why not surgery first???

labtech

hi, it's labtech again. i am going for my last chemo next wk but i met a woman who had stage 2 breast and they did her surgery first? i have stage 1 and they did my chemo first, this will be 19 or 20 treatments for me. I am worried they have overdone it with the chemo my tumors were between 1 and 2" in size. i will have radiation and a hormone pill after all this as well. has anyone had the chemo first and so much for such small tumors? i know every doc does things different but i've been so sick and just don't come back for a long time with the adriamycin and cytoxin this time. they also give the Naulasta to bring the white cells up which im not having next wk. thanks again \


tracey

dyaneb123

Hey Labtech
Hmmm. I thought
Hey Labtech
Hmmm. I thought they only did chemo first to shrink large tumors so I dont understand why
you had it first with stage one unless there were a lot of them.I had surgery first with 2
small 2 c tumors. And that's a lot of treatments. I'm just having 6 total. I guess you need to get the ONC. to 'splain it to you, and please let us know the answer.
Dee

Akiss4me

Just a thought...
I'm not sure, but you said 1 and 2" (inches)? That is bigger than 1 or 2cm (centimeters). Some doctors will shrink the tumor first if you are having lumpectomy done to spare more of the breast. This is done to alot of smaller chested women (like me!)that have larger tumors as well. This will spare alot of breast tissue. Did you have a lumpectomy? Pammy

Kristin N

Akiss4me said:

Just a thought...
I'm not sure, but you said 1 and 2" (inches)? That is bigger than 1 or 2cm (centimeters). Some doctors will shrink the tumor first if you are having lumpectomy done to spare more of the breast. This is done to alot of smaller chested women (like me!)that have larger tumors as well. This will spare alot of breast tissue. Did you have a lumpectomy? Pammy

I thought they only gave
I thought they only gave chemo first to shrink the tumor or tumors. And, chemo is almost always given for any tumor over 2cm.

Ask your oncologist and let us know why. I am curious now as to why you are getting chemo first too.

Good luck, Kristin

susie09

Kristin N said:

I thought they only gave
I thought they only gave chemo first to shrink the tumor or tumors. And, chemo is almost always given for any tumor over 2cm.

Ask your oncologist and let us know why. I am curious now as to why you are getting chemo first too.

Good luck, Kristin

I also thought that chemo
I also thought that chemo was just given prior to surgery to shrink the tumor. I have no idea.

labtech

Akiss4me said:

Just a thought...
I'm not sure, but you said 1 and 2" (inches)? That is bigger than 1 or 2cm (centimeters). Some doctors will shrink the tumor first if you are having lumpectomy done to spare more of the breast. This is done to alot of smaller chested women (like me!)that have larger tumors as well. This will spare alot of breast tissue. Did you have a lumpectomy? Pammy

hi pammy,
i met with the
hi pammy,

i met with the surgeon today and we are not sure of a lumpechtomy or not yet. my problem was i had to switch surgeons due to her husband dying and she will not be back till the fall or winter. this surgeon has to get all my facts and test back before i have it done. it's been really hard, but because i have enlarged lymphnodes, they decided to give me the chemo first and radiation after surgery. i have to trust them and feel they know the best thing for me. thanks.

tracey

tommaseena

labtech said:

hi pammy,
i met with the
hi pammy,

i met with the surgeon today and we are not sure of a lumpechtomy or not yet. my problem was i had to switch surgeons due to her husband dying and she will not be back till the fall or winter. this surgeon has to get all my facts and test back before i have it done. it's been really hard, but because i have enlarged lymphnodes, they decided to give me the chemo first and radiation after surgery. i have to trust them and feel they know the best thing for me. thanks.

tracey

Tracey
Tracey,
I'm sorry you have to switch surgeons but it is for the best right now. Chemo is doable. Trust your docs and if you have any ill feelings then you need to see someone else.

How big are your tumors--cm or inches?

Margo

survivorbc09

labtech said:

hi pammy,
i met with the
hi pammy,

i met with the surgeon today and we are not sure of a lumpechtomy or not yet. my problem was i had to switch surgeons due to her husband dying and she will not be back till the fall or winter. this surgeon has to get all my facts and test back before i have it done. it's been really hard, but because i have enlarged lymphnodes, they decided to give me the chemo first and radiation after surgery. i have to trust them and feel they know the best thing for me. thanks.

tracey

Good luck. Sorry about
Good luck. Sorry about having to switch surgeons.

stmgriffin

Tumor size
My tumor was 3cm and I had a mastectomy and found out yesterday that I am not going to have to take chemo. I will be taking medication by mouth.

labtech

tommaseena said:

Tracey
Tracey,
I'm sorry you have to switch surgeons but it is for the best right now. Chemo is doable. Trust your docs and if you have any ill feelings then you need to see someone else.

How big are your tumors--cm or inches?

Margo

they said my tumors are 1-2"
they said my tumors are 1-2" in size. i have to trust what they are doing for me now.

tracey

labtech

stmgriffin said:

Tumor size
My tumor was 3cm and I had a mastectomy and found out yesterday that I am not going to have to take chemo. I will be taking medication by mouth.

that is great. i wish you
that is great. i wish you the best.

tracey

survivorbc09

stmgriffin said:

Tumor size
My tumor was 3cm and I had a mastectomy and found out yesterday that I am not going to have to take chemo. I will be taking medication by mouth.

Chemo orally? What kind are
Chemo orally? What kind are you taking?