Tamoxifen ????

[japdip]

66 yo female - mod.rad.mastectomy,12 lymph nodes removed--all negative. Path. report from bx -- Mod.differentiated infiltrating ductal 2.0 cm Grade II . Path report from mastectomy is as follows: Invasive ductal 2.5 x 2 x 1.5 cm Grade III with tumor free margins and no lymphatic involvement. ER and PR by IHC = 90%, HER2 = 1+/Negative, Three stem lines 1.41, 2.41, 2.63 (all aneuploid). High S-phase fraction present but undetermined due to overlapping cell populations.
Surgeon says "cured" ---- Primary Care physician consult with Oncologist who says "PET scan and Tamoxifen. I'm a bit confused and now am 5 months post-op.

[CCF-RN,MSN-rf]

Dear japdip:  Our recommendation is to let surgeons make surgical recommendations and let oncologists advise about post-operative care.  Certainly, by surgical standards, all of the disease has been removed and the margins are clean.  Given the information you have provided your breast cancer is stage llA.  Since you had a mastectomy, radiation therapy is probably unnecessary.  Recommendations will vary with regard to chemotherapy - and it is unlikely, this far after surgery that it would be recommended.  Given the hormone receptor status, you may well benefit from tamoxifen, both from the point of view of recurrence and the point of view of preventing a 2nd breast cancer in the other breast.  I'm not certain why a PET scan would be recommended at this point.  However, you may be served well to see an oncologist, preferably one who specializes in breast cancer.

[que]

HI, HAS ANYONE ANY LINKS OR INFORMATION REGARDING " TIBALONE "
WHICH I UNDERSTAND IS A TYPE OF HRT DRUG.
THANK YOU.

[japdip]

It escapes me what the above comment has to do with my previous question. Aside from that .... in your opinion should I have been referred to an Oncologist soon after surgery? As you might surmise I was not but was seen by the Oncologist one month ago. Thanks.