Aa
Whether to have chemo or not?
I am 47 and just had a lumpectomy. My margins were good. Saw my Oncologist yesterday for the first time. He said sentinel node had a "speck" of cancer that showed up only after dye was put into specimen. He seemed like he was heading toward radiation and Tamoxifen only and not chemo. I'm on Medicaid so he doesn't know if they will approve Oncotype DX test which would give me a clearer picture on whether to get chemo or not. I am nervous of leaving a "speck" in there though..
This thread continues elsewhere:
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Breast-Cancer/ONCO-Type-DX-results-in-Chemo-or-not/show/1611468?personal_page_id=2350643#post_7324929
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Breast-Cancer/ONCO-Type-DX-results-in-Chemo-or-not/show/1611468?personal_page_id=2350643#post_7324929
Sorry Casey, it appears I've had a dose of chemobrain :)
Stage 1, clean margins, her2 negative, speck of cancer in a node.
Will someone please tell me if I've got it correct this time? Anywho.... you can get them to allow the oncotype testing. You just have to make a few phone calls. The more fuss you make the more cooperation you'll receive.
Stage 1, clean margins, her2 negative, speck of cancer in a node.
Will someone please tell me if I've got it correct this time? Anywho.... you can get them to allow the oncotype testing. You just have to make a few phone calls. The more fuss you make the more cooperation you'll receive.
You did not state the size of your tumor, but chemo is generally a good idea when there is any lymph node involvement.
Radiation is a local tx that will only affect cancer cells in the irradiated area, whereas chemo is a systemic tx that will fight malignant cells that may have escaped anywhere in the body.
If you are still undecided, the Oncotype test SueYoung55 mentioned could contribute useful information.
Best wishes,
bluebutterfly
Radiation is a local tx that will only affect cancer cells in the irradiated area, whereas chemo is a systemic tx that will fight malignant cells that may have escaped anywhere in the body.
If you are still undecided, the Oncotype test SueYoung55 mentioned could contribute useful information.
Best wishes,
bluebutterfly
I'm so glad that node was removed. I'd still choose to have chemo and radiation for HER2 + cancer.
Here is some information from a very well regarded website for HER2 positive breast cancer:
HER2-positive breast cancer is a breast cancer that tests positive for a protein called human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), which promotes the growth of cancer cells. In about 1 of every 5 breast cancers, the cancer cells make an excess of HER2 due to a gene mutation. This gene mutation and the elevated levels of HER2 that it causes can occur in many types of cancer — not only breast cancer.
HER2-positive breast cancers tend to be more aggressive than other types of breast cancer. They're also less responsive to hormone treatment. However, treatments that specifically target HER2 are very effective.
If your breast cancer is tested for HER2 status, the results will be graded as positive or negative. If your results are graded as HER2 positive, that means that your HER2 genes are over-producing the HER2 protein, and that those cells are growing rapidly and creating the cancer. If your results are graded HER2 negative, then the HER2 protein is not causing the cancer.
What treatment is used for HER2 positive breast cancer?:
Herceptin (trastuzumab) is a drug which is currently being used to treat HER2 positive breast cancer. It is a targeted therapy, and is also referred to as an immune treatment. This drug will be given intravenously, once every 2-3 weeks. Once it is in your system, Herceptin targets the HER2 protein production. This helps to stop the growth of the HER2 positive cancer cells.
What can Herceptin do for HER2 positive breast cancer?:
Some results of Herceptin treatment include: •shrinks HER2 positive tumors, before surgery
•gets rid of HER2 positive cancer cells that have spread beyond the original tumor
•helps prevent recurrence (return) of the HER2 positive cancer if it was a 2 cm. or larger tumor, or if the cancer had spread to the lymph nodes.
What are the tests for HER2 breast cancer?:
•IHC: ImmunoHistoChemistry - this test measures the production of the HER2 protein by the tumor. The test results are ranked as 0, 1+, 2+, or 3+. If the results are 3+, your cancer is HER2-positive.
•FISH: Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization - this test uses fluorescent probes to look at the number of HER2 gene copies in a tumor cell. If there are more than 2 copies of the HER2 gene, then the cancer is HER2 positive.
Best wishes for whatever choice you decide upon for yourself.
Here is some information from a very well regarded website for HER2 positive breast cancer:
HER2-positive breast cancer is a breast cancer that tests positive for a protein called human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), which promotes the growth of cancer cells. In about 1 of every 5 breast cancers, the cancer cells make an excess of HER2 due to a gene mutation. This gene mutation and the elevated levels of HER2 that it causes can occur in many types of cancer — not only breast cancer.
HER2-positive breast cancers tend to be more aggressive than other types of breast cancer. They're also less responsive to hormone treatment. However, treatments that specifically target HER2 are very effective.
If your breast cancer is tested for HER2 status, the results will be graded as positive or negative. If your results are graded as HER2 positive, that means that your HER2 genes are over-producing the HER2 protein, and that those cells are growing rapidly and creating the cancer. If your results are graded HER2 negative, then the HER2 protein is not causing the cancer.
What treatment is used for HER2 positive breast cancer?:
Herceptin (trastuzumab) is a drug which is currently being used to treat HER2 positive breast cancer. It is a targeted therapy, and is also referred to as an immune treatment. This drug will be given intravenously, once every 2-3 weeks. Once it is in your system, Herceptin targets the HER2 protein production. This helps to stop the growth of the HER2 positive cancer cells.
What can Herceptin do for HER2 positive breast cancer?:
Some results of Herceptin treatment include: •shrinks HER2 positive tumors, before surgery
•gets rid of HER2 positive cancer cells that have spread beyond the original tumor
•helps prevent recurrence (return) of the HER2 positive cancer if it was a 2 cm. or larger tumor, or if the cancer had spread to the lymph nodes.
What are the tests for HER2 breast cancer?:
•IHC: ImmunoHistoChemistry - this test measures the production of the HER2 protein by the tumor. The test results are ranked as 0, 1+, 2+, or 3+. If the results are 3+, your cancer is HER2-positive.
•FISH: Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization - this test uses fluorescent probes to look at the number of HER2 gene copies in a tumor cell. If there are more than 2 copies of the HER2 gene, then the cancer is HER2 positive.
Best wishes for whatever choice you decide upon for yourself.
It takes approximately 3 million cancer cells to show up as 1/2 inch mass on a PET scan. Can you imagine how many cancer cells it takes to show up as a speck?
Personally, I'd have that node removed! I'd have the breast removed too to reduce the risk of a recurrence. (Can you tell I don't believe in lumpectomies? My own personal opinion there.)
Even if it was only one cancer cell you do not want that floating through your body. You don't mention what stage your cancer was. Because you mention tamoxifen I know it was ER positive. I believe that you can push the system to approve the oncotype DX test before deciding to not have chemo. Just tell them that if they don't approve the test you will have every treatment known to man and they will have to pay for that :)
Best wishes in whatever decisions you make.
Personally, I'd have that node removed! I'd have the breast removed too to reduce the risk of a recurrence. (Can you tell I don't believe in lumpectomies? My own personal opinion there.)
Even if it was only one cancer cell you do not want that floating through your body. You don't mention what stage your cancer was. Because you mention tamoxifen I know it was ER positive. I believe that you can push the system to approve the oncotype DX test before deciding to not have chemo. Just tell them that if they don't approve the test you will have every treatment known to man and they will have to pay for that :)
Best wishes in whatever decisions you make.
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