Friend with breast CA considering stopping chemo

[bigsyis]

Some of you may recall me posting a few months ago about my friend having a double mastectomy due to CA in one breast, and for prophylactic reasons the other was removed. She was back to work in two weeks, and had been doing exceptionally well. She was on a schedule of chemo q 3 weeks and had experienced only minor discomfort, fatigue and nausea. Then, after the third tx, her WBCs went to 600! She developed a fever and was put on Levaquin, prophylactically-no blood cultures or anything.

This past Friday she had her 4th tx, which was only half the dose of the previous three. She was told that instead of only the 6 that were originally planned that there would now be 6 MORE because she was getting only half the dose each time. Well, this time she has been wiped out, and in spite of meds, has N&V, and is feeling miserable, and she is considering stopping her chemo! We have another friend at work who is also an RN, and she is supportive of her stopping the chemo, if she wants to do it.

None of us has any oncology experience, and that is what I'm coming to-does anyone have any personal/family knowledge, or clinical experience with the likelihood of recurrence of the CA once chemo has been stopped? FYI, her lesion was 1 cm x 4 cm, and there were 2 lymph nodes affected. She has always been in very good health until this came along, but it is definitely familial. Her Mother has had bilat breast CA, as well as her aunt.

Thanks for any insight-I am really frightened about what could happen.

[Katnip, RN]

Stopping chemo is a highly personal decision and one your friend has to make for herself. This decision should be made after she talks with her doctor about the risks vs. benefits. She is an adult. It's her life.

If she has made an informed decision to stop chemo it is your job, as her friend, to accept and support that decision and not to try talking her out of it, painful as it may be for you.

[sunnydaydream]

I have to agree with cybercat. Having chemo and dealing with cancer is tough and the only one that can make a decision like that is her.. of course it is always helpful to have supportive friends and family.

It was pretty interesting when I told my fellow nursing classmates about having to start chemo for my brain tumor, but refusing surgery at this time... they were all gun-ho for surgery, but I literally had to sit them down and explain *all* the reasons I had for not wanting surgery at this time. I wonder as nursing students, nurses, people in the medical profession if we forget that there is a human side to an illness too? Sometimes the sickness, the drugs, the appointments are just too much.

[purple1953reading]

I agree that this is another of those decisions that must come from your heart, your gut, and life experiences. I have often wondered if I would start a chemo, surgery, protocol that offered me no guarantees. Unfortunately as a nurse, over the years, my life experiences have left me with many more things to consider than the average patient, and perhaps this is true of your friend. As a friend, it is up to us to support each other, not judge. It is often difficult to do so, when we don't agree with choices our friends make, but that is the standard of a good friend, to support. As a mother of 5, 3 teens, I often feel that my children consider their friend above and beyond their family, but then I think for a minute, and realize they are secure in their family love and support, so it does not trouble them to test the family member, while seeming to be closer to the friend , at the time. I wish both you and your friend the best, and hope the friendship endures and grows stronger.

[CHATSDALE]

given her circumstances with the family hx, the lymp glands involvement i would encourage chemo if at all possible, does she have any financial support if she can not work during this time,

very sad situation that she is in, i can certainly relate, i had a different type of breast ca but it is a life altering situation

bless her

[bigsyis]

Chatsdale, my friend has insurance, and because she is in management and makes every effort to be at work whenever possible, I don't think her job is in danger. She is financially secure, and owns the house that she and her parents live in.

Thank you to all for your insight. If I sounded judgemental, I didn't mean to. If I were in her position I honestly don't know what I would do. As most of you have said, I only want what is best for her, and you are certainly right-only she is qualified to decide what that might be.

[bigsyis]

UPDATE:

My friend is at work today, and said that her oncologist told her that she only has two treatments remaining, instead of the additional ones that he had additionally planned for her. She plans to go ahead with them, and said, "when you are sick as that stuff makes you, you can't stand even the thought of having any more treatments."

[Spidey's mom, ADN, BSN, RN]

Thanks for the update.

steph