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jra40 · 10-31-2011, 06:31 AM

Glad you are here, this is the best place to be to help you through your journey.

It is a very tough decision to waive chemo but that has to be a personal choice. When I was diagnosed last year, the word "chemo" sent chills through my body. Looking back now, I am glad I went through with the process. My tumor shrank to nothing with no node involvment and it gives me some comfort in the reduction in the recurrance percentage rate. I was able to work and enjoy a realitively normal life (whatever that is) through the chemo process.

I am currently in radiation until mid-November, I have 20 rads completed so far. I go everyday and it has been a piece of cake! I love my treatment team and they make it a pleasant experience. I do not feel a thing and have had no side effects. I am on Herceptin too, every three weeks along with Tamoxifen for 5 years. Herceptin does not give me many side effects, only slight joint aches. I feel extremely well and am now back to running 3 miles, 4 days a week.

Chemo is a tough process but it is what we have to do to combat cancer. It's a temporary bump in the road, and it seems like a distant memory to me now. If you do go through with it, you will be surprised at the inner strength you have and the love & support that will surround you.

God bless,

Jessica

10-31-2011, 06:31 AM	#2
jra40 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Pittsburgh, PA. Posts: 260	Re: advice please Glad you are here, this is the best place to be to help you through your journey. It is a very tough decision to waive chemo but that has to be a personal choice. When I was diagnosed last year, the word "chemo" sent chills through my body. Looking back now, I am glad I went through with the process. My tumor shrank to nothing with no node involvment and it gives me some comfort in the reduction in the recurrance percentage rate. I was able to work and enjoy a realitively normal life (whatever that is) through the chemo process. I am currently in radiation until mid-November, I have 20 rads completed so far. I go everyday and it has been a piece of cake! I love my treatment team and they make it a pleasant experience. I do not feel a thing and have had no side effects. I am on Herceptin too, every three weeks along with Tamoxifen for 5 years. Herceptin does not give me many side effects, only slight joint aches. I feel extremely well and am now back to running 3 miles, 4 days a week. Chemo is a tough process but it is what we have to do to combat cancer. It's a temporary bump in the road, and it seems like a distant memory to me now. If you do go through with it, you will be surprised at the inner strength you have and the love & support that will surround you. God bless, Jessica __________________ 11/17/10 - Diagnosed with 4.5cm tumor in right breast, IDC, Stage 2, Nuclear grade 2, ER+ PR+ HER2+ 12/13/10 - Lymph node biopsy - negative 12/28/10 - Started neo-adjuvant treatment along with clinical trial with 4 rounds of AC chemo every 3 weeks 3/15/11 - Began weekly Taxol/Herceptin infusions along with 750mg of Tykerb taken by mouth daily 6/28/11 - Finished last cycle of Taxol 7/27/11 - Breast MRI shows tumor has dissolved, remarkable reaction to chemo 8/31/11 - Lumpectomy, Sentinel Node biopsy. Node negative, clear margins, 7mm of cancer left over from chemo. 10/05/11 - Started radiation, 5 days a week for 7 weeks. 11/8/11 - Finished radiation 3/21/12 - Last Herceptin! 3/26/12 - Port removed! Tamoxifen for 5 years 8/4/15 - Hysterectomy & bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. Due to large fibroids. No cancer! 8/8/15 - Started Arimidex