What do I do - Chemo or not

Going through breast cancer treatment Chemotherapy monthly threads
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Hi. I am new here, a 76 year old male who discovered a lump under the skin of my right chest.

After tests and scans – Hospital diagnosis, cancer.

Whisked into surgery a couple of weeks later for removal. (Mastectomy)

A stage 2 cancerous lump of 32mm diameter was removed plus 18 Lymph nodes – 2 of which had cancer.

After surgery, a nurse came every day for the next 3 weeks to drain the fluid from my chest. The target was 40 ml per day before the drain could be removed . After the 3 weeks I was still discharging 80 / 90 ml per day, even so, the drain was removed.

11 days later I had a case of Seroma, where the area around the surgery ballooned so much a trip to A&E for draining was necessary – 800 ml was drained out of me, followed by 180 ml 7 days later.

Since then, all has settled down.

The following is what I am worried and extremely anxious about

The hospital consultant said that all cancer had been removed but there maybe some microbes left behind, therefore he wishes to carry out preventative treatment that may well involve chemotherapy.

The first appointment with the consultant explained the alternatives available, which was up to me to choose. He intermated that due to my age, slight disability etc, full chemotherapy may be too vigorous for me to deal with and possibly a low intensity treatment may be more suitable, but again up to me.

A follow up appointment was made 2 weeks later for me to give my decision. After many soul searching hours plus discussions with my wife, I selected the lower intensity treatment.

BUT – The consultant had some information that was not explained to me before that stated. I was of a slight risk of cancer occurring within me in the future. He intermated that perhaps full chemotherapy was the way forward. Hearing that left me totally saddened. One alternative, Radiotherapy apparently was also out of the equation as unsuitable in my case.

I have another 2 weeks to make my mind up on the path to take. What do I do.

I am confused, I have read so many tales of side effects with chemotherapy that I am scared that the treatment shall make me completely unwell and incapacitated for up to 6 months or so.

Any thoughts please.

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Sorry that you are struggling with this awful dilemma . I would suggest talking it through with the Nurses here on the helpline . It’s open tomorrow 9am to 1pm and then again on Monday from 8am on 0808 800 6000 . I can sense the confusion and panic in your post and maybe talking it through with a knowledgeable professional who has heard it all before might help you to come to a resolution. Also if you aren’t sure you understand everything then perhaps you could Contact your BCN and them to go over it again with you and explain why they seem to have changed their opinion as to what treatment is best for you overall. Usually there are scoring systems for working out the benefit of therapies and they could come up with a percentage score for probable benefit from chemotherapy based on your individual case and should also be able to estimate how that percentage number changes with a lower intensity treatment . You could also ask them if it’s possible that after starting the course of chemotherapy if you reacted badly could the dose of the next one or the number of treatments be reduced. Xx

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You have been through a tough time. I finished my chemo yesterday and i found it manageable, but i am 47 and have no health issues. You need to consider whether you have a good support network of family and friends, whether the health risks outweigh the benefits and what your long tetm goals are. Can you phone the nurses on here or macmillan to talk it through? Your hospital team might be able to help more with your decision. My chemo was doable and side effects well managed by my team. Yes its unpleasant, but it isnt like im the movies. Good lyck with your decision. I wish you well.

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Hello, I feel for you. My Mum age 80 had a similar journey to you including a seroma. She too was offered chemo which she chose to have. I had the same years ago, age 36, and she felt if i could get through chemo, so could she, despite being so much older. She has other health issues too. She was remarkable, coped really well with minimal side effects. She had a different regime to me, a newer protocol and I think she did better than me at times ! The thing that annoyed her most was her wig ! 3 years on she is well with lovely hair, better than before. Its not an easy option, but it is not quite as awful as you think. Best wishes

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JoanneN. bluesatsuma & edp.
Thank you very much for your kind words and advice, it has been helpful to me.
I rung the BCN nurse telephone line this morning and spoke to Natasha of the helpline team. She was very encouraging and suggested I get in touch with my breast cancer nurse at the hospital, which I was going to do on Monday and talk through the treatment one again.
I am sure the Oncology Consultant did not have the results of my Prosigna Test at our first meeting, but I am at a loss of why I was having to choose the preventative therapy without those test results.
I need to get some questions answers by the hospital team.
Again many thanks, I shall try and post the outcome.

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Hello

I 100% agree that you need more information and the actual results of all the tests, scores on the doors and to understand what you can throw at this to give you the best chance of a full ongoing life

Yes chemotherapy is hard, it has lots of ups and downs in terms of the rollercoaster of your body, mind and acceptance that its going to affect you for a few months so you need to have support to help you during this period even if its just to drive you there and back for the numerous appointments

I think the chat with your team, surgeon etc is the next step , ask as many questions, raise all your concerns and what ifs, take someone with you for notes as you are going to be firing the questions and will likely miss some of the finer details

Good luck