Should my wife start chemo

Julian02

should my wife delay chemotherapy which is due to begin in one week due to the coronavirus and risk of catching it?

my wife recently had a lumpectomy. The results were

Lumpectomy - Jan 26 results:

Margins clear

Lymph nodes negative

4mm tumor - triple positive

Phase 1 chemo - 12 weeks of weekly treatments - Taxol + Herceptin

Phase 2 - 9 months. Once every 3 weeks only Herceptin

Plus radiation and tamoxifen

Tmh0921

Julian

I would ask the medical oncologist. Triple positive cancer is aggressive, and delays in chemo can reduce effectiveness.

Tracy

MinusTwo

Julian - TMH is correct. The HER2+ portion of the diagnosis is particular fast growing. This virus will be around for awhile, so you can't plan for a couple of weeks. Personally I would not put off the start of chemo, but yes - do talk to the MO so you have his/her recommendations.

HeartShapedBox

If the idea is delaying til "after the threat of Covid-19 is over", we really can't say WHEN that might be, but estimations put it at no earlier than summer (& could be much later depending on how it plays out). Since your wife has already had surgery, and had clean margins on a very small tumor and no nodes, it could be that she's low risk and fine delaying a few months. But as others have said, the HER2 aspect is very aggressive when not treated, so speak to the MO about your concerns.

bcincolorado

I have already had a notice from my MO office that they are limiting who can go into the clinic for appointments to one caregiver. Sounds like often a few family members go normally there or something often. Only the patient and one caregiver is allowed at all. If anyone is ill the appointment is rescheduled. Call the MO office and talk to them about your concerns and see what precautions they have in place.

MinusTwo

Good for your MO. No need to have tons of family & friends going into the infusion center and spreading whatever germs they might have hibernating.

Monicadc74

Hi Julian,

I completely understand your fear. I will be starting chemo tomorrow and I am starting to panic! I thought about asking my oncologist to postpone my chemo but I am also very worried about my cancer spreading, so I thought that I will let my oncologist make that decision.

I wish you and your wife the best! Keep us posted about the decision you guys take.