Hi, I am 3 weeks out from a bi lateral mastectomy with immediate reconstruction and only had sentinal nodes removed, one one each side. I have recovered really well except a recurring seroma but it isn't painful just annoying really. I was told today by the nurse that they have recommended chemo. This is the only thing during this process that I wanted to avoid. The surgery results were all clear, with clear margins and nothing found in nodes. I had DCIS in right and idc in left but was low grade and 13mm. I'm confused as to why they want me to have chemo. They say its because I'm young (40) but I feel that's not a medical reason as to why I should have it. I don't see the oncologist for a few weeks but it is driving me insane already. Does anyone have any advise or a similar situation and did or didn't have chemo. Any info will be a great help. Thanks Marney

Hi Marney There will be others that chime in here. I believe that there is a test that you can pay for (oncotype DX) that can give you a prediction on whether chemotherapy would benefit your case at all. Your hormone and Her2 status would also be important factors. You are right to be questioning, you have time. Can you seek a second opinion? Hopefully others will chime in with good info. Amanda

Hi Amanda, Thanks for that. I have heard about the test but apparently it costs $4000 and Medicare don't cover it. I will see the oncologist in person and then maybe a second opinion. Thanks again. :-)

I looked at my chemo as an insurance policy against the cancer coming back again. I had it first back in 2003 and didn't have any chemo (age 35) and then again in 2010 (aged 42) I had chemo. I didn't want to take the chance of having it come back a third time! Also, I figure that the oncologist wouldn't recommend it unless they saw some benefit from me having it. Anyway, that was my thoughts at the time! I guess I'd have another chat to the oncologist and see what they think your chance of recurrence is and how much that would be reduced by having chemo. At least then you will have some stats to base your decision on. Good luck, Louise

Hi Marney, My story is similar to Louise - just different year for the first diagnosis. I definately "lined up" with the second diagnosis. First time around the "add on" percentage of reoccurance over a 10 year period was not enough for me to opt to have chemo. Also my margins were clear and no lymp nodes were involved (that we knew of). If I knew at the first diagnosis what I did at the second - I would have definately had the test done to ascertain if chemo should have been undertaken. Keep asking questions of your oncologist XLeonie

Hi Marney. Your oncologist will be able to go through all the risk factors and the projected outcomes. There's a website they can use (adjuvantonlone.com) where they pucnh in your risk factors; age, comorbidity, hormonal receptors, tumour grade, size, nodes etc. Then they can put it various options for treatment you might do in addition to the surgery, for both hormonal and chemo. It calculates the 10year survival rates, based on giant databases of people with previous cancer and their treatment and the outcomes. I think lots of people are uncomfortable with maths and statistics, so you might have to ask them to show you the figures. In my case "no additional therapy" gave about 70% 10year survival. The Chemo plus hormonal treatments that my oncologist recommended gave about 90% 10year survival. For me, that made it worth doing. Another thing to think about is, what makes you nervous about doing chemo? Often our perception of what it will be like is coloured by what we see in movies and TV. Lazy script writers use "bald and vomiting" as a way of ending a character because the actor has quit or the contract ran out. It's not actually realistic. While I'm not saying chemo is a walk in the park (I did it 10 years ago and am doing it again now.) The anti nausea drugs are pretty good nowdays. I'm using Pengiun Cold Caps and I still have my hair! There was an article in today's Held Sun (in Melbourne, not sure where you are?) about them. The other side effects vary between drugs, and some people get more than others. Tiredness is pretty common. Anyway, good luck with whatever comes next, I hope you are able to find some calm to consider your options and choose the best way forward. Sharon

Chemo or not | BCNA Online Network

13 Replies

louiseg
Member
13 years ago
I looked at my chemo as an insurance policy against the cancer coming back again. I had it first back in 2003 and didn't have any chemo (age 35) and then again in 2010 (aged 42) I had chemo. I didn't want to take the chance of having it come back a third time! Also, I figure that the oncologist wouldn't recommend it unless they saw some benefit from me having it.

Anyway, that was my thoughts at the time! I guess I'd have another chat to the oncologist and see what they think your chance of recurrence is and how much that would be reduced by having chemo. At least then you will have some stats to base your decision on.

Good luck,

Louise
Marnz
Member
13 years ago
Hi Amanda, Thanks for that. I have heard about the test but apparently it costs $4000 and Medicare don't cover it. I will see the oncologist in person and then maybe a second opinion. Thanks again. :-)
MandaMoo
Member
13 years ago
Hi Marney

There will be others that chime in here. I believe that there is a test that you can pay for (oncotype DX) that can give you a prediction on whether chemotherapy would benefit your case at all. Your hormone and Her2 status would also be important factors. You are right to be questioning, you have time. Can you seek a second opinion?

Hopefully others will chime in with good info.

Amanda

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Chemo or not

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