To chemo or not to chemo?

@Kerry66 @onemargie @Zoffiel I have just two days ago made this decision to NOT have chemo before surgery. Diagnosed 1 December. I got myself all psyched up for mastectomy and reconstruction. At my first consultation with breast surgeon and registrar, they said the cancer may have spread and recommended chemo before surgery. I hated the idea. I just want the cancer chopped out. I saw the oncologist for the first time on Thursday (28 Dec) and she said Invasive Lobular Carcinoma doesn't shrink much with chemo because it's so diffuse, and there's no strong medical reason to do chemo before surgery for ILC. I said I felt I'd be stronger psychologically to go into surgery if I'd not had the 6 months of chemo with its side effects and lost my hair beforehand. I asked, "What if I do nothing until surgery?" It didn't occur to me until late that night, that of course they can't allow me to do nothing; because I'm Category 1 urgent, they're bound by Qld govt regulations to begin treatment of some kind within 30 days of my first consultation. The oncologist suggested a third option: start endocrine blockers now until surgery. She said they're more effective than chemo for ILC and HR+ and potentially have fewer unpleasant side-effects. I agreed and she wrote the prescription immediately. I feel unbelievably relieved and having made the decision not to have chemo before surgery. I'll have to have it later, but I'll deal with that then. I'm going to start Letrozole today. I've had an MRI yesterday (what fun!) and shall have a bone scan 3 Jan and am waiting for an appointment for a CT scan. The oncologist thinks my decision will mean that the surgery will be within a couple of months. I hope this sort of experience might help you in your decision, @Kerry66. Fran x