Re: Taxol... changes and update/

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

We absolutely need to take into consideration our unique set of

circumstances. Treatment is not a cookie cutter business. The AC the

onc wanted me to take can lead to congestive heart failure, which runs

in my family. I was also concerned about chemo brain as dementia had

its way with my grandmother and mother. Figure, if I follow their

pattern, have 10 maybe 15 good years left. Thank you, I will have

those years on my terms. Would rather die from cancer than live to 90

and go from dementia and congestive heart failure! I am menopausal

and so far so good on the Arimidex. I do not take Zolodex. Have been

taking Arimidex for about a month. It strikes me as ironic that the 2

breast cancer treatments, I've had, so far, basically take the fe out

of the female. With all the money being spent on breast cancer,

wouldn't you think the medical community could come up with something

better? Think I will talk to my plastic surgeon about gender

reassignment!

Ruth

>

> Ruth,

> I really like your emails! And I do share your opinions. That's

why, despite the protocols I wanted to switch from Taxol to Taxotere.

I do not know yet the full side effects, but as long as I do not have

the perypheral nerve damage... My oncl actually agreed with me in

switching. he said that Taxotere is more agressive and he personally

prefers it, but he cannot base this preference on facts and studies,

just on his observation.

> As for hormonal treatment, we will discuss one I am back from my

radio sessions. I will go to another city for the radiotherapy since

the treatment and machines are better there.

> He suggested the aromatase inhibitors for me since I am on

zoladex. He actually said that I am in menopause, and I promptly said

no, only temporary menopause. He said that in this case the arimidex

is better than tamoxifen. I will do more research on the topic, but it

looks like this combination, Zoladex and Arimidex is a better way to go.

> I am going to face a difficult decision in a couple of years,

since I still want to try to have kids of my own. But I will take a

step at a time and wait the crytical period, two years, go by. Maybe I

will try to adopt in the meantime, though it is pretty complicated here.

> Do you have side effects with Arimidex? Do you take Zoladex too?

> I do not remember if you told me something about it before.

> Thanks and hugs

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