stage 1 IDC, grade 2, treatment options?

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  • txranchmom
    txranchmom Member Posts: 26
    edited September 2014

    OK  ladies, commenting on this one again, cause it shows my history. LOL I started Chemo basically because I was scared. AC, with the Taxol to be started in a month and then the pills. Finally pushed him to run the Onco test it came back, as a score of 9. And I was HER2 negative.  I had the option to stop the chemo at 2 AC's, finish the AC, or the whole thing, and then the pills for  5 years of course.  I chose to finish the AC (54 rounds), he wasn't sure because of the lack of studies on it with the LVI (and again just said it said it was present, either present or absent). But he said the AC was the most important part of the chemo so that's what he'd recommend. Just wondering if anyone has been through this?? Or??? I know you guys pushed for the Onco and helped me there.  Can you help me again? I'm not asking for doctor stuff.  Just info/opinions/ support. 

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  • Mulligan
    Mulligan Member Posts: 205
    edited September 2014

    My stats are similar to yours I'm 40, had a bilateral mastectomy and my 1st Onco wanted to do a "shared" diagnosis basically leaving it up to me to decide on chemo and hormone therapy. He wouldn't give me his opinion and I had to fight to get the oncotype test from him. The results came back 18. I found a new Onco who is totally awesome he gave me his opinion and said "this is what I'd tell my family member to do" he recommended chemo and HT for 10 yrs. The prev onco also said I should do HT for 10 yrs. so I start chemo next Friday 4 rounds 3 weeks apart. I'm still on the fence for HT especially for 10 yrs!

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited September 2014

    I'm not really clear on your question at this point.  Is it whether or not to take the Taxol, or the anti-hormonal medications? 

    I have almost your exact diagnosis.  My tumor was1.8cm (though they did find a second, smaller tumor as well).  It was my right breast and I had a unilateral mastectomy.  Like you I was also stage 1, grade 2, and 0/3 nodes, and ER+/PR+. I was not offered oncotype, Her2, or BRCA testing. I don't know if it's because it was 9 years ago, or my doctor didn't do that, or if maybe they did some of these things and did not tell me.

    I'm commenting because I quit chemo after the first round (I was supposed to have 4 treatments of ACT, each 3 weeks apart).  I'm confused how some people (you) say you have 54 rounds!, when the next poster (and me) have only 4. That seems huge!  I've heard of dose-dense; perhaps that's what I had.  At any rate, I was unable to tolerate it and did not finish it.  I felt the risk:benefit ratio was not warranted.  The person who answered the phone at my oncologist's office when I called about this, just kicked me to the curb. I was appalled.  I said "but, I want to talk to him, and ask his opinion, and if there is anything else I can do--I've heard about Tamoxifen, for example."  She said "Well, do you want Tamoxifen or not?"  I said I wasn't sure, and wanted to talk to him.  She said there was no reason for an appointment if I didn't want to be treated.  It was insane, and left a horrid taste in my mouth. Fast forward 6 months and I'm back for my yearly mammogram.  My radiologist is also appalled, and says "Oh, but you have to be followed by an oncologist!"  She recommended a wonderful woman. This new oncologist said "Oh well, the anti-hormone therapy is much more important than the chemo in your situation."  We are definitely all still in a bit of "guinea-pig" mode as we discover what works for whom.

    The HT was tough; I was glad to get off them. With our early-stage diagnosis, we all have to weigh what is right.  Will the treatment hurt more than the cancer?  I guess we should just be happy we have these therapies.  I had a co-worker diagnosed 1 year before me.  I know she was not being treated with anti-hormonals so I now assume she was ER-/PR-.  Unfortunately we lost her to brain mets only about 3-4 years after initial diagnosis.  

    It's a hard call, to be sure. Best luck with your decision.

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  • Mulligan
    Mulligan Member Posts: 205
    edited September 2014

    Yikes whatnow, sorry to hear how bad your first onco office treated you. So glad you found another one. We are  guinea pigs aren't we? There's no 1 way to treat this crazy disease. I do have to say, reading from the ladies here as well as what my onco has told me the way bs is treated nowadays is better and better as time goes on and with new advancements and understanding and learning more about the human body, I'm glad they are continuing to make strides and learn from this disease (although not fast enough for any of us)

    I thought 54 rounds was really high too but this is all new to me so, what do I know?

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  • txranchmom
    txranchmom Member Posts: 26
    edited September 2014

    ok BIG typo, just 4 rounds, not 54.  Goodness the chemo brain strikes again, and i forgot to proofread! 

    I was just going back and forth on doing the Taxol, vs not and going srtaight to the pills.  I saw my onconlogist last Wed, and he said he was confident I was fine just doing the 4 AC and then the pills for 5 years.  I didn't get to have my last dose though, since my white blood count was too low.  Fingers crossed it's up next Thursday and I can get this over with. 

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