Hi there ..

Every one has different views .. and different reasons for going with the treatments or declining any .. and no two people will be exactly the same because everyone has different reactions to things ..

I have servere back and bone problems for quite a few years .. l had a grade three her two negative oestrogen positive lump ... l had a masectomy and luckily no lymph nodes were effected .. l was offered radiotherapy ... but because of my health l declined ... but l took all the factors into consideration. . Weighed it all up .. but l did do tamoxifen ... for the foreseeable...

But you need to do what you want to do .. because in the end your the one in the middle of your life .. only you can make that call ... if my bones had been stronger, I'd have probly had the radiotherapy... but I made my decision... and then there's only me to blame if it's the right or wrong one ...

Chrissie xx

I too am her2 pos, clear margins no lymph nodes involved....my oncologist said he couldn't guarantee there wasn't a rogue cell in my blood stream so chemo was recommended as a flush on a lower dose...had first cycle last Thursday, it did knock me for six but today I feel more human...then it's herceptin, rads, hormone inhibitors....I feel I want to throw everything at it as the thought of dealing with this later in life is unthinkable...also my chances of survival after 10 years went up 5 percent with treatment...and I want to be around for a while...

good luck in your decision....it's a difficult one I know....xxxx

Hi Marlyn,

No one mentioned the rogue cell idea to me.  It all seemed to be that you had to have chemo in order to have herceptin as it was only licensed in that way.  How often and for how long is your chemo?  I thought it would be herceptin at the same time as chemo but then continuing on for a year?

Yes, they told me the extra treatments added 5% too.  Without them I am proceeding straight to radiotherapy and start that on Monday.  I'm hoping it's the right decision for me but I suppose I will always be worrying it wasn't.

I hope your side effects are minimal. x

Hi sarise,

my onco said herceptin would begin after chemo..it's belt and braces if you like...I have 5 more chemo cycles to do...in 3 weekly intervals, they do knock you about but it's also do able.....  they are also trialling herceptin for 6 months instead of a year and he told me I am a good candidate for this, so am defo all for that!

The chemo decision was a tough one and one both me and hubby angsted over for a while, but I kept going back to them not guaranteeing that pesky rogue cell wouldn't be floating about....and decided I can't take a chance....

good of luck on Monday, you will have to let me know how it goes....hope it's not uncomfortable....xxx

Hi,

I've now had 3 sessions of radiotherapy.  It has been fine so far though they say the side effects have a 2 week delay as it's a cumulative thing and the worst is actually 2 weeks after treatment so we'll see.  I have E45 cream to apply twice a day and a few physio exercises to do - more like stretches to stop things tightening up.

Sarise x.