Chemotherapy

my bias is always to chemo - & esp the younger you are - because in my opinion there is less risk from it than from not doing it. Metastatic recurrence is fatal. I went into my first appointment with the MO ready to fight to get chemo. I would have had to get a super low Oncotype to be talked out of it.. but it all turned out differently anyway in my case. But I would also prefer to know that I had thrown everything possible at it & have no regrets. Others are more comfortable skipping chemo if given the option. Only you know what your personality is like.

I hope Beesie will chime in because there is another tool that your doctor can access called RSClin which combines Oncotype plus age and other factors and gives more modelling about outcomes but she knows more about it. I think any dr that ran the Oncotype can access that tool.

I am so sorry.

I had a Grade 2, 2cm tumor in my right breast. I had a BMX & reconstruction. I saw 2 different oncologist. One said chemo was an option & they would consider it, the other said it was an option, but they didn't recommend it due to the minimal benefit due to my low EndoPredict Score.

I decided to not get chemo. If I do have a recurrence, It's not because I didn't have chemo. It's because my cancer came back. Whatever you decide, if ir were to come back, it doesn't mean you did something wrong. I know people who have had chemo, radiation, Mx, etc & it came back & those who had a lumpectomy & radiation & it didn't & vice versa. I think sometimes I was thought & hoped that my choice had a guaranteed outcome & the sucky part is that it doesn't.

I think understanding your choices, trusting your team & discussing your options with those you trust etc. is so important.

the oncologist I chose was the one who did not recommend chemo. She was more focused on endocrine therapy & shutting down my ovaries. And, she was able to discuss with me the pros, cons, etc. and she explained the reasons for her decisions. I made the most honest & informed decision I could at the time.

Best of luck!

I was node-positive and I was recommended no chemo and no radiation. I was told ILC grows slow and doesn't respond well to chemo. I had an oophorectomy and I am currently on letrozole.