It's the whole darn shootin' match.

[thereyougothen]

well, you knew this was coming, didn't you?

chemo for 6 months - that's a session every 3 weeks for 8 sessions

then herceptin for a year - again every 3 weeks

and once i start the herceptin i also start a 5 year course of tamoxifen.

i have a very good to excellent chance of not dying from breast cancer.

statistics:

(but statistics being what they are these will be +/-)

• do nothing and have an 85-90% chance.

• have hormone suppressing treatment (tamoxifen plus something else i forget) and have a 90-95%

• have chemo followed by herceptin & tamoxifen and have a 95-98% chance.

th oncologist said that he considered the extra ~3% benefit from the chemo to be significant enough to think it was worth while.

it is all my choice of course, but he seems nice, so i'll go with his judgement.

first treatment in about 10 days.

my mum is going to extend her trip to stay beyond the first treatment.

and we are going to get an au pair to help us out for 6-8 months. i have never wanted an au pair - we value our space and our privacy so much, but we think this is the right decision. it will hopefully let me go back to work at least between treatments, it will let Bill spend most of his time at work and it will mean that he can always come wiht me to treatments and appointments without having to worry about shcool runs and the like.

more details when i can stand it. but i am feeling psitive about the way forward and know that we just have to grin and bear it.

anyone who fancies knitting me this (in a variety of colours to suit my complexion of course, and perhaps not in scratchy acrylic) would be most welcome to make the attempt....

Comments

[tafagirl.livejournal.com]

I can't believe it keeps getting worse, and the nightmare is still not over :-(( This is going to be Tough. *holding you*

[hfnuala.livejournal.com]

Oh darling. This sucks. As always, please do let me know if I can help in any way.

[blottedcopybook.livejournal.com]

Oh my love :( I wish there was something I could say to make this easier for you. I'll keep your family in my thoughts and prayers, and if you want company from a random then just give me a shout x

[nicnacpaddywac.livejournal.com]

I'm so sorry.

[eastofedin.livejournal.com]

Oh bugger....but these are good odds, every little helps , and it's *only* eight pulses. Will go past before you know it. Not all chemo results in hair loss, btw so I'm not starting knitting that object yet but put me down for a gold silk lame one for Christmas if you like.

The au pair is an excellent idea. She/he will save you SO much hassle and worry. You should get going on that one asap. If any of your friends have a good one that needs to have a change of employer (they do have to, just to be allowed to stay here longer) then that might be an option?

[buzzy-bee.livejournal.com]

Ah feck. Not sure what else to say right now but {{{{{Hugs}}}}}.

Afraid my knitting is probably not up to that, but its awfully tempting :D I think the pink would suit you.

[cangetmad.livejournal.com]

Oh, love. Shit, shit, shit, shit, SHIT! The world sucks mightily and I'm furious on your behalf.

We're still here. Still loving you all loads, and still offering to do what we can. I'll see you tomorrow?

[thereyougothen.livejournal.com]

yes please tomorrow. what time?

[(Anonymous)]

God that's rough! Real nightmare time. A wig to match the socks? Don't have enough of that yarn left, but can go search the stash.

Rosemary.

[bloody-nora.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you are feeling positive about this. Positive mental attitude is the way to go. You're going to have a shitty few months, but it will all be worth it in the end when you get to see your boys grow up.

[pisica.livejournal.com]

It sucks, but I'm glad the odds are so good.

[perceval.livejournal.com]

That makes a lot of sense to me. I really hope the chemo works well for you. I'm not commenting a lot, but I'm reading and I'm rooting for you!

[chatirygirl.livejournal.com]

What a lot to deal with, but good odds. Thinking of you.

[cherade9.livejournal.com]

Aaack! Oh hun, I'm sorry. We'll all be around if and when you need us at knitting group. I just bought a good crochet hats book and if the hair loss happens I'd be happy to knit you something up. I can imagine you in a mohawk hat ;p

*hugs and much love*

Liz A.

[tin_kitten.livejournal.com]

aaaw, that sucks! I know we've only just "met" but let me know if there is anything I can do to help. Kid watching at the weekend to give you some peace or whatever.

Also, I have been considering knitting that for some time now :-)

[radegund.livejournal.com]

I'm way behind on my f-list, so I just saw this. Again, I'm just so sorry you have to go through this, statistics or no statistics. I'll be thinking of you. And yes, I agree that the au pair plan is the way to go.