Re: Decisions, Decisions - ahhh!

[Guest guest]

Hi Sharon--

My stats were exactly like yours. I opted to treat it agressively.

I had mast, then a phrophy mast, 4 rounds of A/C, and I'll start

Tamoxifen shortly. I must add that when I went to the oncologist, I

told her, " I don't want chemo, don't want to take Tamoxifen, and I

don't want cancer again. "

In the end, I wanted to do everything within my power, lifestyle

changes included, so that if there is a recurrence, I can feel that

I did everything that I should have. As far as the chemo, I went

through it without a hitch. I had the " condensed " treatment: every

other week instead of every third week. That meant that I had my

4th treatment on week 7. I started on 6/8 and was finished on 7/20

of this year. I had my treatments on Thursday. I took off from

work on Thursday and Friday and was back to work on Monday morning.

My oldest daughter played traveling fast-pitch softball this summer

and I traveled with her all summer long. Biggest issue was that it

was awfully hot. I was never nauseated and really not very tired.

I did prepare for it by significantly increasing my exercise to get

physically fit between my first surgery and chemo.

Everyone has to do what they feel is best for them. You'll make the

decision that is right for you.

in MS

> >

> > Hi All!

> >

> > Well, met with the Onc on Thursday - he has left it up to me and

> my

> > husband if I want to do 4 rounds of A/C before my radiation.

After

> > many hours of research (not just U.S. based figures, but Canada

> and

> > the UK as well) we have decided that quality of life outweighs

the

> 1-

> > 2 percentage points that the doctor (and the research) has shown

> to

> > be the difference between rad/tamoxofin and chemo/rad/tamoxofin.

I

> > have grade 1, negative nodes, clear margins, Her2 -, ER/PR high

> > positive (97%). We feel that those 1-2 extra percentage points

can

> be

> > made up by a more healthy diet and exercise program (which was

not

> > part of my pre-cancer life) without the severe short and long

term

> > effects of the chemo. I know this is rolling the dice - but

> honestly

> > so is chemo right now for someone in my position. I could go

> through

> > it all just to end up right back where I am now a year or two

> longer

> > down the road than if i did not do chemo. Any thoughts anyone?

All

> > your feedback is appreciated and if anyone else has made this

> > decision, I would love to hear from you!

> >

> > Lots of Love and Hugs

> > Sharon in Vegas

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Sharon--

My stats were exactly like yours. I opted to treat it agressively.

I had mast, then a phrophy mast, 4 rounds of A/C, and I'll start

Tamoxifen shortly. I must add that when I went to the oncologist, I

told her, " I don't want chemo, don't want to take Tamoxifen, and I

don't want cancer again. "

In the end, I wanted to do everything within my power, lifestyle

changes included, so that if there is a recurrence, I can feel that

I did everything that I should have. As far as the chemo, I went

through it without a hitch. I had the " condensed " treatment: every

other week instead of every third week. That meant that I had my

4th treatment on week 7. I started on 6/8 and was finished on 7/20

of this year. I had my treatments on Thursday. I took off from

work on Thursday and Friday and was back to work on Monday morning.

My oldest daughter played traveling fast-pitch softball this summer

and I traveled with her all summer long. Biggest issue was that it

was awfully hot. I was never nauseated and really not very tired.

I did prepare for it by significantly increasing my exercise to get

physically fit between my first surgery and chemo.

Everyone has to do what they feel is best for them. You'll make the

decision that is right for you.

in MS

> >

> > Hi All!

> >

> > Well, met with the Onc on Thursday - he has left it up to me and

> my

> > husband if I want to do 4 rounds of A/C before my radiation.

After

> > many hours of research (not just U.S. based figures, but Canada

> and

> > the UK as well) we have decided that quality of life outweighs

the

> 1-

> > 2 percentage points that the doctor (and the research) has shown

> to

> > be the difference between rad/tamoxofin and chemo/rad/tamoxofin.

I

> > have grade 1, negative nodes, clear margins, Her2 -, ER/PR high

> > positive (97%). We feel that those 1-2 extra percentage points

can

> be

> > made up by a more healthy diet and exercise program (which was

not

> > part of my pre-cancer life) without the severe short and long

term

> > effects of the chemo. I know this is rolling the dice - but

> honestly

> > so is chemo right now for someone in my position. I could go

> through

> > it all just to end up right back where I am now a year or two

> longer

> > down the road than if i did not do chemo. Any thoughts anyone?

All

> > your feedback is appreciated and if anyone else has made this

> > decision, I would love to hear from you!

> >

> > Lots of Love and Hugs

> > Sharon in Vegas

> >

>

[Guest guest]

I made the same decision with a stage 2 cancer regarding chemo. The 1

to 2% did not seem worth what I would be giving up in quality of life.

Like you< I am going the healthier eating route, even more so than

before. It is all organic for me, from now on.

Ruth

PS Did you have a lumpectomy? I didn't have to think about radiation

as I had no choice other than a mastectomy.

> > Hi All!

> >

> > Well, met with the Onc on Thursday - he has left it up to me and

> my

> > husband if I want to do 4 rounds of A/C before my radiation. After

> > many hours of research (not just U.S. based figures, but Canada

> and

> > the UK as well) we have decided that quality of life outweighs the

> 1-

> > 2 percentage points that the doctor (and the research) has shown

> to

> > be the difference between rad/tamoxofin and chemo/rad/tamoxofin. I

> > have grade 1, negative nodes, clear margins, Her2 -, ER/PR high

> > positive (97%). We feel that those 1-2 extra percentage points can

> be

> > made up by a more healthy diet and exercise program (which was not

> > part of my pre-cancer life) without the severe short and long term

> > effects of the chemo. I know this is rolling the dice - but

> honestly

> > so is chemo right now for someone in my position. I could go

> through

> > it all just to end up right back where I am now a year or two

> longer

> > down the road than if i did not do chemo. Any thoughts anyone? All

> > your feedback is appreciated and if anyone else has made this

> > decision, I would love to hear from you!

> >

> > Lots of Love and Hugs

> > Sharon in Vegas

> >

>