Long term benefits vs awful short term sacrifices
Hello all
Lumpectomy Oct 21, post op meeting with surgeon, she said"pathology looks good, got the tumor, nothing in the lymph nodes, treatment remains radiation
A week later, met with the MO who blindsided me with my high oncotype score(31), and recommended chemo.
The idea of going through LBC/risk of infection, hair loss, nausea, neuropathy, and later brain fog from chemo only to drop the chances from 31% to 15% is just not very reassuring!
Anyone want to share their decision making or what they did to convince themselves that the short term awfulness is outweighed by the long term peace of mind?
Comments
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Hello; I heard almost the same words from my Surgeon - “we got it early, lymph nodes are clear, etc.” My oncotype results were also very high. I gave myself a deadline (about 3 days) for the news to settle in and phone my Onc with a chemo go/no go decision. I remember thinking that even with no history of BC in my family, I was one of the eight women (or 13%) in the US diagnosed with BC. I was also one with single hormone receptor BC. Because of this, and most importantly because I wanted to see my grandchildren grow up and be remembered by them, I decided to do the 4 rounds of TC suggested by my Onc. For what it’s worth, when I was first told that chemo was recommended, my initial reaction was “No,” but in those 3 days I changed my mind. It’s a very personal decision, and you will make the right one for you.
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@yogagoat I’m sorry you’re here. Sarah is right that you will make the right decision for your situation.
I would add that not all drugs are as bad as your nightmares, but chemo is still no picnic. If you do end up choosing the “short term sacrifices” like I did, this forum is a lifeline to get you through to the “long term benefits”.1