Help me help my friend

MMTOMH

Hey Everyone, 

One of my dear friends was recently diagnosed with ER/PR+ IDC.  She had a lumpectomy last week and what they thought was 3 separate tumors ended up being a large 3.8cm with 1 pos node.  My dx is completely different from hers and she has so many questions!  Does anyone have a similar dx?  She was planning on just the lumpectomy and rads...is chemo now on the table?  Is the decision dependent on oncotype dx? Pros/cons of having chemo?  What chemo agents are used for ER/PR+?  

Thanks, sisters!

MeLissa

doxie

MMTOMH,

Since your friend has ER/PR + cancer, her tissue should be sent out for an Oncotype score.  This helps determine the benefit of chemo.  She may or may not need chemo depending on that score and on the pathology details, though with the larger tumor and one node chemo may be more of a given.  She will need to take either Tamoxifem or an aromotase inhibitor for 5 or so years after she is done with rads.  

She's lucky to have you to help her at this time.