Hi there girls hope you are all ok
As for me well I have decided to have a break from all ther chemio. It started a year ago when the treatments I was on stopped working after 7 yrs with BC and mets .
I have now decided to have a break as it was getting too hard to hear the Spec say “sorry its not working” each time I saw her.
Now I know a lot of you will understand and a lot no. But I feeel deap down that its the best for me at the moment .
No I have no wish to die but I want to continue fighting this in my way and for the moment its a no chemio way , but I may change my mind later if the drs can give me some guarantee that another chemio will do some good and not just put me to bed all the time with no results.
Has anyone else gone down this road and thanks for any thought for and against
Luv to you all
Bye jANE
Hi Jane
I am not at your stage yet. Have not long finished the most awful chemo (cisplatin and gemcitibine combined) for secondary breast cance.Like the FEC and Docetaxel before it, it left me in bed for 2 weeks out of 3 more or less. I swore at the time that if my life became one long round of taking chemo, then I too would refuse it.
You sound as though you have really given it your best shot - 7 years is a long time. So, for what it is worth, in your position I would do exactly the same…like you say, you are not giving up, you are having a break and seeing what happens. Who knows…? You are very brave…keep strong.
Ena x
I find it such a relief when I hear of people taking the decision to say no to more chemotherpay…I think its a valid and sane decsion in the position you are in.
Since my reegional recurrence in April 2007 I have gone through vinorilbone, xeloda, carboplatin, gemzar and taxol…all with limited responses. I am pretty sure taxol not working for me and only chemo option probably worth tryng next is a return to vinorilbine which worked the best (but still not brilliantly.)
I am nearly at the stage of saying no to further treatment. I think its a hard decision to take…there are such pressures on us to take treatments.
I want to remain open minded to the possibilities of saying no and then changing my mind. What matters to me more than anything is getting the best quality of life I can for as long as I can.
If your decision feesl right go for it…it certainly helps me to know there is someone else daring to say no.
Hi Jane, it has to be our call because only us know the mental and physical knackeredness that we have to bear while on treatment.
Four weeks ago Ian and I went into Truro and parked the car , I had not walked far and felt completely shattered I new then it was time for more chemo, today after 3 taxol and not many days when I have been able to stay awake we went into Truro and I have done a fare bit of Christmas shopping I am really tired but have enough energy to enjoy the evening. So in my heart I feel the chemo could be working, whn I feel its not I will walk away from it.
You made the right decision for you and I salute you. Enjoy your chemo break, I enjoyed mine this summer.
I think you are really brave! Wish I dared to take a break, but am so scared that if i don’t keep on trying, even after 3 chemos not working, I’m gonna make myself worse. At least with the chemo I get the feeling I’m doing something against this c…y disease. I’m not sure my onc would start me on something again if I decided to take a break, she didn’t seem at all keen to give me Navelbine last time. I’m really envious of all you people who know what is happening with you. My doctors don’t tell me anything, not even tumor markers unless I insist on them telling me. I was told my tumour was oestogen receptive, but have only been given hormone tablets once. These didn’t work and they haven’t tried anything else since. But anyway jane, I hope this is the right decision for you and that it will give you the strength to carry on fighting.
Hey Jane,
Thanks for sharing this with us. It is a brave decision, but as JaneRA says, a very sane and reasonable one.
A friend of mine with secondary/lumps in her neck had to stop taking avastin (I think it was) because of terrible side effects. Her Dr said there was no point coming to clinic any more if she wasn’t going to take the recommended treatment!!! As she said - you’d think you’d need MORE check-ups to keep a close eye on any progression…
It’s unbelievable how blinkered and short-sighted the medics can be, as they work with medicines and statistics and outcomes all day long and don’t see the impact on our everyday lives.
Enjoy your break Jane,
love Jacquie x