Another question for you guys.....

I posted in your other thread but to reiterate: we have a similar diagnosis. I had one node w/Micromets. My Oncotype score was 17 and chemo would have reduced my recurrance risk by 3%. Being 58, that 3% wasn't enough for me to consider dealing w/chemo and the psossible long term se's. So I am finishing up rads next Friday then on to A (or maybe not..undecided at this time).

Zachsmom - I think a lot of it is going to depend on your age and possibly the size of your tumor. Not sure you'll be eligible for Oncotype testing, not to mention I'm not sure how reliable the results will be, if you have a positive node. If you are under 50 your oncs are going to highly recommend chemo. I had no nodes positive and an oncotype score of 19 and the 2 oncs I saw highly recommended chemo mostly because of my age (43). In the end I had no choice because I ended up being HER2+.

I am now approaching my 4th and final round of Taxotere/Cytoxan and I have not had many side effects. The best part is that I'm using Penguin Cold Caps and I have all of my hair. So please get all of the information you can about how much chemo will improve your chances of recurrance vs. what lasting side effects the chemo may have.

I was totally freaked out too about the prospect of chemo and it wasn't nearly as bad as I imagined it would be. Good luck to you no matter what you decide!

Yes you do.  You rent them from Medical Specialties of California (really located in the UK). They are amazing. If you end up deciding on chemo and are considering the cold caps, you should read the Cold Caps Past and Present to Save Hair thread. That's how I made my decision to go forward with the caps. I'm having my treatments at Weill Cornell (I see you are from NYC as well) and they are very supportive.

Zachsmom:

Of course, deciding on what treatment plan to go with is always a personal choice, and I respect the decision any individual makes towards their own future, just have to say - please remember - you only have one shot out of the gate to hit this beast with all you can.  Of course, being triple negative, I had to use all the big guns I could in this fight, and while it wasn't pleasant, and I had every damn side effect known to man, it still got through it all and worked everyday other than my infusion days.  I am much older than you, a widow and also raise my 14 year old grand-daughter (which is sometimes more difficult than the chemo was!), so if I can do it - it can be done.

I wish you nothing but the best.

Linda