Will she need chemo?

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susiered
susiered Member Posts: 256
edited June 2014 in HER2+ (Positive) Breast Cancer

Hey Ladies,

I have a friend who was just diagnosed 2 weeks ago. They said her tumor was about 2cm and looked like no lymph node involvement through scans. At time of surgery the did find cancer in her sentinel node. She is also her2+. I am thinking definitely chemo. What do you think? She is determined she is not having chemo. She says I only had it in 1 node and now it's gone. She will see an Onc next week.

Thanks for the input,

Susan 

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  • lexislove
    lexislove Member Posts: 2,645
    edited February 2010

    She will definatly need chemo.

    Herceptin used for Her2+ BC is very...very...effective. Chemo has its ups and downs but it is doable.

    She will start Herceptin with another chemo drug, depending what her onc perscribes, and then continue with Herceptin every 3 weeks for 1 year.

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  • jacee
    jacee Member Posts: 1,384
    edited February 2010

    I'm sure chemo will be recommended. If a lymph node is positive, then cancer cells are on the move. Yes, it's the node's job to catch them, but there's no way of knowing if it did.

    Chemo is tough, but cancer on the move needs to be stopped.

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  • chainsawz
    chainsawz Member Posts: 3,473
    edited February 2010

    I think chemo and herceptin is very important with her2 positive cancers.  I had clean lymph nodes, my tumor was 3cm and I was diagnosed as stage IV from the get go.  I don't think your friend is stage IV and I don't want to scare anyone, but this stuff is very aggressive and needs to be hit with a hard hammer :>  Best of luck to your friend!   lisa

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  • idaho
    idaho Member Posts: 1,187
    edited February 2010

    Tell her to get an oncotype test... that will tell her if she needs chemo or not.  I would think chemo would be recommended BUT it is her choice.  Tami

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited February 2010

    I suspect that with her stats, chemo and Herceptin will be recommended, but the decision to do chemo or not ultimately belongs to your friend.  No one can or will force her to do chemo, and there are many reasons to say no to chemo, including other health problems that you may or may not be privy to. 

    The best thing you can do is to support your friend no matter which path to healing she chooses.  It is her life, and her decision.

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  • Faith316
    Faith316 Member Posts: 2,431
    edited February 2010

    When a malignant node is surgically removed, there is no guarantee that every single malignant cell  is gone.  Once cancer is in the nodes, the lymphatic system may have been compromised and the cancer may have spread.  It would be a pretty big risk in my opinion for her to not have chemo.

    Maybe you can suggest to your friend to register here on this forum and come and read and ask questions.  Most people who have never had chemo have this horrible image of what life will be like while in treatment.  I am sure that is why she is so insistent that she isn't going to have chemo.  It is no walk in the park, but it is very doable.  Most women manage to get through it quite well.  I have been on 6 different chemo drugs and have never once vomited.  You are a good person to be concerned about your friend.  Good luck to her.

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  • susiered
    susiered Member Posts: 256
    edited February 2010

    Well you all confirmed what I thought. I thought maybe I was wrong. Bless her heart, she went into surgery thinking she'd have  rads, to coming out node+ with the talk of chemo. She told me last night she just doesn't think this is serious. That scares me. I have been through the ringer with my treatment, so I am trying so hard not to scare her, but she HAS to realize that this is VERY serious. I think after she talks to a Onc she will better understand things. Thank you all for your input. I have told her about this site, so I am hoping she will show up on here at some point.

    Susan 

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  • suzieq60
    suzieq60 Member Posts: 6,059
    edited February 2010

    Tell her HER2 means definitely chemo plus herceptin even for node negative. It is serious!!!

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  • Cowgirl13
    Cowgirl13 Member Posts: 1,936
    edited February 2010

    Susiered--Encourage you friend to get a 2nd and/or 3rd opinion.  I'm sure when the first doc tells her she needs chemo she will definitely want a second opinion--probably all doc's she sees from another opinion will tell her the same.

    Good luck.  You are a true friend. 

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  • shadow2356
    shadow2356 Member Posts: 393
    edited February 2010

    I was told Her2+ always means chemo. Mine was node negative but because of the Her2+ and grade 3 I am doing 6 rounds of taxotere, carboplatin and herceptin. Herceptin was every week at first and then will be every three weeks for a year. I am told this is very standard.

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  • susiered
    susiered Member Posts: 256
    edited February 2010

    Update on friend....she went to her surgeon today and found out her tumor was much larger than originally thought 4.9 cm and 2 positive nodes. Definatly chemo!! She is actually going to see my onc whom I love, but I told her to get a second opinion. When I was diagnosed I didn't have time for 2nd. They had me in that chemo chair within a week for neo-adjuvent. But after I was done I did go to Emory here in Atlanta just to make sure my onc had done everything possible. It made me feel better! I have offered to go with her to chemo or whatever she needs. So many women helped me through my journey, I want to be there to help her. Only if she wants. Please those of you who pray send up a big one for my friend! Thank you!

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  • dja625
    dja625 Member Posts: 21
    edited March 2010

    I was recently diagnosed with IDC, Tumor size under 1cm, margins not clear and more DCIS spotted, Grade 3, Her2 (3+). Er- Pr-. I am having a bilateral mastecomy because there were changes shown in the other breast, and I have risk factors. Will I need chemo and or herceptin? I realize that the ocologist can't make her final recomendation until my pathology reports come back. I just want to have an idea of what I may be up against.

    Deb

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  • orange1
    orange1 Member Posts: 930
    edited March 2010

    Depends on how big the IDC portion was. 

    If 5mm or greater, then most would say yes, you should have chemo and herceptin.  If closer to 1 mm, than probably no.  If 3-4mm - maybe.  Depends on your doc, and I hate to say it, your insurance.  This is a gray area.

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  • RegulJ
    RegulJ Member Posts: 244
    edited March 2010

    Cancer is a group of cells. All it takes is one "healthy" cancer cell to break off and start the cycle all over again. Surgery and scans are not perfect. Why risk it?

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  • dlb823
    dlb823 Member Posts: 9,430
    edited March 2010

    Susan, I'm sorry about your friend's dx, but I'm so glad that you are there for her.  When I was dx'd, I had a sister, two cousins and two friends who were all bc survivors to help me through what, in retrospect, was a very surreal nightmare similar to your friends -- where a dx quickly goes from "this doesn't sound too bad" to something much more ominous.  It can really throw you for a loop, and I know how important your support will be to her.  (((Hugs)))   Deanna

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  • susiered
    susiered Member Posts: 256
    edited March 2010

    Thanks Deanna! She found out yesterday she starts chemo the 24th. I was so blessed to have some very special ladies who were suvivors help me through my journey, I am happy to help her. I just hope I can be of some comfort to her.

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  • bestillandlisten
    bestillandlisten Member Posts: 11
    edited March 2010

    Glad to hear she's doing chemo after all. :D  God bless!

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  • CMT
    CMT Member Posts: 24
    edited March 2010

    Susan, what is your friend's name and I will add her to my prayer list! I have been truly blessed....sailing through chemo with no major side effects.

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