Hello! Asking for a little help . I am 84very scared of chemo & have HEr2+ positive had lumpectomy & 2nd op for margins now clear also lymph nodes removed . . I am on Anastrozole Phesgo, & due for radiography soon . I have refused Chemo as I feel quality of life is so important at my age .i was very fit before this still playing golf., please has anyone else refused chemo and still having a life at my age after refusing chemo . I am so scared . Help please .
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I am sorry that you find yourself here. I can understand how worried you must be about possibly refusing the chemotherapy. Have you discussed this in detail with your treatment team? They should help you think about the pros and cons and give you the percentage benefits of various treatment options.
You could also contact the “Someone Like Me” option on here. You can be put in touch with someone who has gone through a similar situation and chat through your thoughts and feelings. It helped me when I was considering whether to carry on with some long term extra treatment.
Chemotherapy isn’t always the dramatic scenes as shown on TV. The people I spoke to in the chemotherapy suite who were HER+ were, in general, finding treatment manageable.
My oncologist explained to me that after surgery I no longer had cancer and the Herceptin treatment was to mop up any potentially remaining cancer cells. I found chemotherapy and the Herceptin injections were ok. I managed to work throughout and also kept up my weekend sporting activities. In all honesty I was more affected by the radiotherapy sessions.
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Thank you for your responce. I did discuss it one oncologist said chemo as I was so fit the other one said I was fit but body still older &advised Phesgo only &Anastrozole for quality of life ! What a turmoil to be in .
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Dear @bassiduck,
I am sorry to hear about your treatment dilemma and the difficulty of making a decision in the face of conflicting advice.
I am replying as someone who refused Paclitaxol chemo after completing 4 rounds of EC chemo. My decision was based upon quality of life. I was 66 years old at the time and couldn’t risk getting peripheral neuropathy because I need my hands as a musician and my feet for country walking. I also stopped my Herceptin injections after 9 as I had read that trials had shown 9 to be as effective as 18.
I have type 1 diabetes, amongst other health issues, and had to weigh up the risk of making my other conditions worse.
I didn’t make either decision lightly but spoke to
There is a You Tube channel called yerbba.com and one of the broadcasts specifically addresses the special considerations to be taken into account when deciding on treatments for patients over 70 years of age. I have attached a link.
I would also endorse the suggestion to call the Someone Like Me service at Breast Cancer Now who will do their best to match you up with someone of a similar age and diagnosis who has forgone treatment and also another person who went ahead. The number is 0800 138 6551.
Talking things through will help you to make the right decision for you and when you have done so you will feel at peace in your heart. If you have a local cancer support centre, or Macmillan group, or a Maggies centre nearby you can also ask to have a chat with one of their experienced counsellors or helpers. If that is not an option Breast Cancer Now and Macmillan both have helplines where you can talk through your thoughts with a nurse/counsellor.
Well done for getting through all the treatment thus far which will have been done for curative intent. I wish you well going forward. Love Tulip x
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Thank you so much for your kind advice
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This is excellent advice, particularly the someone like me suggestion. x
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Hi @bassiduck here is the link to the Someone Like Me programme that several respondents have mentioned, just click on it to go to the relevant section. Someone Like Me | Breast Cancer Now
Maggie’s has also been recommended, which I wholeheartedly endorse. You can find the nearest one to you by putting in your post code here https://www.maggies.org/our-centres/?postcode=W13+8EA&sort_by=sort_by_distance
I am SO sorry you are in this awful dilemma. I did not have to have chemo but I did give up endocrine treatment at the age of 70 for QOL reasons with the agreement of my oncologist. She said that if I went on to develop Mets, not to regret my decision as it is the right one for me now. I sometimes wonder if I did the right thing but am content in my choice whatever may come. Good luck to you.
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Thank you so much for your kind words . I’m trying to weigh up all the pros & cons .