Treatment options- advice please

Kringle12

Hi, I had a mastectomy in January. I had DCIS through my entire breast and pathology found a small area of IDC, stage 1A. Sentinel node had itc’s. My tumor was sent out for mammaprint and came back as high risk/ luminal B. KI-67 was 70%. I was supposed to receive chemo and tamoxifen but when I was about to start, my MO changed her mind due to COVID. I’m now on zoladex shots and letrozole.

I guess I’m just wanting your opinion for treatment. At first I was relieved when the dr changed course of treatment, but now I’m worried that I should’ve stayed the original course.

Thank you.

Peregrinelady

Is it too late to do chemo now? What does your oncologist say?

Kringle12

I see my oncologist in two weeks. It’s my 3 month follow up since I started hormone treatment. I’m going to ask her about it, but I can’t help but feel I should’ve done the chem

Chumbawamba

I have a different cancer type, but from what I’m reading via online searches, the meds you are taking are considered to be antineoplastics (and some even consider the oral chemotherapy) for hormone receptor postive breast cancer. When you see your MO next, ask her to better explain the different options and why she selected this approach over the others as her initial treatment option...because that’s what it is. The beauty of modern medicine and the advances in breast cancer treatments, especially your type is OPTIONS. I would also try to get a copy of the progress notes in your chart to see what she entered. The three MO’s I’ve been to all entered a lot of info in my notes and cited various studies and how the various treatment approaches were each reasonable to consider for my treatment plan. Best wishes

Kringle12

Thank You. I will ask her, those are good questions. The chemo was the initial suggestion, but with COVID, she felt this would be close enough, but that she was in the beginning. I’ll pickher brain more.

JRNJ

Kringle12, Where are you that they didn't do Oncotype? or is that because it was supposed to be DCIS? How are you doing on Zoladex and Femera? If you are asking my opinion, I would say do the chemo. Those tests usually come back high risk because the cancer will react better to chemo than hormone therapy. That is a very high Ki67, mine was 18%. I was determined to do as much as possible. Plus they didn't give you radiation. I don't agree with the automatic radiation for lumpectomy but not for mx. If you had a lumpectomy they would have given you radiation on the nodes. Doesn't make any sense. But they recommended radiation for me because I had LVI. I went for 3 opinions on chemo. I'm more miserable now on Lupron and Aromosin than I was on chemo. Chemo sucked, but it was a few bad days, than some good days. Now I'm miserable every day. I don't think COVID should change the treatment plan. If they thought that was the best treatment for you, they shouldn't have changed it. I'm in NJ, the second hottest spot in March/April, and not one Dr. ever mentioned COVID or delay to me. I went to the hospital every day for 7 weeks from March to May for radiation. And my daughter had a surgical procedure on her ear. But I am lucky that the chemo ended in March. And I don't think it is too late. Better a little late than never. Go for another opinion if you are not at peace. I was not at peace until 3 opinions.