Neoadjuvant TCHP and poor pathology report after masectomy

Iwbt

I completed 6 rounds of TCHP and then had a masectomy. 3 of 7 lymph nodes showed response to chemo but micro-metastasis greater than 200 cells. The breast tumor showed response to chemo, but active cancer cells still detected.

I have radiation scheduled to start in 2 weeks.

Now what? What does this mean. More chemo? Chances of recurrence? Or metastasis to other location?

HELP!

Hopeful82014

I can't tell you what the next steps might be (although I'm pretty sure hormonal therapy - tamoxifen or AIs - will come into it at some point since you're ER+). I can tell you that I understand how disappointing it can be to have residual cancer remaining after neoad. treatment.

It does sound as though you had a very solid response, however, which should be encouraging. My understanding is that this is not uncommon with ER+ tumors. I hope you have a confab scheduled with your MO in the very near future so you can get some idea of where to go from here. I think getting that settled a.s.a.p. would be extremely helpful for you. If you need to be a pest in order to get in, don't hold back! Your MO is the person who can delve into issues of treatment, odds of recurrence, etc. Good luck.

Iwbt

I have a consult with my oncologisttag scheduled for the 11th. I am not a fan of chemo. TCHP was rough. I'm just so disappointed.