chemo is optional
lump and nodes removed, no cancer in lymph nodes, no evidence it has gotten to blood vessels, surgeon got clear margins and cancer was grade 3 but ER negative. they tell me chemo is optional. it would add 3.3% to my 89% chance of being alive in 10 years but is that enough of an improvement to warrant all the damage that the chemo will do to my system, please let me know what you think.
Oooooh, boy.... This is the tough decision so many of us face. And only you can make it - as you're the one bearing the consequences. In your case, with ER-negative, I'd lean a bit more towards chemo, since long-term hormone therapy won't be an option.
Find out what kind of chemo; how long you need to do it; and the side effects, and that should really help you make up your mind.
Also, are you the type of person who looks back and says, "I should have..."? Or do you make a decision, stick with it, and "no regrets"?
The stats are what they are; you're basically 3% less likely to have a recurrence with the chemo. As Clint Eastwood used to say in his Dirty Harry movies— "Do you feel lucky?" That's pretty much what it comes down to...
Best of luck to you- PJH
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