Chemo treatment - Cancer: Breast Message Board

Joy Gagnon · 07-31-2001, 11:15 PM

Can someone help me out. I have written about my sister who has breast cancer, she is going for surgery in a week from today. They told her if she has a lumpectomy, they will remove some of the limp nodes,& she will have radiation. If she gets a mastectomy that will be it.. Does she not have to go through chemo treatments??? Every where I look it tells me that is the second form of treatment. Is it possible she will not get chemo if she gets the mastectomy?? (Which is what she has choosen)The doctor has not mentioned anything to her about Chemo.
I think if she has to get it, she should also be prepared for it, but she said she doen't have to have it.
Please help clarify why she won't need it.

RhondaG · 09-08-2001, 08:05 AM

I am so sorry that your sister is going through this! There are several variables in breast cancer that will determine the course of treatment.

1. pathology report, which gives details of type of cancer and aggressiveness, genetic and hormone descriptions.

2. status of those lymph nodes!

3. Size of tumor

At this point, they probably don't have a definite "stage" determined for your sister.

I can't tell you whether your sister should or should not have chemo. But I can share my situation:

I was 35 years old, with 2 children - ages 4 and 7, with 2/10 positive lymph nodes and an aggressive cancer. I CHOSE the lumpectomy because I was told that, if I had a mastectomy, I would not get radiation treatment - only chemo. I wanted to have every treatment possible in order to watch my children grow up. I had 6 months of chemo, 7 weeks of radiation and continue to take tamoxifen. I have had excellent checkups and am still "free."

Chemo is sometimes suggested as a preventive treatment (adjuvent therapy) in order to cut down on the risk of a recurrence of the breast cancer. Chemo can vary, depending on the prognosis of the patient. My treatment was obviously very aggressive but I had a friend who received 4 cylces of chemo (Cytoxin, Flouricil and Methotrexate) and had very little side effects (no hair loss and not much nausea at all). She continued to work throughout her treatment.

Everyone has a right to choose the treatment that YOU think is necessary. Doctors make suggestions but the ultimate decision will be up to your sister.

I know your family is in shock right now....but do as much research as you can so you can make educated decisions about the best treatment for your sister.
GO with your sister (if she doesn't mind) for her doctor visits. It has been proven that patients only hear about 60% of what the doctor tells them. An extra set of ears is a tremendous help!

I pray your sister will have clear lymph nodes and not need any treatment beyond the radiation. Radiation is a breeze compared to chemo! Let me know how she does!