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Breast Cancer (Expert Forum)
To have Chemo or not
Questions posted in the Breast Cancer Forum are answered by medical professionals from The Cleveland Clinic. Topics include Breast Biopsy, Chemotherapy, Hormone Therapy, Lumps, Lumpectomy, Lymph node dissection, Lymphedema, Mammograms, Mastectomy, Radiation Therapy, Reconstruction, Self Breast Exam, and Surgery.
To have Chemo or not
by Taffy, May 08, 2002 12:00AM
Hi, Four years ago I had a needle biopsy which came back as cancer -- it was removed and I was sent to an oncologist. The oncologist told me it was so small that she wouldn't even call it cancer and no further treatment was needed. Now 4 years later a cluster was found in the same breast and the same area.
It was removed in April 2002 and was diagnosed as DCIS..1cm...non invasive. I now need a second surgery because it was "out of margin". My oncologist told me that I won't be needing chemo but will have radiation and take tamoxifen. My sister also had breast cancer and seems to think I should have a bone scan, liver scan and should insist on chemo so that if there is any cancer anywhere it would be treated with the chemo.
I am 57 years old, had a hysterectomy at age 35 and never had children.
This is all so scary and new to me and everyone seems to get different treatments-----What is your opinon???
Thank You for any information you can supply
It was removed in April 2002 and was diagnosed as DCIS..1cm...non invasive. I now need a second surgery because it was "out of margin". My oncologist told me that I won't be needing chemo but will have radiation and take tamoxifen. My sister also had breast cancer and seems to think I should have a bone scan, liver scan and should insist on chemo so that if there is any cancer anywhere it would be treated with the chemo.
I am 57 years old, had a hysterectomy at age 35 and never had children.
This is all so scary and new to me and everyone seems to get different treatments-----What is your opinon???
Thank You for any information you can supply
Doctor's Answer
by CCF-RN,MSN-rf, May 08, 2002 12:00AM
Dear Taffy: DCIS is not invasive cancer. As a rule, chemotherapy is not indicated. Depending on the size and histology, radiation may well be recommended. Scans would not be recommended for DCIS. However, if there is ANY invasive component to the histology, the recommendations would likely include radiation and chemo would be "up for discussion."
I realize that everyone is different and so are the treatments, but it was getting pretty nerve racking!