chances

my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer, she had a double masectomy , lump size is in the 2cm range closer to 2,in one breast only, hormonal positive, her2 (i think negative), grade 3 , stage 2,
after 10 days the results are: margin clean , only 1 lymph node positive. Surgeon said chemo for sure , haven't seen the oncologist yet.  Can you please tell me at her age which is 70years old , weak for her age, if she choose not to have chemo , what are her chances in terms of percentage?
What is her percentage without chemo?
what is her percentage with chemo?
Also she will take drug for her hormonal positive.
Also if she choose not to take horm. pos. and no chemo. what are her chances?

[CCF-RN,MSN-rf]

Dear vigilant:  All treatment decisions should be made based on an assessment of risk versus benefit.  The oncologist will be the best expert to assist with this decision.  From a disease point of view, chemotherapy would be recommended based on the positive lymph node.  Most of the data has been compiled on women under 70 and it shows that there is more benefit to women under 50 than over 50.  If the woman is node positive and over 50 the benefit might be in the single digit percentages.  Certainly, she will benefit from hormone therapy and there are some newer hormone therapies available that are very well tolerated.  You and your mother will benefit from having a very frank discussion with her oncologist regarding her priorties as well as her risk vs. benefit.

[seven7]

HEY,  I was 69 when I had a breast mastectomy on one breast (two years ago)  and I had the "whole " treatment of 8  chemos, 33 radiations and am taking Tamoxifen.  I am doing fine now,  and I was a stage 111,  with 14 positive nodes.
I believe I would be dead by now had I not taken the treatments.

I have a lot of living left to do.  I have a feiend who has a bad heart and she is older than I and she took the whole bag of treatments as I did, and she survived them, even though she has a weakened heart.

Tell your mother that the Chemotherapy and radiations are not as bad as she probably thinks.  Best Wishes to her!