Chemo before surgery???

I am having chemo first also!  I too thought this was strange!  I still think it strange because I have only been booked in for 2 cycles of TCH then surgery rather than the 3 or more that I have read about?

However in saying this in all the foggyness of appointments the doctors decided this was the better way to go as it gave them parameters to work with when working out a 'clearance' around the tumor when it came to surgery.

Its like I have been in a constant fog for the last month since diagnosis!

All the best and let us know how you are going.

Hi Andir, like you l had 8 rounds of chemo too when l was diagnosed in Sept 2010 at the age of 39. One month after chemo (FEC & Taxotere) finished, l had surgery (lumpectomy & 15 nodes-5 cancerous) and then one month later l started radiation. The "logic" of having chemo first as l was told was to see if the chemo drugs were working or not. After the 3rd chemo l had scans which showed the tumor had shrunk. So in a way it gave me more strength & determination during the gruelling chemo as l saw positive results. l believe in the way each person is treated according to their situation, and that we all respond to different treatment plans as each person is unique. l'm sure yours is in your best interest of course. lf you have concerns speak with your onc. l am since cancer free & living life as normal as always apart from the joint pain issues which is probably from the Femara medication as l was hormone pos. To be honest l'm happy it was done this way as l think if l was to have surgery first l would have not recovered well enough to begin the chemo battle! The surgery was tougher than l thought and it took me ages to get proper use from my arm. Everyone is different so you may not have any issues afterall. Wishing you well. Niki

Hi Andir, like you l had 8 rounds of chemo too when l was diagnosed in Sept 2010 at the age of 39. One month after chemo (FEC & Taxotere) finished, l had surgery (lumpectomy & 15 nodes-5 cancerous) and then one month later l started radiation. The "logic" of having chemo first as l was told was to see if the chemo drugs were working or not. After the 3rd chemo l had scans which showed the tumor had shrunk. So in a way it gave me more strength & determination during the gruelling chemo as l saw positive results. l believe in the way each person is treated according to their situation, and that we all respond to different treatment plans as each person is unique. l'm sure yours is in your best interest of course. lf you have concerns speak with your onc. l am since cancer free & living life as normal as always apart from the joint pain issues which is probably from the Femara medication as l was hormone pos. To be honest l'm happy it was done this way as l think if l was to have surgery first l would have not recovered well enough to begin the chemo battle! The surgery was tougher than l thought and it took me ages to get proper use from my arm. Everyone is different so you may not have any issues afterall. Wishing you well. Niki

Hi Andir - you are not alone I had my chemo first.  I had Stage 3, grade 3 multifocal triple negative with 10 tumors ranging from 5cm to 1cm,  My chemo was 12 rounds of taxol weekly followed by dose dense EC every two weeks.  I then had a masectomy followed by 25 hits of raditaion.

The good news was that when i had my surgery the cancer was all dead.  the chemo had done its job - it did not mean that I saved my breast but knowing the chemo worked and their was no cancer left in my breast or lymph nodes was a huge releif.  I finished my trreatment just two weeks ago.

So don't worry that you are different.  Hope this helps.   Sue