HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post - statistic on chemo....only helps 1/4 of us??

ArmyMomLisa · 08-01-2011, 01:00 PM

Before I started chemo, my onc said that I had roughly a 1 in 5 chance of recurrance having done just the surgery. Going ahead w/ chemo he said cut my risk to 1 in 10. Whether it is just meant to recur, as this study dr. makes it sound, and the chemo really did nothing to help, I dont' know. What I do know is that as I go thru the years ahead I can know that I did everything in my power to keep it at bay and will not have to face (hopefully) as many 'what ifs' and 'if onlys' should it one day come back.

I did wonder at times, in the midst of chemo chaos, if it made that much of a difference and if it was worth it tho. But now that I am over the worst of it (some SE leftover) I'm happy I had a dr that explained everything very well - and didn't have quite this pessimistic attitude. Just as there will always be people that will tell you "it's the drugs that kill you" and such things, hoping to sway you from chemo, there will I reckon also be doctors with that same idea. One more reason to be sure you feel completely comfortable and trusting in your onc!! :-)

08-01-2011, 01:00 PM	#6
ArmyMomLisa Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Southern MN Posts: 9	Re: statistic on chemo....only helps 1/4 of us?? Before I started chemo, my onc said that I had roughly a 1 in 5 chance of recurrance having done just the surgery. Going ahead w/ chemo he said cut my risk to 1 in 10. Whether it is just meant to recur, as this study dr. makes it sound, and the chemo really did nothing to help, I dont' know. What I do know is that as I go thru the years ahead I can know that I did everything in my power to keep it at bay and will not have to face (hopefully) as many 'what ifs' and 'if onlys' should it one day come back. I did wonder at times, in the midst of chemo chaos, if it made that much of a difference and if it was worth it tho. But now that I am over the worst of it (some SE leftover) I'm happy I had a dr that explained everything very well - and didn't have quite this pessimistic attitude. Just as there will always be people that will tell you "it's the drugs that kill you" and such things, hoping to sway you from chemo, there will I reckon also be doctors with that same idea. One more reason to be sure you feel completely comfortable and trusting in your onc!! :-) __________________ Lisa age 45 11/17/10 diagnosed (at age 44) after mammogram w/ 3 cm, Stage 1,Grade 3 IDC in left breast Er/Pr+, Her2+, BRCA neg. 12/14/10 lumpectomy 12/17/10 path report results show tumor larger than originally thought from MRI, 1/3/11 Bilateral mastectomy w/ immediate reconstruction (expanders - began fills 4 weeks after surg.) 2/16/11 Began 6 rounds of Taxotere/Carboplatin/Herceptin every 3 weeks 2/18/11 to hospital w/ kidney stone! (Dr. believes from 'shock to my body' of chemo.) 6/2/11 last chemo! Continue Herceptin every 3 weeks til 2/12 6/22/11 Started Tamoxifen 7/5/11 reconstruction surg.