Do I need a Chemo

hw0006

Can anyone let me know if I really need a chemo or not? I had mastectomy at 6/2/2011. My tumor is as below:

1.3 cm IDC with 20% DCIS

ER/PR positive

HER2 negative

Ki67 10%

oncotypeDX score 11

Stage 1

My doctor told me that I don't need a chemo. I am taking Tamoxifen now with no chemo. However, I am very concerned about if I am running my life in a risk without taking chemo. can any of you give me your advice?

 Thank you,

Linda

SoCalLisa

I would say get a second opinion if that would help you make your decision...just remember chemo is not without risk in itself...

Anonymous

According to "statistics" that oncologists have available to them currently .. chemo would give you no additional benefit.   I agree with SoCalLisa ~ get a second opinion if that would make you feel better.

bevin

HI Linda,

 Based on your Onco score, Chemo would not be recommended. If you are Hormone positive, arimdex or tamoxifne would give you your greatest benefit. They are very powerful drugs. Your age and lymph node involvement ,and if your tumoe had any vascular invasion are all important too and should be discussed with your Onco. - these are important items. I note you show 0 of 0 nodes. Did your BS not remove any lymph nodes? If not, then that would concern me as you could be miss staged. 

I agree with the others, get a few opinions and also ask all the doctors what your precent of actual benefit from chemo is with your pathology. If I recall, actual benefit of an Onco score 11 is about 4% from chemo when you consider side effects. Most Oncologists would state its not worth it.

I understand your worry and I would just get a few opinions. Please let us know about your lymph node status though. It concerns me if they didnt check any at all.

Good luck with your decisions.

hw0006

Hi Bevin，

Thank you so much for your help. My doctor took sentinel nodes during surgery and they were all negative. My tomor grade is 2. I have a 2-yr-old daughter. I have no idea if chemo is really helpful to me, but I will try every treatment I could If it is worth it.

Linda

bevin

Hi Linda,  I will share, while I didnt accept Chemo,  it was offered to me.    I am a worrier by nature so I had 3 opinions, 1 Onco recommend, 1 did not and the rads doctor (who was old school) said I should do the chemo as I was young.  I didnt want to put myself through it if the percent benefit was so low so I opted out.  My final decision was made as I considered I was node negative and had no vascular involvement in the tumor so I did feel safe in electing to not do the chemo.

We are so lucky here in the USA because all treatments are presented to us and we can choose.  I feel fortunate I could make the choice personally and that I was presented many options and what their impacts and benefit would be for me.  A good friend in UK was told her tumor tx was lumpectomy and rads for invasive cancer and she had no choice in the matter of her tx protocol.  While the choices are confusing sometimes, I am glad I have them. The best we can do is arm ourselves with as much research, and opinions and then select what makes sense for us.

Good luck to you.