I Refused Chemo to avoid CIPN

I had 4 doses of EC chemo for IDC breast ER+ HER2+ May-July 2023. I was nervous of the prospect of CIPN as I knew people who had developed it. I was also high risk of developing it being Type 1 diabetic. I took in some freezer packs to hold in my hands and put under my feet. The nurses laughed at me and said it would make no difference. When I read that my next chemo, Paclitaxol, was even more likely to result in CIPN I decided to refuse it completely as felt risk was too high. I am a musician and need my hands to play. I am also fond of hiking and wanted to protect my feet. As a consequence my treatment was described as sub-optimal. I was also refused Phesgo and then Kadcyla because I had refused the Paclitaxol.