Chemo before surgery. What was your experience?

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eartman
eartman Member Posts: 37
edited June 2014 in IDC (Invasive Ductal Carcinoma)


I am 21 with IDC, 4cm, Stage IIa, ER+/PR+, HER2-. They are wanting to do chemo before lumpectomy to help shrink the size.

Anyone know about this? What chemo is the best one to do? What was your experience? How often did you get it and for how long each time?

 

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  • eartman
    eartman Member Posts: 37
    edited October 2013


    Was it done through IV?

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  • ziggypop
    ziggypop Member Posts: 1,071
    edited October 2013


    I had chemo before surgery. My tumor was about 4 inches (9 cm) across - huge, and I have small breasts. Given that they already knew that it was in my lymph nodes, and I would need Chemo they did the chemo first. My chemo was every 3 weeks for 6 rounds. The first treatment wasn't bad - but it got progressively worse. But it really varies from person to person, by the time they got to my last round, my onc cut the dose in half.

    I don't know that there is any reason to not have the chemo first - I could feel my lump shrinking (although I still ended up with a mastectomy - they were able to leave a thicker layer of fat which is a good thing). The ONLY thing I would recommend is asking them if you can have a sentinel node biopsy before the chemo. This (from what I can tell) is usually done at the time of the surgery - they take each node in order & test them so that they don't remove more than necessary. If you have the chemo first then they have to remove all the auxillary nodes (under your arm).

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  • lovelikecrazy
    lovelikecrazy Member Posts: 32
    edited October 2013


    I had chemo first and was so glad I went that route. I first had a sentinel nodes biopsy and was pleased to find out that no nodes were involved. If this is done first you know the node involvement before chemo. Then I had the port placed, another surgery that I was grateful to have done. My veins were always good but chemo was very hard on them. I know this because they had a hard time accessing them for a Muga scan that I had done during chemo. Chemo was tough but it worked. My tumor was so close to the nipple the doctor wasn't sure he could save it. But the chemo shrunk the tumor to the point that I could have a lumpectomy and when it was tested, NO CANCER WAS FOUND! Good luck and know that we are pulling for you.

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  • ziggypop
    ziggypop Member Posts: 1,071
    edited October 2013


    Wow - no cancer, that is fantastic. They still found cancer even in two of my lymph nodes after the chemo - but I'm still glad to have the chemo done first.

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  • eartman
    eartman Member Posts: 37
    edited October 2013


    that is amazing congrats! What medicine was used in your Chemo? How often were rounds and how long?


    If you don't mind me asking

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  • eartman
    eartman Member Posts: 37
    edited October 2013


    was yours idc.

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  • eartman
    eartman Member Posts: 37
    edited October 2013


    thank you for your response. That is great that it worked for you. This was all before surgery was even done? Chemo?

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  • eartman
    eartman Member Posts: 37
    edited October 2013


    No idea. I go tomorrow afternoon. was trying to see about other peoples in the meantime.


    How was your weekly dose administered? And the fec?

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  • eartman
    eartman Member Posts: 37
    edited October 2013


    thats weird. I wonder what are my options then..

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  • eartman
    eartman Member Posts: 37
    edited October 2013


    ill look some info up in those. Thanks.

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  • msphil
    msphil Member Posts: 1,536
    edited November 2013

    I had chemo for 3 months before and after surgery and it was a good plan for I am now a 19yr Survivor(Praise GOD) and am here to Encourage and Inspire others to fight the good fight to Health.  msphil(idc,stage2, 0/3 nodes,L mast, chemo and rads and 5 yrs on tamoxifen,

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