Possibly no chemotherapy??

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  • ICanDoThis
    ICanDoThis Member Posts: 1,473
    edited February 2011

    Thanks for sharing - it really helped me to hear.

    As I said, sometimes I wonder, and this confirmation always makes it better.

    As Ruth said, it's important to shut the door on these decisions, and I have made peace with it, but every once in a while, at about 3:00 AM, they do come out to gibber.

    And, the more I learn, the more I realize that Grade 1 really is a different animal from any other breast cancer.

    Hugs to you. Meet you here again in 20 years.

    Sue  

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  • cookiegal
    cookiegal Member Posts: 3,296
    edited February 2011

    seerena please start a thread!!!!!! It would make me feel less alone!!!

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  • Sereena
    Sereena Member Posts: 99
    edited February 2011

    cookiegal,  I did start a thread!!!   "Node positive and NO chemo....any of you ladies have input?"

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  • nikola
    nikola Member Posts: 466
    edited February 2011

    I just answered on your other thread. My only suggestion would be to include your age as that plays a big part in deciding about chemo. I did not have any nodes involved but my onc told me straight in face my age (42) and pre-menopausal status are putting me for chemo. He did give me an option of refusing it but against his recommendations.

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  • slinky
    slinky Member Posts: 397
    edited February 2011

    Now I am wondering about chemo.  I am pre-menopausal with stage 1, grade 2, 0/7 nodes.  My Dr. told me absolutely "no" to chemo and he would highly recommend "no" when I kept pushing about re-occurrence and life expectancy.  I have an appointment with an oncologist coming up, so I will see if he thinks differently.  My Dr., told me it will do more harm than good.

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  • Sereena
    Sereena Member Posts: 99
    edited February 2011

    Nikola, I am 52 and post-menopausal if that helps.....sorry!

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  • Sereena
    Sereena Member Posts: 99
    edited February 2011

    slinky, did your doctor send out for the oncotype dx test? The test would tell you how much benefit you would gain from chemo. Oncologist here in boston are a little more cutting edge (which is why I am not having chemo). My onc did tell me though, if I were a grade II he would be sending me to the chemo clinic.

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  • slinky
    slinky Member Posts: 397
    edited February 2011

    Sereena, No, I have not had the oncotype test yet.  I have the same list of questions ready for the oncologist as I had for the oncology surgeon.  I am grade 2, so the treatment course may change with a different Dr.

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  • Sereena
    Sereena Member Posts: 99
    edited February 2011

    slinky, your tumor is small and you have no nodes but I think with a grade II they may still want chemo. Are you post-menopausal? Let us know what your dr. offers you.

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  • slinky
    slinky Member Posts: 397
    edited February 2011

    Sereena,  No, I am pre-menopausal, but when I take my ovaries out at the time of my exchange, I guess I will be post-menopausal.  I may have a total hysterectomy depending on what my gyno says.  I just know all my "woman bits" will be gone! The new oncologist that I will be meeting with next week might suggest a whole menu of treatments - gosh, I hate this state of unknown.  But the onc surgeon was very sure chemo was not for me and he said he can almost guarantee the new doc will agree that chemo was not for me.  He did say don't be surprised if the new doc recommends rads and Tamoxifen.

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  • nikola
    nikola Member Posts: 466
    edited February 2011

    Slinky, with ovaries out You might get away withour chemo. Good luck.

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  • Sereena
    Sereena Member Posts: 99
    edited February 2011

    slinky, I am post menopausal (52 yrs. old) so it is rads and arimidex!

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  • BlueLily
    BlueLily Member Posts: 60
    edited February 2011

    Dear Sereena,

    Thank you for the info. I have been following this thread while waiting my 2nd opinion oncology appointment. Positive nodes with no chemo might be a reality ..... I remain hopeful... my appt is Wed, 3/2.

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  • Sereena
    Sereena Member Posts: 99
    edited February 2011

    BlueLily, There is another thread which may be of interest to you..."node positive and NO chemo." Probably being pre-menopausal you may need chemo though:-( Good luck next week.  Let us know how you make out.

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  • ruthbru
    ruthbru Member Posts: 57,235
    edited February 2011

    And remember if you DO need chemo; it is not the end of the world, you can get through it. Chemo drugs not working against you, but FOR you in your fight against this rotten disease!

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  • faith22
    faith22 Member Posts: 22
    edited February 2011

    I was 55 when diagnosed. Had the oncotype test done, my results were 11 and the oncologist did not recomend chemo. Said the risks out weighed any benefit I would get from it. I was told it would be my ultimate decision but since my number was pretty low I decided not to do it. I think through the years it was automatic, you got cancer you got chemo. and that's where our thinking is.It doesn't seem like you are doing enough if you don't do the chemo My surgeon even told me I would be getting chemo because of the size but the genetics of the tumor seem to place a bigger role now.Sometimes I wonder if I made the right choice but mostly I am comfortable with my decision.

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  • Sereena
    Sereena Member Posts: 99
    edited February 2011

    I feel you made the right choice. You need to be at peace with that. You are so fortunate to not have any nodes involved. The "standard of care" is evolving as we all sit here and type. Yay for all of us.

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  • jan508
    jan508 Member Posts: 1,330
    edited February 2011

    I was 59 when diagnosed with ILC and DCIS. I had a DMX with implants and oncotype test was 19 and mammaprint was low risk.  No nodes involved - Tamoxifen for 5 years (this is a chemo drug as well as an anti hormone drug). Post menopause at time of dx - no chemo

    Jan

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  • kira1234
    kira1234 Member Posts: 3,091
    edited February 2011

    I have a question how many have had the oncotype test done, and the results differ from the path report from the surgery and the biopsy? In my case the Oncotype test says I'm PR negative, but the other 2 tests say I'm highly PR+.

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  • Lee7
    Lee7 Member Posts: 657
    edited February 2011

    Sereena,

    I'd be interested to hear what your onc says about the PR+ part.  We have the AI (Arimidex) handling the ER+ estrogen portion, is there anything we can do to safely lower the PR progestrone?    Mine was 30-60% PR+.  Maybe that also factors into my Onco score being 20, don't know.

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  • ruthbru
    ruthbru Member Posts: 57,235
    edited February 2011

    I don't think they really know what part (if any) progesterone plays in the whole picture.

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