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Declining Chemotherapy
Hello. I was diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma of the right breast. I chose to have a double mastectomy with reconstruction. The oncologist has recommended 4 rounds of chemotherapy.
Has anyone chosen to opt out of chemotherapy for Stage 1, triple negative breast cancer or greater stage/other form of breast cancer?
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Thank you for sharing.
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1 ReactionHi
I had a double mastectomy last October 2023
My Mother the same age as I was when she had the right breast removed 5 years later she had the left breast removed same cancer
I have her pathology report
Dcis …..
I was very much at peace did not require any further treatment !
I am absolutely flat and I am doing great !!
I never looked back !!!
I wanted to live my life in peace !!
No one cares including me that I don’t have breasts !! Find great tops !!
God Bless !!!
Hopeful2024
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7 ReactionsThank you for sharing. It helps to hear people's thoughts. I have decided to do a double mastectomy. Surgery is set for tomorrow.
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3 ReactionsMay you continue to be blessed with peace on the journey!
I will be thinking of you !
Maura Hein
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1 ReactionI had a lumpectomy in my left breast in 2005. In 2024, I had a recurrance of cancer in that same breast, and a masectomy was recommended because I did not want to go through chemo and radiation again. I chose to have a double masectomy so I don't have to worry about breast cancer going to the healthy breast at some future date. I do not have to have chemo or radiation. Many women I know who have had a masectomy- just one breast - have struggled for many years with a prostetic for just one breast, or have opted to have reconstructive surgery, which is not a quick fix and involves more surgeries, etc., and the results are not always that great which could involve more surgeries, especially if you have unrealistic expectations. It's a very personal choice. My main consideration was avoiding, at all costs, going through chemo and radiation again. After my experience in 2005, I will say that the "healing" process from chemo takes years... I didn't feel "right" until at least 6 years had passed, and some physical changes that happened during chemo became permanent and never improved, I just had to learn to live with them. Good luck on your journey, it is my belief that what age you are right now will help make your decisions of what path you want to follow for your futur years.
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9 Reactionsmy story is similiar, but my breast cancer recurrance in the same breast was almost 20 years apart (a good run!) - I had a double masectomy and feel more than flat (if that is possible, my surgeon did a fantastic job, extremely even and flat scar, but I am still healing since surgery was only 3 months ago). No chemo, no radiation - and no more mamograms! (although I have been told to still always check breast area/chest for any irregularities on a continuous schedule) I am opting for prosthetics that are very custom made, and the manufacturer recommends a minimum of six months to a year before they are designed and fitted exactly for the specifics of your scar and the varying degrees of depth of the scar. I didn't want to go through additional surgeries for reconstructive - I'm happy with my decision.
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5 Reactions@bpknitter53
Like you, I have a lumpy chest, extra skin on sides (the worst) and concave chest if I raise my arms. Not what I was expecting. My surgeon kept trying to talk me into reconstruction, I declined with certainty, yet I think she left me reconstruction ready thinking I would change my mind. She could have done better for the flat look. Nevertheless, I’m happy with my decision to go flat 11 years ago.
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2 ReactionsPrayers that all goes well with your surgery and recovery.
Prayers for a successful surgery and speedy recovery.
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1 ReactionThank you for sharing this. Since this thread is about deciding to take chemo or not, I found that it helps further that discussion.
I also took chemo and radiation. Although I felt like I had done everything I could do stop this cancer, it certainly wasn’t easy.
Everyone’s decision making is different, but when i made my decisions 20 years ago, I thought about what the side effect of not stopping this cancer might be.
I think as targeted treatments and genetic testing gets better and better, less women are having to make this decision about chemo. If you are diagnosed today, you probably meet more women who have not had to take chemo than I did 20 years ago. We have come a long way.
Did your age at time of diagnosis affect your decision?