Anyone chose not to do Chemo?

Kalimata ~ Welcome to BCO!  Have you had the Oncotype-DX test?  If so, what was your score?  If you haven't had it, you need to find a different onc, or at least get a second opinion ASAP.  The Oncotype-DX is needed to determine the benefit of chemo to you.  It's a test that's done on a bit of the tumor itself, which gets sent to an outside lab that analyzes over 20 genetic factors to determine if chemo is more a benefit or a risk to your particular bc.  Originally, it was not used for node-positive bc, but that changed a couple of years ago.  It's an extremely important tool and the results far outweigh an onc's personal preferenes based on experience, etc.  

Good luck, and please keep us posted on your situation!    Deanna 

Chemo is doable.  It is rough but with nodal involvement chemo is strongly recommended.  My onc wouldn't even do an oncotype because of one positive node.  Kick cancers ass and have the chemo.  It will give you peace of mind later on.

Who gets mammograms on the liver, kidney, lungs etc.

I have never heard of a kidney mammogram.

Rianne2580 - that is the whole point of mammograms - that we can detect cancer at an early stage because you're right, with internal organs symptoms occur often at a late stage.  I'm not exactly sure what you meant by that...as I was stage 1, no nodes my doc said that no PET scan.

Kalimata - Oncotype will really help your decision.  Most likely thousands of women have confidentally opted out of chemo with low oncotype scores. 

I went without Chemo. My oncotype-DX test showed I would only have marginal success with Chemo. So they left it up to me. I had radiation, lumpectomy, Tamox for 5 years, and now I'm doing Herceptin treatments for a year. Check into Herceptin for Stage 1 or 2/without chemo.  Alot of research out there on it.

Kalimata -- your question caught my eye as my mom is considering not doing chemo.  Infiltrating ductal carcinoma -- ER+/PR+/HER2-.  Taking Anastrozole for a couple months.  Unilateral mastectomy a week or so ago and path report was clear -- no additional tumors and lymph nodes clear.  Her Oncotype score, however, was high at 36 so the initial recommendation was for chemo.  Now wondering since the path report was so good and there is no indication of additional cancer if chemo is necessary?  Any insight will be helpful

Hi Kalimata, I live in New Zealand. My diagnosis was very similar to yours, except I had high grade DCIS (6cms) and 1.2cm IDC, ER + PR +ve, HER2 neg. I had a mastectomy and sentinel node biopsy with isolated tumour cells found in 1xnode. I am premenopausal. My oncologist said I was in the 'grey area' that they don't treat with chemotherapy. I did masses of research on the isolated tumour cells and micromets found in nodes and basically the latest research is that treating with chemo does not decrease the risk of recurrence significantly. We don't have the Oncotype test here so don't have that further backup info. I have had to let go of the worry about being in a 'grey area' and move on with my life. You really have to know what you need for yourself to enable you to move on. For some that means having  the chemo to reduce any risk, and others not. Good luck with your decision. Breast Cancer certainly teaches you to know thyself!

Kira1234 and Voraciusreader:  Yes, you are correct.  For my mom, she has both a high KI67 and Oncotype score which suggests that chemo is needed.  However, I think she is being lulled into a sense of security because in the 3 month period from the time she was diagnosed with IDC, had additional tests, got a second opinion, etc and finally had the mastectomy, there is no evidence that the cancer spread anywhere.  In addition, she has some other health issues that could come into play.  We will see the Onc again in a few weeks to get his post-surgery recommendation.  Thanks for your insight.