Please share on choosing no chemo

Hi.  I'm 49 and been diagnosed with stage I breast cancer, 1.1cm, ER/PR negative, Her/2 negative, high S phase, grade III.  Had the lumpectomy and am node negative.

I've been told by oncologists to do chemo, although they disagree on which drugs and how many rounds (TC/4x and TAC/6x.) One told me that the reoccurrence in my situation is equal for those who did and those who didn't do chemo.  It's a crapshoot.  I may be one of the ones it benefits and I may not be.  I am so drug sensitive that I can rarely take anything without the side effects.  One oncologist said he would probably have to lower to dosage for me because of that.

I'm so overloaded with information.  I did a form of chemo in 2005 for a viral thing and it left me debilitated with what I believe are going to be life-long side effects.  Two of which are brain fog and fibromyalgia. I haven't been the same since.

I will do the radiation which I believe is necessary for the area where the tumor was removed.  I don't want to do chemo.  The cancer did not spread to any lymph nodes.  I truly feel like my body can't take it.  It's all so scary and the stress of this decision is making me crazy.

I don't have much support going through this.  I know this is a very personal decision and no one can tell you what to do for you.  I would appreciate any thoughts.

Caryn

[Fernando Roque, MD]

Hi. I can understand the anxiety you have over chemotherapy.  You've had experience with the side effects of a similar drug (interferon) before, and don't want to go through it again.  The decision to go ahead with the chemotherapy or not, is of course up to you.  But given the information you posted earlier (11/20/07), I did some calculations about your prognosis with or without chemotherapy.  The calculations point to a clear benefit if you have chemotherapy, than if you didn't (additional 7-9% ten-year survival rate and 13.2% decrease in  ten year recurrence rate with chemotherapy).  I disagree with the opinion that your recurrence is only equal to those who don't do the chemotherapy.  There are still a lot of chemotherapy regimen options to choose from, which are less toxic than TAC or TC, and you should discuss this with your doctor.  Again, the decision is all up to you.

[cbee]

Can you please tell me what other chemotherapy options there are which are less toxic than those mentioned?  The first oncologist that I was said that 3rd generation therapy isn't worth it.  

Thanks,

Caryn

[riley180]

Treatment decisions are indeed hard, the amount of information makes it harder to estimate things and may lead to conflicting advice. Ultimately, they are based on your values and personalities. Whatever you do, you'll be living with uncertainty about whether or not the disease will return. Are you the type of person who will likely become anxious because of a decision to withhold treatment? Or would you rather take a chance, your oncologist will keep a close watch - and if indeed it cannot be tolerated, there is no reason to force it. Perhaps you should discuss your previous experiences with the chemo you described and what are the precautions needed to avoid it. Perhaps the best regimen will be based on a side-effect profile most acceptable to you based on these experiences.  
There are some drugs that are given to control some symptoms like nausea and to avoid some complications like infection.
You could also consider inquiring if there are trials ongoing using new drugs. Unfortunately, it is likely that there will still be at least one drug with some side-effects.  

[often]

Are those absolute percentages?  

[cbee]

Hi. My oncologist told me I have an 80.9 chances of being alive in 10 years with no chemo, just radiation after the lumpectomy.  He also said that I would have an additional 7% if I did chemo.  But he couldn't assure me that I will be one of those who benefits from chemo.  My surgeon told me about 93% of people don't benefit from chemo and that was scary. Most women go for it if it's even 1% but that's not me.  Let's not forget that chemo is poison and it kills good things as well as the bad.  It can leave you with life-long problems.  Like I said I did an injectable form of chemo over a 7 month period in 2005.  I had a horrible time having to do injections for both low red and white counts. I was a crazy woman.  I was so ill and debiliated and it left me with some life-long problems.  It triggered auto-immune problems.  It is my belief that while in this state when my immune system was at its lowest that my body was unable to fight off the cancer cells.  I also strongly believe that this will happen to me again with these drugs.  

I have a lot to live for - mostly for my 15 year old son who I am a single mom to.  They got the tumor out with clear margins, it has not spread to my lymph nodes and I believe that keeping my immune system strong and doing all the things that are healthy for me will be a better option.

Thank you everyone who has responded.  Looks like I made my decision.

Caryn

[Irishgal2]

The best of luck with your decision.  Everyone's situation in life is different as too are the risks involved.  You have a bad experience of chemo in the past, which I can totally understand.  The sum of your side effects could be so great that it counteracts your future quality of life, I totally understand.  I hope you live a long and happy life with no reoccurrence.