How Many?

I am frequently asked how many rounds of chemotherapy I have to undergo this time.

Good question. The short answer is I don't know.

On my notes it says "PD". I quipped that this means Patient Died, what it actually means is progression of disease. So I am presuming that I will continue with my current regimen until something happens to the cancer. Hopefully the disease will abate, if the disease progresses then I am presuming that I will be put on another type of chemo. Who knows? I banking on the fact that my oncologist does.

On this slightly grim subject I thought that I would enlighten you about the terms, terminal, incurable and treatable.

When breast cancer recurs anywhere except the breast it is defined as incurable as it cannot be surgically removed. It is however treatable as other things can be done such as radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Treatment can continue for months and years. Once it becomes untreatable it is then terminal and all that can be done is to make the patient comfortable. Having said that people live with terminal cancer for months and years. So there you have it.