Is Chemo necessary?

Ranny

MRI showed a small mass (1.1cm x 0.5cm x 0.5cm). No lymphadenopathy. Bracha test negative. Good health overall. Can I go right to a Lumpectomy and maybe some radiation?

Salamandra

It will depend on a few factors, including the hormone status of the tumor, your oncotype test, and your age. But it is definitely possible that lumpectomy and radiation will be recommended for you. Have you met your surgical oncologist yet?

moth

I read in your other post it's triple negative. Unfortunately triple neg tends to be aggressive and recur. Unless you're very old or have comorbidities that prohibit you from having chemo, I think chemo is a good idea. You get once chance to hit triple neg hard & fast.

Ranny

Thanks for the input even though I was so hoping for no chemo. It scars me a lot. Just for you info, I am 78 and in pretty goo d health.

Beesie

Is chemo necessary? For some diagnoses, yes. For other diagnoses, no.

It all depends on the pathology. What is your ER, PR and HER2? What is your tumor grade? It may also depend on your age.

With a tumor the size of yours, although small, if you are HER2+, yes, chemo will be recommended. That's because even small HER2+ cancers can be very aggressive.

Similarly, if you are triple negative, yes, chemo will be recommended. That's because chemo is the only systemic treatment available for TN cancers - there is no option to take hormone therapy, which is often recommended to ER+ patients instead of chemo.

If you are ER/PR positive and HER2-, then the Oncotype test will be done. The score is an assessment of the genetic make-up of the cancer and reflects the aggressiveness of the cancer. Depending on the score and your age, chemo may or may not be recommended.

It would help if you fill out your diagnosis line and make it public. As you can see, your question can't be answered without this additional information about your diagnosis.