Hi all. I'm new here and just had my lumpectomy on 16/1/23. Reports mentioned 40mm tumour on right breast. Re-excision is required to obtain a clear margin and one lymph node is involved (has cancer) 🙁. Ki67 is 40%-50% and I'm ER+ and PR+. Oncologist mentioned I need chemo as one lymph node is involved however after reading this forum it may not be the case. I am 44 years old. Can I refuse chemo and still be safe ? I feel so lost 😞

Hi there @Annalyn...as mentioned above, trust your medical team and remember, chemo is not pleasant, but then neither is cancer. The fact that it is already in at least one node, shows its intention to travel. It already has its passport ready and bags packed and you would want to knock it off before it boards a plane to travel to some exotic location such as your lungs, liver, bones or brain. Your team would not recommend it if it was not necessary. Good luck with your treatment...Ally.

Sorry to see you here in the club noone wants to join. Try to be guided by your medical team. Chemo is doable. Doesn't always feel like it at the time. Put one step in front of each other and just breathe as you go through your treatment.

I had a mastectomy and one lymph node was malignant (several looked suspicious but were OK). Stage 2 and HER2 positive. My oncologist definitely recommended chemo. As @Lockley says it’s doable (like some, I had no nausea or fatigue and continued work through treatment). I wanted todo everything I could to avoid doing it again. So far (10 years), so good. Chemo can be daunting but so is the prospect of more cancer. I just didn’t want my choices to be the source of any regret. Best wishes.

Hi @Annalyn, it's all so overwhelming trying to figure out the best treatment. The ki67 factor nearing 50% and your grade 2 status of your cancer cells is probably why chemo is recommended especially since one lymph was involved. If one lymph was involved in then only takes one cancer cell to take off and get to another organ and so chemo can hunt those cells down and cancer is then killed off I would get the chemo and you will have more peace of mind that your cancer is actually all gone. If no chemo that cancer that went to the lymph can have spread and it can spread fast. I was 57 when diagnosed with stage 1, grade 3, ki67 at 69% and ER and PR+. I had surgery, chemo x 4 months snd 20 rounds of radium and now AIs. I got through it all. That was in 2020. Yes it was hard at times but it is doable. You can do this too. One step at a time. Reward yourself after each treatment with a night away or a night out for dinner. I hope you have some good support to help you at home. Best wishes to you

Hi @Annalyn I have a similar HER2+ oestrogen pos, progesterone neg and Ki67 50% and have had weekly chemo for a month now and I had the same fears as you. I'm also type 1 diabetic to boot and always dread blood tests as my vein aren't great, but the oncology nurses are amazing at finding veins and have lots of tricks - like a warm water bath for your arm before hand. I am still working as a produce grower for chefs and I told my nurse yesterday that chemo is nothing like in the movies. She said "darling, it was we are not doing our job properly". Everyones experience is different, but trust your team and so far I've found the whole experience not as I feared. Stay strong and allow yourself to be cared for and nurtured and supported by your team. Big hugs, Jules xx

Stage 2/ grade 2 - is chemo required?

12 Replies

Afraser
Member
3 years ago
I had a mastectomy and one lymph node was malignant (several looked suspicious but were OK). Stage 2 and HER2 positive. My oncologist definitely recommended chemo. As @Lockley says it’s doable (like some, I had no nausea or fatigue and continued work through treatment). I wanted to
do everything I could to avoid doing it again. So far (10 years), so good. Chemo can be daunting but so is the prospect of more cancer. I just didn’t want my choices to be the source of any regret. Best wishes.
Locksley
Member
3 years ago
Sorry to see you here in the club noone wants to join. Try to be guided by your medical team. Chemo is doable. Doesn't always feel like it at the time. Put one step in front of each other and just breathe as you go through your treatment.

Forum Discussion

Stage 2/ grade 2 - is chemo required?

12 Replies

Recent Discussions

Triple positive invasive lobular carcinoma

Covid jab

Triple Positive HER2+

Today was D Day

Alone in Melbourne newly diagnosed

Disclaimer:

Foundation partner	Major partners