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Breast Cancer (Expert Forum)
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.
chemo or not
by Lulu2, Apr 07, 2002 12:00AM
I was diagnosed in July, 2000 with having had a left breast multifocal invasive breast cancer, which measured 1.5 cm X 07. cm X 0.5 cm. I was ER PR Positive and I am taking Tamoxifen (Novaldex) 20 mg daily. I have beenon it now for 1 1/2 years and doing well, thank God. I also was HER2neu negative. I had 19 negative lymph nodes removed. I work at the Univ of Miami Sch of Medicine for 19 years now, 11 with breast cancer patients.
My question is I chose not to take chemotherapy (CMF) because I felt that the risk of damage was more than the risk of recurrence. I had a left modified radical mastectomy followed by a right prophylactic total mastectomy. I chose the right to be removed because I had a lobular type and lobular has a higher risk for recurrence. I feel comfortable with my decision and have consulted two oncologist (one I know). It seems that I was borderline in whether I should have taken the chemo. I would like another professional opinion from the Cleveland Clinic. If you need any other questions answered, please let me know at my e-mail address ***@**** To date I have had a bone scan (negative), CT scan of abdomen and pelvis (negative), and also a routine colonoscopy (negative), thank God. Even though all these tests are not required for a stage I, I will continue to have them done yearly for piece of mind. Also, I see my surgeon and oncologist every 3 months for follow-up and blood work. I had a hysterectomy in 1988, therefore, I am not worried about getting endometrial cancer from the Tamoxifen, since there is a risk after being on the drug.
My question is I chose not to take chemotherapy (CMF) because I felt that the risk of damage was more than the risk of recurrence. I had a left modified radical mastectomy followed by a right prophylactic total mastectomy. I chose the right to be removed because I had a lobular type and lobular has a higher risk for recurrence. I feel comfortable with my decision and have consulted two oncologist (one I know). It seems that I was borderline in whether I should have taken the chemo. I would like another professional opinion from the Cleveland Clinic. If you need any other questions answered, please let me know at my e-mail address ***@**** To date I have had a bone scan (negative), CT scan of abdomen and pelvis (negative), and also a routine colonoscopy (negative), thank God. Even though all these tests are not required for a stage I, I will continue to have them done yearly for piece of mind. Also, I see my surgeon and oncologist every 3 months for follow-up and blood work. I had a hysterectomy in 1988, therefore, I am not worried about getting endometrial cancer from the Tamoxifen, since there is a risk after being on the drug.
Doctor's Answer
by CCF-RN,MSN-rf, Apr 08, 2002 12:00AM
Dear lulu2: There is evidence that there is benefit to having chemotherapy in women with tumors over 1 cm. The question is - how much benefit. Depending on the situation, the difference may be only a few percentage points. It seems that all is going well with the tamoxifen. Since you are already 1 1/2 years away from the surgery, chemotherapy would not be recommended now. At this point, chemotherapy would only be recommended if there were a recurrence.
