Why do i have to have chemo first, then surgery?

christald21
christald21 Member Posts: 55
in Breast Cancer #1

It seems like most people i read and hear about, had their surgery first, and then chemo.  My Onconologist is having me do Chemo for 16 weeks, once every three weeks, so a total of 6 sessions.  then she said i rest for a month, then i get to have surgery.  Since i have implants, and test came up with IDC, but also Her2, I will be having both implants taken out, and i am sure some lymph nodes which i also tested positive for.  Just wondering if i should try and get a second opinion. 

Comments

  • button2
    button2 Member Posts: 421
    #2
    I did chemo first

    I was diagnosed with a 5cm tumor and 2cm tumor in my lymph nodes (May 2012). So I had chemo first (called neo-adjuvant treatment). This was every three weeks for 5 rounds and the tumors started shrinking immediately and it was a relief. This allows the local inflammation to shrink, making the surgery easier and much more effective. Imagine a pimple on your face being easier to remove once it has dried up a bit from using medicine on it. It would be easier to remove, right? Then you have surgery (I didn't have to wait a month for this but about 10 days I think). Afterwards, I continued an easier chemo for another 5 rounds and then radiation and treatment with Herceptin. If you are Her2, this treatment is very effective after finishing chemo and much, much easier than chemo. I learned Her2 is a cancer you want to fight with the most effective treatments available. I asked for, and did them all and today I feel better than ever. Keep coming to this site whatever you do, all the ladies are fantastic. Best of luck, Anna

  • Rague
    Rague Member Posts: 3,653 Member
    #3
    Becoming more common

    Neoadjuvant (before surgery) is the standard TX plan for IBC as it forms in 'nests' or 'bands' to get it to form a 'lump with margins' so Surgeon has a chance to get it.  It also shrinks it.  Neoadjuvant is becoming more common to use with other types of BC to get better margins and to shrink it - some will get a complete response.  You will most likely be on TX every 3 weeks for the rest of a year for the HER2.

    A few of us do neoadjuvant and adjuvant (post surgery).  I did both - 4 DD A/C (every 2 weeks) then 2 weeks after last A/C had UMX.  3 weeks after UMX, I started 12 weekly Taxol and a week after last Taxol I started 25 rads and a week later started Femara (for ER+/PR-).  My DX is different than yours - I'm IBC.  My TX plan was different than most IBCers as most do the 2 different Chemo both neoadjuvant.  We are each unique and there is no 'One Size Fits All'.  Also different Drs have different experiences/thoughts on TX.

    Winyan - The Power Within

    Susan

  • Marcia527
    Marcia527 Member Posts: 2,729
    #4
    I was stage 3a

    Diagnosis 2003. I had chemo first then surgery which they found the chemo had shrunk the tumors ( 6cm, and 3cm) and changed me to stage 2. Then more chemo and radiation. I had two lymph nodes with cancer also. 

     

    We are all different and your doctor should do what is best for you. If you want a second opinion then get one. I did because the first surgeon didn't have enough experience to deal with a condition so advanced. Partly because  my tumors did not show on the mamograms. The biopsy was taken in the wrong place and it was obvious that my cancer was bigger than what the biopsy showed. 

     

    If a second opinion would ease your mind than get one. You need to be completely trusting of your doctors.

     

  • morgamed
    morgamed Member Posts: 75
    #5
    Marcia527 said:

    I was stage 3a

    Diagnosis 2003. I had chemo first then surgery which they found the chemo had shrunk the tumors ( 6cm, and 3cm) and changed me to stage 2. Then more chemo and radiation. I had two lymph nodes with cancer also. 

     

    We are all different and your doctor should do what is best for you. If you want a second opinion then get one. I did because the first surgeon didn't have enough experience to deal with a condition so advanced. Partly because  my tumors did not show on the mamograms. The biopsy was taken in the wrong place and it was obvious that my cancer was bigger than what the biopsy showed. 

     

    If a second opinion would ease your mind than get one. You need to be completely trusting of your doctors.

     

    It's almost stand procedure now

    However, I refused chemo and went straight for a bilateral.  I'm so glad I did.  I did't have any cancer in the nodes they took or in the other breast.    Pet CT scan is clean so I avoided putting my body through the hash effects of chemo.  I rolled the dice and won....  

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