TNBC- Doctor say no Radiation or Chemo needed?

RMK2552

So age 70ish, TNBC (Triple negative) , 0.4 cm (4mm) tumor, Grade 3. CT & MRI clear.

Three Lymph nodes clear. I did mastectomy (Left) and lymph nodes biopsy shows no tumor cells. BRAC gene test negative

Per my oncologist, I do not need radiation since it was Mastectomy.

Also per the doctor, 0.5 cm is the borderline for Chemo. Per them, I do not need any Chemo or no other treatment since I am at 0.4cm.

This is coming as a surprise and I am little worried what if this comes back? I would like to connect with other cancer patients with similar TNBC outcome and if they had reoccurrence in 5 years or 10 years? Did you take any treatments even when tumor was small?

If your tumor was small, what was your treatment?

CancerFreeSunny

I too, do not have to have radiation or chemo (awaiting one more test that predicts if I might benefit from chemo). I have been leary about chemo so far (in case they come back with yes, that chemo would benefit me) as I am on dialysis and chemo is toxic and can't be removed except by the dialysis machine. My body can't eliminate it naturally.

I just want to say despite this, nobody can say, that even when you have a mascetomy (I did) that you would never get get breast cancer again. I think it's 5% chance in the removed breast. That is why I am going to see an oncologist and get something similar to Tomoxifen.

Now, I keep an eye on the other breast. My tumor was 10 mm. and when they put the removed breast through pathology, they found another 2 mm one that was just starting up. I made the best choice with the mastectomy my doctor told me. :)

I don't know much about Triple Negative BC but I am sure they are giving you the best recommendations for treatment.

dreaming

In my case years back, I had pain on and off, my family doctor sent me to 5 breast specialists, all told me I had negative mammograms, ultrasound with no lumps.

After 4 months reading a Dear Abby letter of a lady terminal that had my symptoms, I took it to a new specialist, this is the time with no internet, and demanded an excitional biopsy, cancer was found and the oncologist told me " all was removed,no need for chemo or radiation "

I went back to my surgeon, and demanded the most agressive treatment, I was a mom of kids in school and wife.

She agreed to the mastectomy I wanted, during the surgery a second different type was found ,larger and invasive.

Had chemo,long time survivor.

I think age has a lot to do about how our health is looked after,now that I am older I have to fight for tests, see specialists, I see the difference .

In your case ,ask how hard would be to get further treatment, chemo and radiation are hard on the body, I am glad I chose chemo and surgery, radiation was not an option.

I dont think I could go through at my age,had too many side effects, but also knew ladies that did not and even worked during treatment.

It is very personal.

I had 10 months twice a month, my treatments are not any longer given,but gave me 30 years.

Wish you the best.