Breast Cancer Reoccurrence, Chemo or No Chemo, Oncotype 22

Ldrumm65

Hello - I was diagnosed with pleomorphic ILC on October 3, 2018 in my left breast. Subsequent mammograms, MRIs, and ultrasounds of my right breast and left lymph nodes did not show cancer anywhere else. Only in my left breast. I had double mastectomy on November 1, 2018 even though the cancer was only diagnosed in my left breast. I opted for the double mastectomy as preventative. I did not want to take any chances that cancer would later be found in my right and have to go through all this again. After surgery, the doctors found three cancer tumors in my right breast and my sentinel lymph node had micrometastic cancer and a cancer cell was found in two other lymph nodes.

This is also a reoccurrence of breast cancer for me. I was diagnosed with DCIS in June 2011 and chose a lumpectomy and radiation.

My oncologist doctor with Sarah Cannon is recommending no chemo based on my oncotype score of 22. He recommends 10 years of anastrazole. My radiation doctor is recommending radiation to my breast (again), upper chest, and lymph nodes. He also mentioned removing all my lymph nodes as a possibility.

I am in the process of seeking a second opinion on treatment from the UnIversity of Kansas Medical Center. I have met with the oncologist only so far. The radiation doctor with KU is the same doctor who ordered my radiation in 2011. I will meet with him this week. The oncologist wants to do 8 sessions of chemo every 2 weeks. Then hormone therapy also. He feels like the size of my tumor at 6 cm, the fact that cancer was in my right breast in addition to my left, and was also found in my lymph nodes as reasons not to just go by the Oncotype 22 score of no chemo.

My oncologist is getting input this week from multiple oncology and radiation doctors to help determine the best treatment plan for me.

Has anyone else been in a similar situation with an intermediate Oncotype score, tumor on the large size, and had cancer that had spread to lymph nodes? If so, what was your treatment plan?

Falconer

bump.

AdelleMissouri

I had a large tumor. ILC. Estimated to be 7 cm. (Turned out to be 9 cm) 1st opinion oncologist would have obtained an Oncotype before deciding on treatment. 2nd opinion oncologist---the one I choose--- wanted chemo, radiation, and then 5 years ..."maybe 10, we'll talk"...of an AI. I'm taking anastrozole. There were micro cancer cells in two nodes.