Chemotherapy?

Just be carefull what docs say BEFORE surgery. Only AFTER surgery they can tell the size of your tumor, and SNB will tell if you have lymph nodes positive or negative, It all depends on the path report.

Standard treatments depend on node involvement and tumor size, ( Which means wich stage you are...)Usually you will have every 3 weeks a round of chemo After surgery, usually 6-8 cycles of medication.

Yes, ------- it will change your life, you will not be the same ever anymore, BUT, it depends on you HOW you change your life, if you see the Chemo as your medication that will save your life, OR if you see the Chemo as a toxic enemy.

Myself, I see chemo as a bump in my life, to get rid of microscopic cancer cells. I imagine this and see the treatment as something helpful.

God luck 

bizzlin- I was 44 at diagnosis -no family history but the surgeon recommended that I have the brac1/2 testing as they considered me to be on the young side.  They also said that if the test were positive, they would recommend mastectomy - if it were negative, lumpectomy.  So, that must be your docs opinion as well.

As far as chemo, I think that depends on a few things.  However, your young age and BRAC status would make a lot of oncologists recommend chemo automatically- I think.   Oncotyping could give you more info.  I can't tell if you have had surgery or not.  

Hang in there - you are at the hardest part of this - dealing with the overwhelming info and waiting for more info.  Once you have a plan it seems like it is a bit easier to deal with.

April

Nelia - I completely agree and feel bad that I didn't mention that chemo is not as bad as it would seem.  Great advice to not let your fears stop you or worry you to much.  The fear of chemo is so much worse than the actual treatments.  Yes, it sucks (can I say that here?) but hitting it hard from the start is a great idea.

Nelia, I have to say I always like your posts - you have a wonderful attitude and way with words!

Hi, I am 36. I was diagnosed April 29 and started chemo May 12th as my cancer is agressive. Clinical - Stage 3 and ultrasound measure my cancer at 5.5 cm (doubled in 2 months from when I had my first ultrasound pre diagnosis). They also identified in ct scan - in 2 nodes. I have just had my second session of chemo. I have had minimal SE from the chemo so far. Besides being tired a week after my first session, and taste buds out of hilt and losing hair. But since I had my second session, no SE at all (except the hair). My masectomy was scheduled for may 18th but postponed until I completed 4 sessions of chemo. I am still working full time, and maintaining a family (3 kids and hubby) I only have treatment days of work. I feel very well.

In 3 weeks my cancer has stopped growing and already shrinking - with the chemo.

of course there is lots of different chemo drugs and SE can affect everyone differently. They try and prescribe the SE drugs to make u manage the nausea, and other SE, whilst some struggle with the chemo, some don't. We will have our own experience.



Have trust in your specialist that they will work out the best treatment plan for you, and your cancer. They will monitor and change things that they think need too as you progress thru your treatment plans.



My intial plan was masectomy, chemo, radiation, hormone treatment. (possible herceptin)

Then changed to Chemo, masectomy, more chemo, radiation and hormone treatment (possible herceptin) - Only changed as they want to stop the growth of the cancer. The positive of having chemo pre surgery - is that they can see how the cancer responds to the chemo. After a masectomy they use chemo / radiation to stop the spread of cancer cells, but as the cancer is already removed they do not really know if the cancer cells is responding.

Bizzlin

I am generally not terribly supportive of chemo for those who can possibly benefit from hormonal treatment instead. You won't know that until you get your final pathology report. But to answer your question, the dose given isn't less for smaller tumors. The only type of chemo regimens given that use a smaller dose is sometimes for the elderly or those with other health conditions that would not support the common dose, other than the less commonly given chemotherapy that is given daily instead of periodically (metronomic chemotherapy).

There have been many in my family with bc, and one with OC but none were young. I wish I could give you more encouragement about the choice of treatment. 

AlaskaAngel

The thing I found most helpful was to concentrate on what chemo did ---  and NOT the side effects.  They ALL have side effects and can usually be controlled.   And chemo is not forever, although some days it will seem like it.   I had a total of 16 chemo treatments over the course of 3 months.  Dose dense chemo and it shrunk my tumor to nothing.   Trust your doctors, ask lots of questions.  It is NOT dumb to ask, it is dumb NOT to ask.   

Bizzlin,

One of the reasons I have to have chemo is my age and it is true when BC strikes young it is usually a more aggressive form according to research, they are not sure why.  It was harder hearing that I had to have chemo than hearing the words breast cancer or mastectomy but I am doing better now thinking about it.  It will insure a better outcome for me, I know that.  Ask them which chemo agents they are planning on giving.  Also, ask if they are cardiotoxic as some of them are which means they cause heart failure and/or cardiomyopathy.  My oncologist chose two forms of chemo for me that are NOT cardiotoxic because of my age.  I have prescriptions to pre-medicate prior to treatment and for after treatment to control the nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.  I also have a prescription for ativan in case I have anxiety due to the treatments.  

Now I just have to get my courage up to go wig shopping, I tried once but cried too much, might be ready now and may give it a try next week.  

The size of your mass also comes into play regarding chemo, mine was 2.0 x 1.0 x 1.0 and I had a second that was 1.0 x 1.0 x 1.5.  I had 5 primary sites including those two and one secondary site. I am BRCA negative.  Her2neu negative but ER/PR positive.

Hope this helps some...wishing you the best, sending prayers your way, Paula