Confsed! Chemo Treatment Or Not??

Hi NYruralrider,  Has your doctor tested your tumor for the Oncotype score? It can help give more information on the % benefit for chemo. And I believe they now do it on hormone negative tumors too. Also he could use Adjuvent on line to calculate your actual % benefit from chemo. You want the actual percent benefit as this would consider side effects of treatment. Ask him for this % if he has not provided yet.

It seems from above you mostly had non invasive tumor, which is good and no nodes, also good. and a  mastectomy. Chemo is a hard decision, but these two tests help determine your actual percent benefit from it.  I assume, but only guessing your Onco is saying not clear cut as often women with DCIS and small amount of invasive tumor and no node involvement with mastactomy would not need chemo. But you are negatgive for hormones which takes away benefit of one treatment option which is hormone therapy.   

If possible, you may also want to consider another opinion or 2 , just to see what other oncologist suggest for your best treatment plan for your type of cancer.

Good luck to you. I am sure other ladies will be along soon to offer their suggestions.

I had a very large DCIS tumor too with about 4mm of invasive cancer.  I was told by two oncologists no chemo, 1 oncologist said yes to the chemo.  My cancer was HER2+ so I knew I wanted the herceptin.  I chose to do the chemo.  I was told by one of the oncologists after making the decision that he fells standard of treatment for a case like me might eventually be chemo even though it is not currently recoommended.  I also was 36 with two small kids.  I knew I wanted to be as agressive as possible.  I want to be here as long as possible.  You need to get a second (or even third) opinion and then make a decision you can live with and plan on living with it for a long time...at least another 50 years

I would encourage you to get a second opinion, preferably from an NCI-designated comprehensive cancer center.  I think either MSK or JH (not sure which) will do one over the phone after you provide them with all of your records.

You may be in such a gray area that they the decision re. chemo will still be left up to you.  However, because of their size and the number of bc cases they see each year, they may have more first-hand experience with situations like yours than a local oncologist, which is what I'm assuming you've seen based on your screen name.

Here's a list of NCI-designated cancer centers:  http://cancercenters.cancer.gov/cancer_centers/map-cancer-centers.html

I'd definitely start by calling the closest one, and try to get more input to help with this decision.

Good luck!    Deanna 

Dear NYruralrider - there is a triple negative thread here on the boards. I am sure a lot of ladies can chime in andshare their experience and treatment plans. I assume she is offering no chemo do to the majority DCIS and little micro invasive? Either way- I'd encourage another opinion. It's worth your time and effort to feel like you have the right tx plan for our type of cancer.

Good luck.