Where do I go next?

kayyblaine

Where do I go next?

kayyblaine

I was diagnosed with breast cancer in March of this year. I had a successful lumpectomy and have had several follow up appointments. I am allegable for the prevention pill and now must decide on radiation, chemo, and just the general treatment. My doctor has now noticed a spot in my liver, and we still don't know if it's cancerous. He was already avid about chemotherapy, but is even more so now, even though we don't know the results! Also my oncotyping number is a 52, which has made him even more uneasy. I'm just not sure who to trust and what to do. 

My mother-in-law is an avid believer in natural medicine and believes if I do radiation or chemotherapy, I will only develop further tumors from these treatments and die anyhow...need advice and help - what do you think is best?

ruthbru

With a score of 52, you absolutely need chemo. With a lumpectomy, you absolutely need radiation....they go together. If you already have cancer cells circulating in your body, there is no 'natural' medicine that will kill them, although there are many complementary things you can do that may make treatment easier.

Moderators

keyblaine, welcome to Breastcancer.org. We're sorry you're facing this worry, but glad you found this knowledgeable and supportive community.

Zeroing in on your comment that you don't know who to trust and what to do, one option might be to seek a second opinion. You can find much more information about Getting a Second Opinion at the main Breastcancer.org site.

You're sure to hear from more members like ruthbru too, to learn from their experiences and insights.

Best wishes,

• The Mods

doxie

I second what Ruth and the Moderators have written.  It seems that getting a second opinion is a good idea.  

It's important to remember that while your mother-in-law means well, she is not an expert on cancer treatment, even if she is well versed in natural remedies.  Some women here get treatment from their doctors and complement it with natural medicine, supported by their cancer drs.  Doesn't exercise, eating a healthy diet, being a healthy BMI, living a healty lifestyle fit into this?

A 52 is a high risk oncotype score. I'm sure your Grade is also indicative of needing chemo.  You don't list the size of the tumor, if you had lymph node involvement, if you are HER2+, or your Ki67 %.  Also how ER+ or PR+ your tumor was.  All of these are considered when deciding on chemo.  

And Ruth is right, except for very limited situations, radiation must follow a lumpectomy.  My BS only performed a lumpectomy it if I agreed to radiation.