Not sure what stage I am

I was diagnosed with IDC breast cancer in November.  ER/PR positive in >90% of cells HER2 negative.  Oncotype score 3.  I was looking at Rads and tamoxifen.  Before starting the rads I had a CT scan which shows 3 small nodules in right lung and 1 in left lung.  The left lung is the largest at 6mm.  I am told they are too small to biopsy and too small for a PET scan so chemo (just in case) is the only option.  Would Tamoxifen work as well / better than chemo given the hormone recpetor status of the breast tumour or do I need chemotherapy?  If so what type of chemo is given for this?  Would it be the same as breast cancer chemo or different?

[japdip]

I believe i responded to your post on the Comm. Forum; about the Tamoxifen .... it is not a drug that treats breast cancer or the metastises of BC. It is used in estrogen positive tumor cancers to reduce the recurrance of the cancer. The question as to what type of Chemo would best be answered by your ONcologist who has all your records and history of your disease.    Regards ....

[Izbiz]

Sorry, I am still confused - do you mean that tamoxifen only stops breast cancer coming back in the breast and has no effect on tumours elsewhere in the body if it has spread there?  If an estrogen receptor postiive breast tumour metastisises to the lungs or liver does it remain estrogen receptor positive or does it develop differently?

[japdip]

Sorry if I confused you .... the main point is that Tamoxifen blocks the production of Estrogen and does not in any way treat breast cancer. The ER+ tumor relies on Estrogen for growth; when Estrogen production is blocked it is unavailable for a cancer to use. This reduces the chance of recurrance of the primary cancer. Tamoxifen therefore has no effect in the treatment of the cancer; whether the primary tumor in the breast OR metastisis of this cancer to another part of the body. Hope this clears it up ... if not, let me know and I'll try again.  Take care ....