Re: help, need opinion Janice

[Guest guest]

I watched my mother decline from congestive heart failure and

dementia, that started 20 years before she died. The last 5 were the

worst. A large mass was found in her breast shortly before she died.

Any way the point of all this is that I decided quality of life is

the most important thing. I have refused any type of adjuvant

therapy. My mother had lots of quantity, but very little quality,

especially the last 5 years. She was 88 when she died. Quality is

everything and I ain't go the time to wait for it, just my opinion. I

would not have been able to do all I have done in the last year if I

had done the adjuvant therapy.

Ruth

PS I have 2 first cousins who have died of cancer on my mother's side.

>

> Hi I am an five year survivor,

> I have a double mastectomy, the Tamoxifen and the trams flap, along

> with various other drugs

> At the beginning, the breast cancer started in the right breast.

> I had an lumpectomy, then was started on an five year therapy of

> Tamoxifen. We found, I was extremely allergic to the Tamoxifen, and

> was taken off after 6 months. One month later I found an lump on

> the left breast.

> That when the fun started, I made an horrible decision of having an

> double mastectomy, with reconstruction.

> I had an double mastectomy, and trams flap in Nov. 2002, with some

> nodes removal from the left arm.

> I developed an hernia after a few days, because of the empty space

> the trams flap left.

> All of my stitches burst, and I had to have extreme antibiotic

> therapy for the next few weeks.

> I then had the hernia repaired, and developed numerous sacs of

> fluid buildup because of empty spots inside my abdomen.

> My plastic surgeon had no sympathy and sent me off to physical

> therapy for deep massages to Aleve the pain.

> The scar tissues from the surgeries was like an bunch of grapes in

> my abdomen, and I learn to live with them.

> Well I returned to my oncologist and started an 6 month round of

> chemo therapy, afterward I was then started on many different

> maintenance drugs such as Ameridex, and Femara.

> I had such severe reaction from these drugs, that my life was

> totally unlivable.

> I persevered, and now it has been five years.

> A few week ago, I went to the hospital for a few days because of

> the side effects of the Femara,

> I had lost all strength in my arms, and was beginning to suffer from

> chest pain.

> I did not take the Femara for two weeks after being admitted to the

> hospital and felt so much better, I made an decision I am still not

> sure is right.

> I stop taking any maintenance drugs.

> I have had 2 family member die from cancer, since I was diagnosed.

> Neither one took the maintenance drugs

> I am very afraid, but the quality of life for me was totally

> unbearable

> I would love responses to this inquiry.

> Thank Jan

>