Chemo or not?

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pcollins
pcollins Member Posts: 26
edited June 2014 in IDC (Invasive Ductal Carcinoma)

Would you all please give me some insight into how you chose to have chemo therapy?  My surgeon said she did not think it is necessary. My Onc said it is definitely necessary. He is recommending Taxatere / Cytoxan (spelling may not be right). I am getting a second opinion from another onc next week.  Also am having the genetic testing as I have a daughter.  BTW, I have other complicating health factors including a potential Lobectomy of the R Upper Lung due to infectious diseases and so the Infectious disease doc wants me to have a partial radiation of the R breast (to protect the lung)  while the surgeon wants full radiation as I did on the last breast cancer in the L. breast (I had scarring on this breast).  Can anyone tell me of a web site or cancer support group in Colorado where I can do some research on the effectiveness of the therapy?  Thank you all so very much.  I stand in awe of what many of you are enduring.

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  • luckypenny
    luckypenny Member Posts: 150
    edited February 2014

    As much as I love my surgeon, I wouldn't trust her opinion over my oncologists on a treatment plan.  I would consult my onc for chemo questions and my radiation onc for radiation questions.  Good luck to you

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  • pcollins
    pcollins Member Posts: 26
    edited February 2014

    Thanks for your input.  I am tending to agree except that she has been instrumental in making other decisions as well.  Guess I'll have to continue on this path that takes me to several opinions - which is both good (to have options) and not so good as it makes me the one to do all the research etc and I really am not very well versed on the cancer "stuff" at this point.  But will get better, I am sure.


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  • ruthbru
    ruthbru Member Posts: 57,235
    edited February 2014

    Surgeons are experts in surgery, but not on the rest of cancer treatment. My surgeon never mentioned chemo....just the mastectomy or lumpectomy plus rads choice (which I later found out wasn't quite accurate either, because not everyone who has a mastectomy can avoid radiation), so I was SHOCKED when my oncologist said chemo was a given with my stats. The same thing happened to several friends, who had different surgeons & oncologists than I. So I think it must be pretty common.

    pcollins, I just looked at your Dx. Being ER/PR negative and HER2 positive means that you absolutely DO need chemo, not only the TC but also Herceptin. Go to the homepage of BCO and scroll across the topics on the top of the page, you will get a lot of information there.

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  • edwards750
    edwards750 Member Posts: 3,761
    edited February 2014

    Amen to our oncologists rule...they are the go to person after surgeries. Following my lumpectomy(Stage II, Grade 1) the Path report showed a micromet in my SN. My BS said that would get me chemo. My oncologist was ambivalent about treatment so she ordered the Oncotype test for me. Thank goodness she did. My score came back low and I have a non-aggressive tumor. I had 33 RADS treatments. The bottom line is the BS is good at what he or she does but that's where their expertise ends. They certainly have a right to dispense their opinions/medical advice but they don't have expertise in treatment plans. That is the job of the oncologist. I have to admit I did gloat when I saw my BS after my treatment was over. He is a really good doctor but his bedside manner needs work. He has a great staff which is why I will continue having my mammograms at his office; I like the small office not the large one where you wait along with a hundred other people. That makes me even more nervous. I would yield to my Oncologist. Diane

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  • ruthbru
    ruthbru Member Posts: 57,235
    edited February 2014

    My theory is that doctors who become surgeons like people best when they are unconscious!

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