Anyone had Neo-Adjuvant Chemo Treatment?

raisan_angels · January 2018

Hi,

I’ve met with my oncologist and my BS separately.

Since I am 31 with IDC with at least one node involved. They are recommending Neo-Adjuvant Chemo before surgery. There’s very little information about it online. A couple studies but not a whole lot of data. I understand there is potentially a risk of up to 12% that would cause me not to be able to have surgery at all. This concerns me.

Usually,this treatment is done to preserve the breast and be able to have a lumpectomy instead of mastectomy, however this would still not be an option for me I must have a mastectomy and probably still have all lymph nodes removed. I’m struggling to see why this treatment is better for me than immediate mastectomy.

I’m one to look into research prior to making any decisions on my health. I’m concerned that I cannot find a lot of solid research on the topic other than it doesn’t seem to make a difference whether chemo is done before or after.

Questions:

1. Did you have Neo-Adjuvant Treatment prior to breast surgery?

2. Why did you have it? Lumpectomy/ Nodes / Something Else?

3. Was it successful or did the breast cancer turn to Mets?

4. If your daughter was given this treatment plan would you feel comfortable suggesting it to her?

5. Did this treatment prevent you from having any surgery after treatment?

6. Did you respond well to Neoadjuvant Chemo Treatment or did you need to stop and have surgery?

7. Are you under 40?

Thanks for any feedback.

Mandy_123 · January 2018

Hi, yes I have had chemo before surgery for breast cancer, her2 positive, and in the lymph node but not sure until after surgery (tomorrow) how many. It shrunk one of my two tumors and the other one has disappeared and can only be found by the clip. I think that often due to her2 breast cancer being quite aggressive chemo is given first to kill any cells that may have escaped the lymph nodes and could be roaming around your body so to speak. Good luck with your treatment.

Mandy x

DATNY · January 2018

Also, having chemo first gives a chance to assess how effective is the treatment. Although this does not warrant anything for future either way.

And yes, I had chemo first for her2 positive, mutiple tumors with one confirmed node. When I went for second opinion, at Dana Farber, I was told that with mastectomy it does not matter if chemo is before or after surgery. I think the studies show that either way (chemo before or after), the outcomesame are almost identical.

marie5890 · January 2018

Chemo-Before, during and after

You also may find the Chemo thread a helpful place to ask these question, RA.

Kimm992 · January 2018

I also had chemo first.

My MO's explanation was that my cancer (HER2+) was particularly aggressive so he wanted to start attacking it immediately in case there were cancer cells floating around my body waiting to attach themselves to another organ.

If it had been surgery first then it could be a while before chemo starts and by then I could progress to Stage 4.

Made sense to me!

Jnnmn7 · January 2018

1. Did you have Neo-Adjuvant Treatment prior to breast surgery? Yes

2. Why did you have it? Lumpectomy/ Nodes / Something Else? The goal was to shrink the tumor for possible lumpectomy and we knew I had 1 positive node.

3. Was it successful or did the breast cancer turn to Mets? My tumor mostly died off, didn't shrink, so still ended up w mastectomy. Nodes were questionable from MRI after chemo so removed level 1 and 2. Only micro mets in the 3 positive ones.

4. If your daughter was given this treatment plan would you feel comfortable suggesting it to her? Yes

5. Did this treatment prevent you from having any surgery after treatment? No

6. Did you respond well to Neoadjuvant Chemo Treatment or did you need to stop and have surgery? I did have a pretty good response and feel that it did its job if there were cells roaming around elsewhere.

7. Are you under 40? Yes

I struggled a bit after the fact that I ended up with the same surgery I would've had if I did surgery first but I am glad to know how my body responded to it. Also, I did reconstruction and my surgeon did say that doing chemo first gave my body time to recover, less chance of infection than doing chemo after surgery. It's a tough decision though if you are planning mastectomy anyway but you may be able to keep more lymph nodes. Good luck

Gussy · January 2018

I am at the end of neo-adjuvent chemo after 4 A+C and 3 (so far) Taxol. These were all dose dense so I have had some serious side effects from the Taxol. The drugs have done the job and the tumor has shrunk at least 50% which was a month ago. I will be able to have a lumpectomy instead of a full mastectomy. I am 79 y/o so the least amount of major surgery, the better in my estimation. I'm glad I went this route and I would difintely advise it for a daughter if it was an appropriate route to take.

Billb464 · February 2018

I did have taxatere and cytoxan before surgery. The thought process was that we could see if the chemo would shrink the tumor. We knew at the beginning that I had atleast 2 lymph nodes involved. The chemo did shrink the tumor by 75% and the two lymph nodes showed only traces. I had a total of 6 nodes removed and a lumpectomy.

I do think that the chemo was easier since I started healthy and ready to fight this disease. I had very few side effects other than the normal fatigue towards the end and hair loss.

I just had surgery January 10, and will have radiation after fully healing. I think I am glad that I had the chemo 1st because the surgery is draining and your body just wants to heal.

helenlouise · February 2018

I meet with oncologist Monday but my surgeon said neo adjuvant for three reasons:

1. Stop distant mets

2. Check that chemo is working (if they remove tumours) can't tell if chemo is working)

3. Shrink tumours (although mine aren't large and will most likely require mastectomy)

Anyone had Neo-Adjuvant Chemo Treatment?

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