Hello everyone,
We did get the test results from my general surgeon today and overall we feel pretty good with the results although it is a mixed bag. First of all, please note that this is an oncotype DX test that will need to be read by an oncologist, but my general surgeon is the one that ordered the test, and he is the one that went over the results with us today and gave us his personal opinions. The actual test results gave me a recurrence score of 25 which gives me an average rate of distant recurrence of 16% (10 years out). For my long term prognosis this places me at an intermediate risk. However, my surgeon explained some factors that could actually lower those numbers if it had been calculated 5 years out. The node negative, ER positive results of the test also placed me in an intermediate scale but it showed no real benefit to me having chemo and he said that it could even possibly cause me harm. Basically, if I had been low risk, it would be easy to say no chemo or if I had been high risk, it would be very easy to see the benefits of chemo. Unfortunately, I fall right in the middle which means you have to weigh the benefits vs. pitfalls of chemo to make the right decision. He then explained that the chemo comes with risks that are not factored into this test that I needed to think about. In other words, this test tells me the benefit of having chemo to keep the cancer from coming back - but it does not give me the statistics of what harm it could cause in and of itself.
He said aside from the obvious things that people think about such as getting sick and losing your hair, there can be much more serious side affects. He did inform me he has had patients my age die from the chemo treatments. He said that although rare, it can also increase your risk of lukemia and they have a lot of reports of getting "chemo brain" (memory loss, etc). After our discussion, we both agreed that we were on the same page of leaning against chemo. We do not feel the risks of chemo outweigh the benefit of chemo in my particular case. Of course, I have an appointment set up to see an oncologist next Wednesday and my surgeon warned me that the oncologist may very well not agree with us. We will just have to wait and see what he has to say about the results of the test and the risks.
Either way, I will follow my usual protocal to get a second opinion from another oncologist after that if needed. Right now, I am believing the Lord is providing me a means of escape that we have all been praying for and hopefully I will be able to just do the hormone therapy and forget the chemo! However, I ask you to join us in prayer for God to give us wisdom in making the right decision. Since I had some friends that are "in the know" to advise me that someone with my type cancer, size tumor, grade, etc. to not have to take chemo and/or radiation would take a genuine miracle from God - I did go buy a wig a couple of weeks ago. So please do not think that I am in denial or will not carry through with chemo if I am convinced it is a better decision.
Love to all,
Liz
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment