- Hi I recently diagnosed with large tumours in my right breast, I had a mastectomy last month but just been told sentinel lymph nodes were positive and I need Axillary node clearance surgery.
- I already have fibromyalgia and am menopausal as hell after coming off HRT and black cohosh and am wanting to go down a more natural pathway so am refusing lymph node surgery and I don’t want radiation, chemo and hormone treatment either
I’m struggling to find any support anywhere and wading through websites ect looking for credible sources and help
Has anyone else refused further treatment and can point me in right direction?
You might contact the Penny Brohn foundation. It was set up in the 1960s and pilloried for promoting alternative therapies but its work has spread and strongly influenced the HNS over the decades.
I had 19/21 infect lymph nodes - they were doing their job but had to be removed because it was perilously close to metastasis. My personal view is that node clearance is essential. Metastasis can be anywhere and if it’s preventable, prevent it. Don’t be misled by statistics. They are pretty meaningless. Say your oncologist said you had a 60% chance of no recurrence, anyone would latch onto the 40%. Why? Because we still see breast cancer and treatments in terms of the last century. Things have moved on.
I am not going to question your motives in taking this route - see if Penny Brohn Centre can help (one time you’re allowed to Google). But I would suggest you examine your decision with a cancer-trained counsellor. So soon after a mastectomy, and with other health issues, it must feel overwhelming but this is a gamble that, if it doesn’t work, Stage 4 comes next. I’m there. It’s still all doable and I won’t consider my prognosis but it’s not nice and my husband is in pieces (I’m quite phlegmatic rather than terrified this time because I know they do everything to mitigate side effects, including anxiety). Clinic tomorrow.
I hope you can book a session on the PB site. It will be well worth it. Best of luck x