What is the best option?

[Julc66]

I was diagnosed with breast cancer in late December and had a quadradectomy January 6th 2010, they removed the tumor with clear margins and there was NO spread in to the lymph nodes.  I met with an Oncologist today that reccomended chemo but I am still having so many issues with the surgery especially where they removed the lymph nodes and since there was NOTHING there do I really need such an agressive treatment?  I am 43 years old and am VERY against chemo and all of the side affects and the damage it does to your body.  At this point do I need the chemo for a 50% reduced chance or re-occurance and trash my body or do I change eating habits and take more care with vitamins and natural therapies?

[katarina777]

A few years ago they did a study where they split a large group of women newly diagnosed with bc into two groups, and of course they cancers and prognosis, etc of these women was the same.
One was told to eat their normal diet and the others had to eat a diet extremely high in fruits and vegetables. (this could be confirmed objectively by blood test to make sure they were adhering to the diet) After three- five, (not sure exactly how many years)  there was no difference between the two groups  as to how they did with their cancer, except that on average, the 'vegetable group' had gained a few more pounds.

[bluebutterfly2222]

p.s. Of course the ACTUAL significance of a 50% reduction in risk depends on what the amount of risk is in the first place...

Were you a candidate for the Oncotype Dx assay, which is intended to be used by women with early-stage (Stage I or II), node-negative, estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) invasive breast cancer who will be treated with hormone therapy?

[bluebutterfly2222]

The recommendation for  chemo is usually based on the size of the tumor and the Grade (degree of aggressiveness) of the cancer cells involved, not just on whether there has been lymph node involvement (esp. as there may microinvasions that cannot yet be detected). Since you are reluctant to follow your onco's advice at this point, I would suggest that you ask him/her to explain the rationale for that recommendation in more detail, or even request a second opinion.


By the way, to me, a 50% reduced chance of recurrence is HUGE!!

Best wishes...

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