Hi Debbie
Thank you for posting your question.
It is understandable that you have concerns about having chemotherapy
Whether you are offered chemotherapy treatment depends on a number of factors including the grade, size and stage of the cancer.
From the information you have provided, it sounds as though your specialist has used a computer programme such as NHS Predict to estimate what benefit might be expected from treatments such as chemotherapy or hormone therapy. This programme uses individual information about the person and their breast cancer alongside data from large research studies. Sometimes it’s very clear that someone may benefit from having chemotherapy. But in other situations, such as yours, it may be less clear.
It can be difficult to decide what to do when it’s not clear if chemotherapy may benefit. Some people feel very strongly that they want to have every treatment that might give them benefit (no matter how small). Other’s in this situation feel they do not want to go through the treatment and the possibility of side effects, some of which may be long term.
It’s important to have as much information as possible to help you make your decision. It may be useful to ask for another appointment with your specialist where you can have the opportunity to ask get more information.
Questions that may help you decide include:
- What side effects may I experience?
- What can be done to reduce these?
- Are there any long-term effects?
You can also ask them about having the radiotherapy and hormone therapy without the chemotherapy, as you mention, and what this would mean for you.
Talking to someone who has had a similar experience can be helpful and our Someone Like Me service can arrange for one of our volunteers to talk to you by email or telephone. Our volunteers have had a personal experience of breast cancer and are trained to provide support.
You can ring the Someone Like Me team on 0345 077 1893 or email them at someone.likeme@breastcancernow.org,so they can then match you to your volunteer.
Do call our Helpline if you would like to talk this through or have any further questions. Your call will be confidential, and the number is free from UK landlines and all mobile networks. The number is 0808 800 6000, (Relay UK -prefix 18001).
If you would like a nurse to call you do complete this form . Ticking the box agreeing to a call back.
Our opening hours are Monday to Friday 9am - 4pm and 9am -1pm on Saturday. Out of hours you can leave a message and we will call you back when we next open.
Best wishes
Victoria
Breast Care Nurse
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