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”.0 -
How old are you? I too have early bc no nodal involvement, ER+, PT+, HER2negative, invasive ductal in situ, 8mm on pathology, now am post lumpectomy Dec 4. I was right at diagnosis told no chemo as I am too old (82 this year) it would make me very sick and maybe even too ill I might lose my independence to live at home. My GP thought that was pretty funny as he laughed so loud. So now I am rushed to visit radiation and onco, oh, and surgeon got really good clear margins, no nodes as I said. Both Radio and Onco tried very hard to manipulate me into Tx but I have declined both, this has already been such a rush rush journey since diagnosis November 4, 2025, so many appointments people to see, I feel it is gone now. I am aware of local and distance recurrence risks, but at my age am not prepared to do anything more. I hope this helps you yogagoat. I am researching about Ivermectin and Fenbendazole and Mebendazole; there are many anecdotal reports of good results out there. I am in Canada and need to find out how to obtain these products.
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Hi @iseeee , welcome to the BCO Community, though we're sorry you have reason to be here.
Thank you for sharing your story. Having clear margins and no nodal involvement is very encouraging news, and it’s understandable to want some breathing room after such a fast and intense sequence of appointments and decisions.
Check out the following article; it might help:
And here is a podcast about Fenbendazole and Mebendazole, from our main site:
Wishing you peace of mind with your decision and continued good health. Please keep us posted on how you’re doing.
The Mods
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The link to "What my patients are asking" is most interesting. I note that it is 6 years old now, so the reservations expressed here may have changed somewhat by now. Just my 2 cents. There are many more anecdotal success stories out there now, which could eventually add up to a good study (since no pre-clinical trials seem available or possible) when matched with controls who did not use fenbendazole.
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