Chemo or not?

Options
ARmom4
ARmom4 Member Posts: 163
edited March 2020 in Chemotherapy - Before, During, and After

Hi all! I'm new on this thread looking for some advice. I was diagnosed with 2.8 cm DCIS with 3mm invasive. I had a BMX with clear margins and 0/2 nodes. I met my MO for the first time last week and he's on the fence as to whether chemo would benefit me much. Since I'm HER2+, I could benefit from Herceptin but that has to be given with chemo. He's going to consult with the Mayo Clinic before we make a final decision. He said if we do chemo, it would be Taxol for 6 weeks with Herceptin followed by Tamoxifen.

I feel like since I'm only 35, and I know cancer can spread other ways besides lymph nodes, I should go ahead and do the chemo. Only because I feel like I do need the Herceptin. Anyone with a similar situation? Need guidance! Thanks.

· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • Beesie
    Beesie Member Posts: 12,240
    edited March 2020

    You are not alone... quite a few other women have had a similar diagnosis, and have had to the make the same decision. Check out this thread:

    Topic: calling all t1A (> 1 mm but < 6 mm) sisters who are HER2+

    https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/80/topics/781897

    Good luck with your decision.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • ElaineTherese
    ElaineTherese Member Posts: 3,328
    edited March 2020

    Hi!

    My IDC was WAY bigger than yours, so I'm not in the same situation. I will say, though, that Taxol + Herceptin is not bad. I did it for 12 sessions, and my worst side effect was diarrhea, starting on Day 3. As long as I had my Imodium handy, I was OK. You being so young should help. I didn't have any pre-existing conditions so chemo was relatively easy for me.

    Taxol does involve hair loss, and what was worse, I lost my eyelashes (which still haven't fully recovered five years ago). But, I've lived to tell the tale.

    Good luck!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories