Hi Hopes - oh, do I wish I lived in the London area and had access/referral to the Royal Marsden or indeed, Christie’s in Manchester. No such luck, but I had wonderful treatment at one of the 6 breast care centres of excellence in Plymouth, at Derriford Hospital. My last Oncologist must use up many carbon miles between Plymouth and the Royal Marsden, where he is also an Onc
I don’t know much about St. Mary’s except it is a teaching hospital, where my nephew worked for a while as a PH.d cancer research student, my step-daughter worked there as a medical student. If I had the choice, as you seem to have, I would plump for the Royal Marsden. You really can’t get much better than that.
Medical trials - they don’t do them down here in Cornwall/Devon that I am aware of, but if you go on one, you do get much more personalised treatment, with regular scans. I would exhaustively research what the trial is about, as they do come with disclaimers, and not without risk. However, as all we bc survivors know, these trials are essential for future patients. I went on a medical trial some 25 yrs ago for Crohn’s and it was stopped some 3 months into the treatment - no-one ever explained why, and that does fill me with foreboding. I never found out if I was having the new experimental medication or a placebo. I am a lot more savvy now.
I am intrigued as to why you are thinking about going on a medical trial…do you have an unusual bc?
I am now 4 and a half years out from dx - two surgeries, chemo and rads and now on Arimidex. I am quite complacent with my treatment, but always aware of future recurrence.
I was offered either, a lumpectomy with rads, or a mastectomy -I knew zilch 4 yrs ago. My husband, a scientist, said, go with the lumpectomy, you can always go back for a mastectomy. Even though I had extensive spread to my lymph nodes, a mastectomy was never suggested after the two surgeries just (aah, I wish!!) chemo and rads.
It was a deep, dark pit, as I saw it, but eventually light does dawn, and I am happily here some 4 yrs later with no mets.
Take care,
Liz.