I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2008, stage IIb with 2 lymphnodes involved, it had broken out of one lymphnode. Originally I was scheduled for a bilateral mastectomy, radiation and chemotherapy.
I had the surgery (knowing what I know now, I am not sure that I would make the same decision again) and after lots of research, opted to forego radiation (radiation would have "improved" my chances by 1 to 2 % - chances for what???) and categorically refused chemo and instead went to a naturopathic oncologist, radically changed my diet and lifestyle.
This may not be the right decision for everybody but it was the right decision for me. Before I made the decision I researched clinical trials and everything I could get my hands on for several weeks, several hours per day.
The only advise I can give is to read and research everything before you see the oncologist and not to be rushed into a decision. The cancer likely has been there for several years before it was detected, a couple of weeks won't make a difference in outcome.
What has never made any sense to me in regards to radiation is the fact that radiation causes cancer, so in order to get rid of cancer we use radiation? I think there is a difference if they are targeting a particular tumor that can't be otherwise reached or if they radiate the surrounding area "just in case". What are we targeting here? None of the oncologists I talked to was able to answer that question. Together with the 1 or 2 % increase in chance. Ummmh, thanks, but no thanks.
Most oncologists are obsessed with shrinking tumors, totally ignoring that shrinking a tumor does not necessarily equal curing cancer. In fact there is research that if anything is missed by the radiation, the cancer will come back with a vengance.
In order to understand the 1 or 2 % increase in chance one also needs to ask the question what numbers are we talking here? Relative or absolute numbers? What is increase in chance? Most people think that means "a cure". However, the definition of a cure in cancer is 5 years of survival. Not quite what I would consider a cure. For their numbers if are on your death bed at 4 years 11 months and die at 5 years and 1 day, you are cured and that's what's reflected in their "cured" statistics.
As I continued to read about the subject, this is what I found most helpful about the subject:
- Healing Cancer from the Inside Out (can be downloaded on iTunes or purchased on amazon.com - it's a movie/documentary)
- Cancer - Step Outside the Box by Ty Bollinger
- The Cancer Industry by Ralph Moss
- Questioning Chemotherapy by Ralph Moss
- The China Study by T.Collin Campbell
HTH
I understand a little about what you are feeling right now.