|
Michelle
I went through this at the end of May when the study results were presented at ASCO. I was 3 1/2 months out of chemo and was in the group (6 months or less out of chemo to get a year of Herceptin).
I just sat them down (3 daughters ages 19, 16 and 13) and told them everything.
1. That the cancer had not come back.
2. What Herceptin was versus chemo and that I would not lose my hair etc
3. What Herceptin did and how good it was for me and my future prognosis.
4. That I had to take it a year
5. I always try to reiterate the fact that it will help me "if" there are any cancer cells left in my body.
My 16 year old always took the cancer the hardest. She DID NOT believe and told my 19 yr old so. However, my 19 yr old is an Environmental science major in college so she understands "monoclonal antibodies" and the science stuff pretty good - especially if I take the time to explain it. She set the record straight and told me about my middle girl's fear. So, I told the 3 of them the same thing I told them last summer - "I will never lie to you or keep anything from you. I will give it to you straight".
Like me, there is nothing wrong. This second year (of which I have primed the pump at home that the second year could happen) is still an adjuvant for you. Its so something WON'T happen not because something HAS happened.
In the long run, those of us who might never have a reocurrance will never know why we didn't. There is a small chance that some of us would have lived by just having the tumor and affected nodes removed. For others added radiation may have done it or just a couple of rounds of chemo instead of 8. Maybe it was dietary and exercise changes. Or maybe, its the Herceptin 2 doses, 20 doses, 50 doses or 100 doses. We just don't know so you gotta run the whole race and do what you have to do.
So, in a nutshell, what do you tell the kids. You tell them absolutely everything.
Love, Becky
|