressive. Now I was going to ask my breast cancer dr about what is the name of it.......and forgot. I am still considering no chemo, however I also might just postpone it till I know more. Thanks a lot for your help. Janet Dcis Stage I Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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