neoadjuvant therapy

lorettagrant
lorettagrant Member Posts: 8
edited June 2014 in ILC (Invasive Lobular Carcinoma)

I am researching for my sister... and of course my own piece of mind.  So far as we know right now she has ILC, cancerous sentinal node, tumor 2.5 cm, and a couple of satallite 'bunches' from the main tumor.

Docs have talked about doing chemo first.  The only advantage, I think, is to shrink the tumor before surgery....  But from what I've read ILC doesn't really respond by shrinking much to chemo.  Has anyone else had chemo before surgery?

She is also slated for, radiology, homone therapy (aromatase inhibitor), and surgery. We meet with the oncologist on Friday.

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Comments

  • Estepp
    Estepp Member Posts: 6,416
    edited December 2009

    Having chemo first also helps systemically. This is why I had it first. Even though, through scans.. they only found the cancer in the breast and nodes... they could not say 100% it was not elsewhere. So... having chemo first.. treats the whole body.

    I would do it this way again. I never really planned a lumpectomy.. I was a mast girl anyway. Neo-chemo killed everything for me... and I had mast and rads anyway...

    Good Luck and Blessings!

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  • Gitane
    Gitane Member Posts: 1,885
    edited December 2009

    I had neoadjuvant chemo and had an excellent response.  I did not intend to have a lumpectomy;  I did it to see if it killed the cancer and it did.  I had pre and post treatment MRI's so I could see how well it worked.

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  • lorettagrant
    lorettagrant Member Posts: 8
    edited December 2009

    Thanks! This makes a difference.  I really appreciate your shared experience.  It is a little overwhelming how much there is to know - and decisions that are left up to the patient.

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  • AnacortesGirl
    AnacortesGirl Member Posts: 1,758
    edited December 2009

    Going through neoadjunvant chemo right now.  At the 12 week mark the lymph nodes were showing clear and the tumors have reduced.  It'll be a mast for me also.  Another positive about neoadjuvant is that they can see how effective the chemo regimen is against the specific cancer.  

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  • LJ13-2
    LJ13-2 Member Posts: 235
    edited December 2009

    Loretta, you can't really know for sure that her cancer will not respond. Statistics are an average. If 80% of ILC does not respond, then 20% does (not sure of the actual numbers, just throwing out an example).

    I was IDC myself. I too had neoadjuvant and would do it again in a heartbeat. You cannot imagine how very inspiring it is to see/feel a tumor melting away after each chemo. It really fortifies you for what you are going through. Really, if you have the tumor removed first then do chemo, you pretty much cross your fingers and hope they've picked the right kinds of chemo drugs ... since there is no feedback from your removed tumor.

    Anyway, I say, research as much as you need to, to be comfortable with the treatment plan. Ask the doc and make him sell the treatment plan. Get a second opinion if needed. Then go into it wholeheartedly.

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  • lorettagrant
    lorettagrant Member Posts: 8
    edited December 2009

    As of our appt. with the oncologist today it sounds like neoadjuvant chemo is off the table. I think the reasoning was that they are not sure what my sister's status is - inconclusive outcomes for chest/abdomen CT scans about the possibility of metastis and or low grade lymphoma possibility. I am so frustrated..  tests seem to just lead to more tests...PET next week.  Okay, that isn't exactly fair. Brain scan was clear, as was the bone scan and lungs seem clear as well. She is also HER2 negative.  The doc. is talking about starting her on Femora (? aromatase inhibitor) now - and moving into surgery in about 3 weeks. I think they are having difficutly determining exactly what the tumor looks like - say nothing about whatever else is going on. A month in and no staging, or clear treatment strategy. It just feels hard.

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  • Hattie
    Hattie Member Posts: 414
    edited December 2009

    as hard as it is, know that there is time to get info and to make the best treatment decision.

    once there is more info, choices become more clear, and your sister can make a plan that she has confidence in, and take action.

    that being said, waiting is the. worst. thing. ever.

    hang in there and take care,

    --hattie 

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  • lorettagrant
    lorettagrant Member Posts: 8
    edited December 2009

    Thank you, Hattie. Tonight your understanding makes me want to cry... in a good way.   It makes a difference. I think we'll just do what we can - PET scan, surgery on 1/5/10... then think about getting a second opion if that seems appropriate from a hospital with more experience with ILC. <3 thanks.

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