If Cancer doesn't kill you, the side effects of treatment might!

On June 25/08, I finished my 3rd chemo treatment for breast cancer. I had stage 2 of invasive ductal carcinoma. 4cm of cancerous tissue was removed from the 12 o'clock location of my right breast during the first week of March and it was just millimeters from my chest wall.

My PICC (Peripherally inserted central catheter) line was only inserted a couple of days before my 3rd treatment. My oncologist insisted that a PICC had to be used to since chemo damages veins. I was annoyed that I was not given a choice (PICC vs Port) since I am an active person who doesn't want to lose muscle tone from inactivity, but, the radiologist who inserted the PICC line told me that I can continue to lift up to 100lbs.

I am NOT a body builder, I simply want to keep my physical strength so that I can resume my full-time job of working in a group home with Special Needs Adults who require specialized care. My position is labelled a "Personal Support Worker" and I provide personal care for non-ambulatory people lacking verbal communication and limited cognitive abilities.

Within a few days of inserting the PICC, a thrombus (i.e. blood clot) developed in the entire vein in which the PICC was inserted. I am now self-injecting Fragmin (Dalteparin Sodium) into my belly. I was furious when I discovered that I had "extensive, non-occulusive thrombus" (non-blocking blood clot) and blame the hospital for not scheduling the insertion of the PICC line before chemo treatment began since chemo side-effects include the possibility of blood clots. During pre-admission screening for chemo, I mentioned that my father (who had chemotherapy for colon cancer) had developed a blood clot in his leg which lasted two years. I also told them my oldest brother had developed several blood clots in his leg, but not from chemotherapy. So, there is obviously a family history of blood clots and in my opinion, the oncologist should have scheduled the insertion of the PICC line before the first treatment!

The oncologist has strongly urged me to continue with my final three treatments and is giving me until my next scheduled treatment on July 16th to reconsider since I told him that I have decided to discontinue chemo treatments. I have no desire to develop circulatory problems or heart problems just so I can add a few years to my life. I choose QUALITY of life over QUANTITY of life.

It makes no sense to damage other "healthy" organs in my body or to endure the risks of blood clots when there is no guarantee after completing all 6 sessions of chemo that I won't develop cancer in the following couple of years. I want to live, but, I also want to be able to enjoy living.

I was only taking chemo as a preventative measure since my breast cancer did not have lymph node involvement. According to research statistics, the oncologist had told me that 75% of women with my stage 2 breast cancer and no lymph node involvement have an average lifespan of 10 years without anything other than surgery to remove the cancer. The Oncologist also told me that chemotherapy, radiation treatments and hormonal therapy could possibly add several more years to my expected lifespan, but, there are NO GUARANTEES!

Before proceeding with any cancer treatments, be sure to consider the possible side-effects so that you will make intelligent choices regarding the pro's and con's of treatments.