NO Regrets!

I've learned way more about cancer treatments in the last few weeks than I ever thought I would need to know, ever!  So, let me explain what I've been doing today.  I've talked to three oncologists so far.  I'll explain what I've learned so I can get to explaining what I did today.  For the sake of simplifying things, I'll call the drugs A, C, and T.

They first guy told me that, if it were him, he would have me do drugs A and C combined, 4 treatments every 2 weeks.  Then I would do T every 3 weeks for 4 treatments.  The second guy told me essentially the same thing.  They both explained the side effects of those drugs, which are many.  "A" (which has acquired the nickname of the "red devil") seems to be the most worrisome because it can cause problems with your heart, like congestive heart failure in 1% of the people that take it.  The oncologist I met with yesterday said that she would rather avoid the problems of A, and just combine C and T together, and do 4 treatments, every 3 weeks.  Four treatments instead of eight, then I'm done.  Actually I'm not done, because then I start a drug that I take for 5 years that will kill off anything that is left of my ovaries (throw me into menopause).  Hormone therapy is standard after chemo for someone that has my pathology profile.  Bring on those hot flashes!

So, here's what I've been doing today.  I've been thinking that 4 treatments is only half as good as 8.  It's been quite a dilemma because I want to do the best thing for me and my family to ensure that I have at least 40 more birthdays.  At the same time, if I could avoid the side effects of a nasty drug, maybe I should consider it.  Mat's parents were here today and she suggested going to Huntsman Cancer Institute because they have a huge library that is open to the public.  So, that is what I did.  I went in and found someone that works there and told her all about me and what my dilemma was (4 treatments vs. 8 treatments).  She showed me where the breast cancer section was and then left to go print off some research from the internet.  She came back with information that was helpful, but admitted that it is hard to know the best thing to do and I ultimately need to decide.  Even when the prognosis is good, like in my case, there are no guarantees with any kind of treatment.  She said there have only been a couple of studies done on the success of eliminating A and going with C and T only.  While the studies show promise, it is a relatively new way of thinking and there's not as much research to support it's success as there is with the A, C, T regimen.

Man, I'm rambling.  OK, so after I got home Betty suggested we call her cousin who is a retired research oncologist / medical oncologist.  He was very helpful, and ultimately, helped me make my decision.  He said that 4 doses of A isn't enough to worry too much about the heart complications, especially for someone my age that is in good health.  He said after 8 or more doses, then you worry.  He said, under the circumstances (my age and my young kids that still need me for 40 more birthdays), he would recommend doing everything I can to ensure success, which means including A in the chemo cocktail.  After I talked to him, I was thinking that if I didn't do A, and the cancer came back, I would have to wonder for the rest of my life if it came back because I didn't do everything possible right now to make sure it didn't.  NO REGRETS!  You know what, if cancer does come back someday, we'll deal with it.  But right now, I'm going to do everything I can to make sure it doesn't.  That means, if my calculations are correct and everything goes according to my plans (ya, right!!), I'll be doing chemo until about the middle of July.  : )