Chemo reduce reoccurrance Stage 1 ER+/PR-/HER2- 1.4cm

I am 59 and just had lumpectomy and pathology report indicates I have Stage 1 (no nodes) with both ductal and lobular invasive cancer that's 1.4 cm -- ER+/PR-, HER2-.  I'm scheduled for 4 weeks of radiation after I heal from surgery.  My question involves chemo.  I'm wondering if chemo regime will decrease odds of cancer appearing in my other breast or in other body parts later in life.  I assume I will be put on Tamoxifen but have read that it is not as effective when PR is negative so just wonder if chemo will be advisable and if so the chemo regime that would be most prudent.  Thank you for any advice.  Jan


This discussion is related to Breast cancer and chemotherapy.

[spankyandrex]

Hi Jan.  For sure if you had been diagnosed HER2+ yes, to chemo.  All I've read elsewhere that unless your tumor was larger to put you into Stage 2 or the Her2+, you wouldn't need chemo.  BUT, that's an indivudual decision.  There is always the scary thought for me at least that one micro cancer cell got away and I was glad I had the Chemo to kill it.  I was also stage 1, same size tumor, er-/pr-, her2+.  I also had 33 radiations to the breast.  It's an indivudual decision.  GOOD LUCK to you.
Sandra

[bluebutterfly2222]

The purpose of the chemo is not so much to prevent cancer showing up "later in life," (that is more the job for tamoxifen), but rather to attempt to kill any malignant cells that may have escaped from your tumor via the bloodstream or lymphatic system to other parts of your body. Those cells or "microinvasions," which are not detectable at this point, could increase the risk of matastases. (Chemo is a systemic treatment, whereas surgery and radiation are local treatments.)

If chemo is recommended in your case, the specific chemo protocol  would be up to your oncologist.

Best wishes...