stats with or without chemo

[pinkhd]

I have sought 2 opinions and scans are scheduled this week.  I've been told that if the scans are clear I am IIb.  My lump was 1.4cm 80% moderately differentiated IDC with and int/high grade 20% in situ.  One margin was clear.  Next surgery was mastectomy with reconstruction with tissue expander.  3 out of 13 nodes were positive but contained.  100% ER/PR positive, HER 2 neg[.2]; .91 diploid S-Phase 4%.; KI-67 28%
First Dr said I had a 17% chance of mets in 10 years; chemo and femara would drop it to 8%.  Tumor marker for breast cancer was 24.
Second Dr states he is worried that I have an 80% chance of cancer returning within 2 years, and 80% chance in 10 years.  I found an online calculator which states my recurrence risk is about 15.5% WITH SIMPLE  mastectomy.
My Mother had stage 0 on the left and stage 1 on the right.  She had a recurrance of Paget's on the left while on tamoxifen.  Brac1 &2 negative. She died of lung cancer with mets jan 08.
I am trying to find some data to make informed decisions.  The second wants a/c/t with Taxol given every
week.
How can I get any real data to make a decision?  What is I remove the left breast?
DW
***@****

[SueYoung55]

I had stage 3 invasive lobular carcinoma, two of 9 nodes involved and a 10 cm mass. Modified mastectomy down to chest muscle and part of that removed as well. I'd go through the chemo again in a heartbeat and the radiation too. I had an extreme allergic reaction to the taxotere so I only had that particular chemo once. ER & PR positive 90%, HER2 negative. Brac1 & Brac 2 negative. Horrific family history of breast, ovarian, colon and lung cancer. Chances of return? I've been told 30% chance but not in my other breast as it will come off in March.

After effects of the choices we make? Life is a **** shoot and you roll the dice with every decision. I've got thyroid issues now most likely related to my radiation at my neck. I don't like it but I'm alive. And I'm cancer free. God bless you, whatever decision you come to.

[Nancy277]

I forgot to mention if you take the Taxotere it is in the same family as Taxol so you would not have to go thru the 12 weeks of taking that. Four rounds of T/C for me and that was it.

[Nancy277]

That's what my doctor wanted me to have as well.  But then I did my own research and found the Mayo Clinic suggests Taxotere/Cytoxin as it does not hurt your heart as A/C has been found to do in some people. I told my doc this and he agreed and I did the T/C instead. I am so glad I did my own research. A/C has been the standard treatment for many years and lot of docs still stick with it .But treatments change as they do more research.

[pinkhd]

Thanks nancy.  I also wanted to avoid radiation, because Mother had such a terrible time with it.  The dr here wants A/C series then the taxol as a lesser dose weekly.

[Nancy277]

Usually if you have positive nodes, chemo would be the choice.  I had 1.9 cm with no node involvement. My doctor wanted to do a lump, but I chose a mastectomy because I didn't want the radiation since it was my left breast. I have heard radiation can give you heart problems down the road and I have a friend who is 14 years out from treatment and she is now having some heart issues. I had 4 rounds of Taxotere/Cyton every 3 weeks.
Hang in there, there is light at the end of the tunnel.