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santi2018
santi2018 Member Posts: 10
edited October 2018 in IDC (Invasive Ductal Carcinoma)

I was getting ready for radiation treatment, when oncologist called saying that my oncotype score came back at a 21, so that pushes radiation back, She thinks I will benefit from 4 rounds of chemo.

My appointment with oncologist isn’t until next week and I’m anxious. Left messages for her, still waiting for a call.

My question is How many weeks/months is that?

What risks/ benefits of chemo? I know the obvious is hair loss.

I’m just looking for sisters that have been or are going through the same, don’t really have anyone to talk to about this because I’m the first in my family to go through this, there’s no history in my family of breast cancer. I feel alone

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  • Ingerp
    Ingerp Member Posts: 2,624
    edited October 2018

    It depends on what regimen you’ll be on. I believe that (except for weekly Taxol, which is for 12 weeks), a lot of the chemo treatments are every 2-3 weeks, so it’d be 8-12 weeks for. Ask your MO how chemo will change the probability of recurrence for you. You could then check out any of the monthly chemo threads—lots of good information/advice/hand-holding in all of them

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  • rachelcarter35
    rachelcarter35 Member Posts: 368
    edited October 2018

    I second Ingerp's advice and would just add in that not all chemo treatments cause hair loss. Also I thought that below 25 was the new cut off point for chemo but it may vary depending on all the factors that go into deciding on one treatment over another.

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  • dtad
    dtad Member Posts: 2,323
    edited October 2018

    Hi there. You didn’t post all your stats, but oncotype of 21 does not always mean chemo. Maybe you should get a second opinion. Good luck and keep us posted

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  • NotVeryBrave
    NotVeryBrave Member Posts: 1,287
    edited October 2018

    Probably none of us can really answer those questions for you. It depends on your type of breast cancer and what chemo agents are used. Your oncologist will be the best source for information about benefit vs risk for you.

    I had chemo before surgery because of the kind of cancer I had. It was 6 rounds - 1 every 3 weeks. The side effects vary by which chemo is used and each individual's response. I had some days that I felt very sick and some that I felt fairly normal and lots that were somewhere in between.


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