Hi, this is my first post on the forum although I have been in touch with some of the fabulous ladies from ‘Someone like me’.
In lots of ways I am very lucky in that my breast cancer was small and detected very early. As I had two areas to remove and was unable to have radiotherapy (I have had it previously many years ago) I had to have a mastectomy. The results confirmed stage 1, small cancer, oestrogen +, however I am HER2 positive .
I was referred from the breast clinic to the oncologist. When I met him last week he explained that it is borderline if I would benefit from chemo and he wouldn’t recommend it but it was my decision. My chances of the cancer returning are thankfully small and chemo would reduce the risk a little bit further but there are obviously risks with chemo (especially as I’ve had it before).
My dilemma?…….I think I need to follow the advice of the oncologist (no chemo) but I’m not sure how I accept my decision and not live with a constant ‘what if’. It would have been much easier if the oncologist had made the decision for me!
Hi @wu21 I’m sorry that you haven’t received any replies yet. This may be because you have posted in DCIS/LCIS subcategory and no-one who has just a DCIS or LCIS will have any experience of chemotherapy because their lumps have not become invasive.
As you are HER2+ I have linked a thread which is for HER2+ women to ask questions and discuss things. You might want to copy your post on to that and I’m sure you’ll get some responses from women who have been where you are now. Just click on the pink heading and it will take you there. Then just press reply to the first post and off you go.
Welcome to the forum, we are all here for you, some will have more advice than others as we have some lovely people on this forum all very kind and caring.
What a decision for you to make, maybe a second opinion would help you, it sounds like you have with a good team looking after you.
I so sorry I can’t help you, but hopefully someone will post a more positive reply.
I’m thinking of you, wishing you lots of luck with this difficult journey.
You mentioned being HER2+. Does this mean you will be having Herceptin injections? I understood that these were always given with some chemotherapy. At least that’s what I was told when I had it as part of my treatment.
I had four sessions of Abraxane alongside my first four Herceptin doses. It was totally manageable for me. I was a little more tired than usual, but learnt to manage my behaviour/expectations.
My understanding is that herceptin reduces risk of recurrence by quite a bit, I’m having phesgo jabs now on their own after chemo for 8 months or so. So if it were me I would be checking whether I’d be getting that if the chemo were not to go ahead.
It must be really hard to have to make a decision like this! I’m quite thankful I was never given any choices!
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