Why we will refuse chemo

We prepare to meet the oncologist tomorrow. We don't know what to expect. We arm ourselves with as much info as possible, in an attempt to have a sensible discussion about options.

We expect the recommendation to be take radiotherapy and follow on hormone therapy. A a non oncologist the following could have mistakes....treat with caution!

I read Sir Richard Peto's report to the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium in December 2006, where he reports polychemotherapy improves overall survival rates after 15 years from 75% to 79.4%. I discuss with Jan "is chemo worth it for a gain of 4.4%?" To help us understand that I reckon she has a greater than 20% chance of dying in the next 15 years from other causes, such as in a car accident with me driving! So 4% is quite a small additional risk. As Christians we are quite happy discussing these statistics on death, I think they can "phase" many.

I also read that 25% of breast cancer chemo patients suffer from chemo brain. The NHS describe this as "short term memory loss" almost as though it is a short term transitory effect. It is NOT, as far as I see it is a permanent state where the brain becomes almost "read only" in computer speak. So one can remenber ones early life, Jan's training as a nurse and teacher, our family history, but one cannot remember new information such as what one had for breakfast. This horrifies Jan, we reckon we will refuse chemo if offered.

See next post on Cavilon to undertand some of our other fears of radiotherapy, yet we pray and leave these fears with God.