Prognosis for Mom 63

[mab]

My Mom just had a 1.1cm tumor and had a mastectomy. Her oncologist told her that some of her lymph nodes were affected but he is happy that he removed all of the cancerous ones. He says she needs no further treatment. Does this mean she is now cancer free? Has she survived breast cancer? What should she do next?

[natia]

My name is Natia. My aunt was diagnosed with breast cancer over a year now, so I have done quite of reading about cancer. I would strongly advise to see a doctor about treatment. As I remember my aunt was told she did not need any treatment after her surgery as well, but she has been on chemo, she has bone metastasis. I WOULD ALSO ADVISE TO DO ALL THE KINDS OF TESTS POSSIBLE NOT TO MISS ANY METASTASIS, ESPECIALLY IN BONES!!!!!!! EVEN IF THERE ARE NO DOUBTS ABOUT ANY EXISTING METS, PLEASE DO ALL THE POSSIBLE TESTS!!

Good luck to you and your mom!

[Redbean]

I am 57, just had a double mastectomy with prior 4 AC treatments and am on tamoxifen.  If some cancer cells were found in your mom's lymph nodes, from what I have read, she should definately be getting some adjuvant therapy such as chemo and or tamoxifen.  I would see an oncologist and get a second opionion. Good luck.

[Dananddi]

Please make sure you see an oncologist. My mom had BC at 59 (she's now 65) no lymphnodes involved ,she had modified radical mastectomy, with no additional treatment (like tamoxafin or chemo). This year my mom had BC again(other breast) another modified radical mastectomy with no lymphnodes involved,   different this time is her Drs. , she's now on tamoxafin and had 4 a/c chemo treatments. I'm sure she got both since it's her 2nd time, but can't help but wonder if she'd gotten some additional treatments first time, maybe there wouldn't have been 2nd time. IF the drs. are saying she's done with treatment  
ask why,,,,,,,ok?
Best wishes for you and your mom!

[CCF-RN,MSN-JS]

Dear Mab, At this point it sounds like there is no obvious cancer present.  The next question would be is if adjuvant treatment, such as hormone therapy or chemotherapy, would be recommended, especially considering that she did have some positive lymph nodes.  Adjuvant treatment is treatment given after surgery to try to prevent or minimize the growth of microscopic deposits of tumor cells that might grow into a recurrent tumor.  For this discussion you would want to seek an opinion of a medical oncologist.