chemo?

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teracole
teracole Member Posts: 10
edited June 2014 in IDC (Invasive Ductal Carcinoma)

Just finished my lumpectomy and then a re-excision.  All margins were negative.  I am stage1c.

I had my surgeon order the oncotype test which is being sent to an onco doc.  My surgeon told me that the onco doc may still recommend chemo.  I was surprised and realize this is dependent on the oncotype results.  I also was told that radiation and tomaxafin are required.

any thoughts on the chemo part?

Thanks, this is always a continuing education.

terri

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  • Cowgirl13
    Cowgirl13 Member Posts: 1,936
    edited November 2009

    Teracole, it might be helpful to know more about your path report, ie., grade, what is your ER/PR status, are you HER2Nu?.  

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  • bbsoulful2
    bbsoulful2 Member Posts: 6
    edited November 2009

    As my oncologist explained it to me, if they only remove a lump, there is a 40% chance of recurrence, so radiation is really necessary. Also, it appears that the tumor was ER/PR+ for your doctor to suggest tamoxifen. Younger women (pre-menopausal) have 30% less chance of recurrence when they follow up surgery with tamoxifen.  Chemo is another story. If you are HER2+ (not common with ER/PR+, but can happen), then they often suggest chemo. Also, the younger you are, the more aggressively they treat the cancer, as it is less common in younger women (under age 60).

    So there could be a lot of reasons, not the least of which is that many conservative doctors recommend chemo as the standard of care for breast cancer. I made the choice to go for chemo (and will also do radiation and tamoxifen), as I wanted to make sure that I felt that I had done everything possible that I knew about to make sure I stayed healthy. Some women choose to have bilateral mastectomies for the same reason. It's really about feeling comfortable with the decision you make about your own health.

    I know it's confusing. There are so many decisions, and no certainties. But look at the crowd that you are in now! There's lots of wisdom here.

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  • kanthony
    kanthony Member Posts: 24
    edited November 2009

    Teracole,

    I just had my tumor sent for oncotype dx test today. It looks like the score is not dependent on grade of tumor, as I look over the posts on this site, and from what my oncologist said.

    I met with the oncologist today. She said a lot of things for me are positive (largest tumor 1.3 cm, grade 1, negative nodes) however, I had three invasive tumors and lots of DCIS and I'm 46 years old. She said she would give me chemo, based on those factors, if I wanted it.

    Wow. What a hard decision. I am really hoping my oncotype test comes back under 18. I guess I just have to wait a couple of weeks, like you. Hard to wait!

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited November 2009

    Teracole - I am also a stage 1 IDC - 44 years old at diagnosis and did chemo due to the oncotype score of 23.  As a previous poster mentioned, a lot goes into the recommendation for or against chemo.

    There is a great thread - I think under chemotherapy called "New Oncotype DX rollcall - that lists lots of names, oncotype scores and the individual decisions.  

    I agree - hope for a low oncotype score!

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  • Faith316
    Faith316 Member Posts: 2,431
    edited November 2009

    Throw the kitchen sink at it!  Chemo has not been near as hard as I had imagined.  (And I have been on it for 18 straight months because of my unique situation.  See my signature at the bottom.)  Not fun mind you, but nowhere near as awful as I assumed it would be.  Anything that will give you the best chance at never having a recurrence.

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