HELP - I need advice on adjuvant therapy!

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2young4this
2young4this Member Posts: 5
edited June 2014 in Young With Breast Cancer
HELP - I need advice on adjuvant therapy!
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  • 2young4this
    2young4this Member Posts: 5
    edited June 2008
    Hi all - I am new here but need some advice!  I am 31 and was diagnosed with DCIS (left breast) on April 2nd.  I underwent a double mastectomy with resconstruction (tissue expanders) on May 6th, with axillary node dissection on May 16th (all clear!).  The mastectomy found a 9 mm invasive tumor that is ER+/PR+/Her 2neu +.  My doctors are now considering the options for adjuvant therapy to prevent recurrence.  Obviously I will do the hormone therapy, but my oncologist strongly suggests doing chemo because of the HER2+ factor and the fact that "you are so young"....(yes, I am sick of hearing that too.....) She is presenting my case to a huge board on Friday of this week, and we are getting a second opinion.  Ultimately they have left the decision up to us whether to do chemo or not, and we are really struggling.  Is it really worth it to put all of these toxins in my body if I really (possibly) don't need it?  Oh, and by the way, I am married with a 3 year old and a 14 month old....good times these are!! 

    Thank you for any advice or thoughts you might have!!
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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited June 2008

    Have they talked about sending a portion of the tumor to be tested for the OncotypeDX test? It is a test that gives you assistance in deciding a decision like this by grading how effective they believe chemo would be on your particular tumor....

    Im guessing that not matter what onco you see for opinions (and Im VERY sorry to say this) they are going to recommend chemo due to your age.....

    I know it is very scarey but it will pass and you and your family will get through it and at the end you will feel comfortable knowing that you fought it with everything you had available to stay here with your husband and those two wonderful kids.....

    You kind of have to weight the odds within yourself to make this decision.....one of the biggest that I see being stated with your age group and ladies with younger children is what would they feel if 2, 3, 5 yrs later the cancer came bacK??? How would they feel if they didnt throw the kitchen sink at it to begin with?? Its a very individual decision...having breast cancer is like playing the roulette wheel at a casino I never wanted to play at!!!!!! but we get through it.

    Best wishes

    Hugs

    Jule

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