FEC - concerned

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Hello

Well after my first visit to my oncologist who was fantastic( Royal Shrewsbury ) i have to start chemo. This was my choice and it was a really hard decision to make ( 10mm, grade 2, no lymph nodes involved, clear margins, er+. Her- ). Initially radiotherapy only was recommended and hormone therapy but i was really concerned about the posssibility of just one cell that may have escaped somewhere so after alot of talking with the oncologist and my BCN i have decided to go with the chemo which will be FEC x 6 possibly starting end of next week. I just hope i have made the right decision but i was really concerned after reading some of the literature about the side effects of FEC that one of the rare ones is the possibility of developing a new(not breast cancer ) cancer in the body later on in life - not heard of that before.

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Hi beardie

If you would like to have a chat about your chemo then please do phone the helpline here they’ll be only too happy to talk to you about it. Calls are free, lines open Mon-Fri 9-5 and Sat 9-2

Take care,
Jo, Facilitator

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I’m sure RARE is the key word. Does the literature say how rare? Is it less or more likely than having a recurrence of your cancer without FEC? I’m assuming the onc showed you what statistical difference FEC would make, so you can compare the statistics. Then you have to make the decision. FEC is not the most severe form of chemotherapy, but it is not fun either.

Cheryl

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Hi Beardie!
I was given the choice of either staying on Tamoxifen for 5 years or having chemo as I only had one node involved.
I chose to have the chemo because like you I was concerned about the cancer escaping and taking up residence somewhere else.
I had my last of 6 FECc nearly two weeks ago and whilst it was no picnic I don’t regret my decision at all.
If it does come back at least I’ll know that I threw everything at it.
Wendy.

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Thanks Wendy - same reasons i chose it really - glad to hear it was doable xx

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Others have done the same as you and chosen to have chemo because of the improvement of their odds.

I’ve done the first and despite being very sick initially (anti-sickness meds didn’t work for me and I ended up on a drip to rehydrate me, as well as IV anti-sickness meds) but after that bit was sorted, the other SEs have been bearable. Early days, but I’m being positive about it.

Good luck.

CM
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