ILC Stage 1;No Nodes - Chemo??

Ashley - normally chemo wouldn't be recommended for that diagnosis, but the oncotype dx test seems to be the standard for deciding treatment in the US. We don't have that test available in Australia - I had to have chemo because I was HER2+ve.

Sue

Ashley - We have a very similar pathology except I was grade 1. Oncologist said no chemo until my oncotype came back a 20 - then he said it is my decision. I decided to do chemo (lumpectomy, chemo, rads and now on an AI. Good luck with your decision.

Ashley my score was 24. My Onc. left the choice up to me. I chose not to do chemo. My new Onc. was of the opinion the risks outwayed the advantages. I did radiation, and am on Femara nwo. It is one of the Al's, which are drugs to lower our estrogen levels.

I found my tumor myself this past February, 2011. I immediately stopped taking estrogen (had been on it for over 17 years). I am 62, and have other health issues, some rather serious, so I decided after all the pre surgery testing, that I would have a double mastectomy (and also reconstruction with silicone implants), and I also had a complete hysterectomy in 1993, everything gone. So, when my Onco DX score came back 28, I was not real thrilled, in the intermediate stage, but I still chose not to do Chemo. I tried Aromasin, an Aromatse Inhibitor for 3 months, but could not stay on it. Oncologist, then put me on Tamoxifen. So far, I am doing okay. 

This is a difficult decision, but I think at a younger age, and if I did not have heart issues and high blood pressure and  a rare disease that causes my throat to swell up inside, then maybe I would have chosen to have chemo.

But, I feel pretty well right now, and keep my follow up appointments on time.

Good luck and best wishes. 

I'm starting chemo 12/29...TC x4. Before my BMX, my oncologist said she was 90% sure I'd have to do chemo because of my age (43) and the tumor was larger than 2cm. When my Oncotype score came back at 16, she said she wasn't so sure anymore, it was in a gray area... But, when pressed, she recommended doing it. I was already psychologically prepared anyway, and mentally need to know that I did everything possible to prevent a recurrence. I know myself very well, and I know it would be nagging in my head if I didn't. I know it's a personal decision and I respect that. We all need to do what we can live with, right?

Btw, from the very beginning, as soon as I was diagnosed, I insisted on a BMX, even though left breast was clear on mammo, ultrasound, and MRI. Final pathology? A large fibroedema (sp?) in left breast. My oncologist said that if I had any lingering question in my head whether I made the right decision or not, I could rest easy. If I had kept that breast, it would have been closely monitored with MRI or ultrasound every three months. And, it didn't show up on those tests in the first place! Geesh, I'd never get any sleep.

My onco dx score was 16 and I consulted with two oncologists who recommended no chemo. So I passed but I am trying to be über healthy and insistent on regular check ups and blood tests. But I can see from all the ILC posts that it's a sneaky type of BC and I guess only time will tell if it was the right decision. I am also on tamoxifen for 5 years.