It's OK - No Surgery, No Chemo
Hi Community
I haven't found this topic yet, so here's a start (if it's too long, I apologise in advance):
I'm in Stg IV with the HER2 cancer growing from the right breast, and first discovered a grape-size lump in Aug 2018. I couldn't get a biopsy until June 2019 (SSA had cut SSI funds), directly before which my PCN said the cancer was already in my back. She offered options but I said, It's too late. She then, thankfully, agreed with my decision, I continued by explaining I was a Buddhist practitioner and at ease, and she wrote a prescription for pain pills.
Since then, I had been living with only a few opioid pills when necessary. The tumour broke through the skin during the 2020 Covid confinement. Afterwards, I progressed to just changing bandages and taking opioids when necessary.
I continued to live as normally as possible and without focusing on the cancer, without feeling burdened by 'misfortune', without fearing death, and I was told it's a miracle I'm still alive 3 years ago.
During this journey I discovered that American doctors are okay with the decision, while French doctors cannot tolerate the decision to not operate, even when the risk of spreading cancer faster would be the result. Different medical systems.
Then, I discovered another medical system. Needing more opioids, I finally met an incredibly gifted Oncologist in Asia that prescribed Tamoxifen, vitamins, nanocumin, and cordecypes (yarshar gumba). It worked like magic to reduce the tumor (upper/outside) until I made a bad mistake and reduced the dosage of Tamoxifen - I didn't like swollen ankles, hot flashes, fuzzy facial hair growth, and joint pains. The tumor aggressively moved directly into the upper/inside area and hasn't flattened out as it had previous to stopping the Tamoxifen, even despite my return to hormonal rx.
I started this topic in support of all rx decisions, including the decision to say, no. I offer this story with the intention of being helpful.
My life has been so full and beautiful since the dx. I live each day as fully as possible. While my mobility is slowly becoming more challenging, I continue to find that when I think positively and remember that I can do anything I really want to do, for example walking to the grocery store becomes much easier; Flying into another country becomes a fun adventure; Riding on the back of a motorcycle to the doctor's office becomes stupendously exhilarating.
So, don't worry. Try not to focus solely on the cancer. Our responses can change. And, try to remember: We were all born, we are all alive, and all of us will eventually die someday, somehow. It's all good.