Question on treatments: Foregoing ALD for chemo/radiation only

Dawnieduckie

Does anyone have any knowledge about the newly released studies regarding foregoing ALD surgery for only chemo/radiation?  I have had two RO consults now and both are in agreement to forego the ALD.  I would love to hear some of your comments/experiences.

MaineRottweilers

I am faced with the EXACT same circumstance.  My BS told me about the study.  He wants me to talk to the RO next week so the three of us can decide what to do.  My BS said the choice is mine, ALD or Rads but either will occur AFTER some chemo Tx.  It doesn't seem like either makes a more significant difference but I don't think there is hard data.  The report was just that, a report going back through the data.  There has not yet been a study.  I asked my BS if I could be part of such a study.  He suggested that I ask the RO, she will know more about what if any studies are actually being done.

Dawnieduckie

Hi Mainerottweilers,

If you will google breast 04 trial you will find the report on this.  Here is the actual report that my RO had me look up.  This was a study with 15 years of follow up:

http://jco.ascopubs.org/content/22/1/97.long

There are some decent graphs and good info in the article.

I am confused as to which way to go but we can't wait too long.  I had a second opinion consult on it at Wake Forest Baptist with a specialist this past Friday.  He indicated that it would be (as you said) up to me but he believes the standard of care in a few years will be the radiation w/o the surgery. 

All that said though, there is still a 2-3% difference in overall survival and recurrence rate between surgery/chemo and chemo/rads, the surgery being the most favorable.  So, 97-98 people out of 100 do well.  I just don't know if I am up for being one of the 2-3 that don't.  Also, one of the things you really should think about is the fact that your surgery is on the left.  The radiation will possibly affect your heart, whereas mine was on the right, and will affect my lung.  This is straight from my RO.  Be careful of the rads!  The chemicals we will be on are bad enough on the heart (Herceptin especially)!

You had your surgery a couple weeks after mine and I still haven't decided what to do.  I am going to make my mind up after an appointment with oncologist this coming Friday.  I already have the surgery scheduled for 5/29 and that is maybe the way I will go.  I just dread the drain(s) and the rest of it all over again, not to mention that my BS said this one will be more painful than the last as the focal point is the armpit.

Decisions, decisions.  Everyone says to follow my gut.  I think my gut is on vacation and I'm out of time.

I hope all goes well for you.  If I find anything else out about all of this, I'll post it.

Dawn