Thank You!!
I have received so many 'get well' cards, phone calls and well wishes that I have written my story so that those who may love and care for me may understand breast cancer and the treatments better. I really believe that most of my family thought I was going to die and at 30 years old I'm not ready to die!
I have a great surgeon and oncologist both know they stuff and are excellent communicators, explained in detail all the ramifications of the treatment, issues around recurrence and answered all the questions and clarified any doubts/confusion. Based on everything I heard, there is every reason for me to have chemotherapy. Take this as an example: 80% of women in my age group, with my type of cancer, never have a recurrence but 20% have a recurrence, With adjuvant chemotherapy the 20% is reduced to about 13% - that is, 7% of have benefited from the chemo and will not have a recurrence. You can then conclude that only 7 out of the 100 women to whom they administer chemo actually benefit which seems awfully small. Since I don't know where I figure in this scenario, this is the compelling reason for me to have it.
The type of chemo that my oncologist suggested is what they call AC cocktail (Adriamycin and Cyclophosphamide) which is treatment given every three weeks by injection into a vein for the duration of four cycles therefore lasting twelve weeks in all. The side effects of the drug (poison) are hair loss, fatigue, nausea and the lowering of the blood count which means I have to be careful of getting infections. After this, I will have six weeks of radiation therapy, which will involve treatment for about ten minutes, each weekday of the period. Once again, the statistics indicate that the possibility of recurrence in the breast are greatly reduced with this treatment. Common side effect form radiations are tiredness, skin redness/burn, breast swelling.
Both treatment are given for different reason and work in different ways. Chemotherapy will ensure that any little micro cancer calls that may have escaped from the tumour are summarily dealt with and radiation to the breast ensures that the site of the original cancer is made as healthy as possible.
I've had two chemotherapy treatments, (in Paul's words) which means that I'm halfway as far as chemo goes. I have loss all my hair and other than feeling tried some of the time, I'm well most of the time.
I really couldn't do this if it wasn't for Paul he really is the best partner and Daddy. He looks after me like I'm a Queen but doesn't let me feel sorry for myself not even for a minute. This makes me be strong for him and for Max, my three-year-old son.
Thank you once again for all the well wishes and love I have gotten over the last few months.
Alison Piper, Viewbank Vic
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Alison Piper 
