chemo before and after surgery

[kodapants]

4/08 found lg lump in right, in 5/08 another lump formed in right. Had PET, Breast and Brain MRI, PET showed hot spots in right breast and bilateral axilla. However, I had Breast implants and my PS stated they cause axillas to be hot. End of May started chemo AC then T.  3 wks after end of chemo Bilateral mast. Path report stated 12 of of 15 slices with IDC , nottingham 2/3,  grade 3, tubule 3, mitotic 1 throughout. In addition,  Left breast with 2 areas 0.4 and less than 1 cm same grades are right.  Right nodes 2 levels taken out with all 8 neg.  The report states not sure is new left areas is a second primary or have spread from right breast.  I believed I had a partial response to chemo.  However,  my Oncoglogist stated Good response.  Do I need more chemo or am I resistant to chemo.  I live in small rural area.

[PaulMD]

Hi.

Responses from chemotherapy can vary from being resistant (progressive disease), stable disease, to partial response, to a complete response.  Complete response refers to the disappearance of all areas of cancer.  The fact that you had partial response means that your cancer is not resistant to chemotherapy.  

If you have already completed all your eight cycles of AC followed by T, then you may not receive additional chemotherapy.  I would suggest that your specimen be stained for ER PR and Her2.  If Her2 is positive, you may derive additional benefit from receiving herceptin for one year, and if you are ER/PR positive, you can be given hormonal therapy.

Regards.