Delaying Chemo 30+ Days Linked to Worse Outcomes for Triple-Neg

I wasn't triple negative but pr receptor negative 0% er 95%, my oncologist pushed hard for immediately starting chemo. He would not agree to a 2 week delay. I think what I have been reading is the absence of progesterone receptors in er positive cancers behaves more like triple negative. Most of the recurrences happen in the first couple years after surgery they tend to be more aggressive. If you are in good health and sufficiently healed from surgery I believe that most oncologists suggests immediate treatment.

My sister, who is triple negative, had a lumpectomy on Nov 3, then they told her she needed a rescission. It was scheduled for the 28th (yesterday) but she became sick so it's rescheduled for Jan 10. She's had no radiation or chemo yet (both recommended).

So, according to this article, because of the delays over 30 days after surgery, she has a higher risk of recurrence (the cancer coming back) and worse survival than people who started treatment within 30 days after surgery?!?!

Which surgery do you start counting from; the first or the second surgery?

Thanks, santabarbarian!

I don't fully understand her report and it's a screen shot so I can't cut and paste.

She has IDC grade 3 of 3.

The lymph nodes were negative for metastatic carcinoma.

I feel like I may be pushing her too much; she doesn't seem to want to talk about it much. I asked her for the number of chemo and radiation treatments some time ago, and she's never told me. I guess I should back off.

Thanks for the stats Lyn. Indeed, very interesting. Yes, I understand what you mean by anxiety. I don't really have any for myself, then again, I'm almost 75 and am prepared (I think) for whatever the future holds.

I am so sad about reading the new studies about postingponing chemo for more than 30 days after surgery. I had my surgery and was unable to get an appointment with a medical oncologist until 6 weeks post surgery. ( I live in a major city not a small town). My surgeon reassured me that was not a problem, that I had to heal from the surgery for at least 6 weeks. ( bilateral mastectomy). I healed quickly and uneventfully. I would have gladly started chemo sooner. I even requested a port be placed at the time of surgery so I can start chemo ASAP. I feel like she has jeopardized my life

Dear Moderators and others,

Should I tell my sister to push for getting chemo sooner, since her first surgery was Nov. 3 and her second surgery will be Jan 10th?! It's more than 30 days already!

Forgive me, but I'm getting a little panicked for her. When she found out I had cancer, she called me every single day going forward. Since discovering she has cancer she doesn't speak about her own very much, except give me dates for the surgery. She promised me two months ago to tell me how many treatments they are recommending (chemo, radiation), but never has!

I suppose I should let this all roll off my back but it's easier said than done.

It can be difficult to get things scheduled around the holidays, but it can't hurt to call and advocate for yourself.

Lyn

My doctor is pushing Chemo first and surgery later. Is anyone else experienceing that? We are told surgery is not what is recommended for TNBC but everywhere I read I see something different. We are very confused.

carmonique,

the only tnbc they take out first is if it is stage one and not into lymphatic system yet.

I recently completed chemo, and my lumpectomy was last week. Yesterday I found out that I had no live cancer in my tissue... pCR!!

It seemed counter intuitive to leave the tumor inside me at first.... but the upside is knowing the chemo was lethal to my cancer.

viewfinder - I wouldn’t call it standard procedure. I went to a top tier cancer hospital in Philadelphia and knew many women with TNBC who had surgery prior to chemo, especially if tumor was small