breast cancer chemo or radiation? need to make a choice by monday

nank
nank Member Posts: 1
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
My sister has stage 2 estrogen positive breast cancer. They did a lump removal and took three lymphnodes. She has to decide if she wants radiation/chemo and in what order to do them. We have done a lot of research but nothing makes sense. Please if anyone has any reccomendations we would be greatfull.

Comments

  • zahalene
    zahalene Member Posts: 670
    #2
    Keep in mind....
    that everyone's situation is different and there are a number of factors that should be considered in this and all treatment decisions.
    My cancer experience was a long time ago and things have changed, but I wanted to tell you a bit of my story just in case it helps you and your sister solidify things in your mind. It is not my intention to scare you or her.
    In 1986 at age 38 I had breast cancer on the right side. I had a radical mastectomy with lymph nodes removed followed by 10 months of intense chemo. Less than 2 years later, in 1988, I had breast cancer on the left side (a DIFFERENT cancer). Another radical mastectomy (more nodes removed), 10 months of intense chemo, 5 weeks of daily rads, then 7 years of tamoxifen.
    In 1996 I was diagnosed with bone mets in the rib cage from the FIRST cancer. That was treated with an oral hormone-based medication which had some rough side effects but which eventually dissolved the spot in my ribs.
    I am now 60 years old and my health has been stable since 2001. The point of all this is that I did everything I reasonably could at every stage of treatment because I did NOT want to have to say to myself....oh drat, I should have tried harder, done more, etc, etc.
    There is NO WAY UNDER HEAVEN to predict what the absolute outcome of any treatment will be, whether or not there will be re-occurances, whether this or that option will give all the desired results.
    All any of us can do is inform ourselves to the best of our ability and then get a plan and go with it, knowing that regrets, guilt, and second-guessing will NOT enter into the equation because we have done all we could do.
    My very best wishes and God's blessings to you and your sister.
  • RE
    RE Member Posts: 4,591 Member
    #3
    Choices
    I can only tell you what I chose to do and why and hope that it is helpful to you. The first time I had breast cancer I too had a lumpectomy and was a stage 2. I chose to have both the chemo and the radiation treatments because it was the best shot I had at beating the cancer. I do not know what stage your sister is or what her doctors recommended. I choose to do pretty much all treatment that was offered as I wanted the best shot at survival. I have had recurrences and have had additional chemo treatments to keep the cancer at bay which have been quite successful.

    I realize it is all new and very scary but it is doable. Please let us know what your sister decides. If she wishes to come in here and post concerns many here would be more than happy to support her during her treatment and beyond. You both will find this board has a great group of people who care a great deal. My best to you both.

    RE
  • chenheart
    chenheart Member Posts: 5,159
    #4
    Similar Diagnosis
    I also had stage 2 Estrogen positive BC with 3 positive lymphnodes. I had a lumpectomy, chemotherapy 6 weeks after surgery,and radiation 3 weeks after completing chemo. Following that I took an estrogen blocking drug, Arimidex. I am 6 years out of treatment, and finished the Arimidex in February.

    I can't recommend what your sister should do~ all I know is: the treatment plan which was chosen for me worked~ for today anyway! I'm still here and busy living!

    Let us know what the decision is~ and we will walk with your sister and you on the journey to Life After Breast Cancer.

    Hugs,
    Claudia
  • ohilly
    ohilly Member Posts: 441
    #5
    RE said:

    Choices
    I can only tell you what I chose to do and why and hope that it is helpful to you. The first time I had breast cancer I too had a lumpectomy and was a stage 2. I chose to have both the chemo and the radiation treatments because it was the best shot I had at beating the cancer. I do not know what stage your sister is or what her doctors recommended. I choose to do pretty much all treatment that was offered as I wanted the best shot at survival. I have had recurrences and have had additional chemo treatments to keep the cancer at bay which have been quite successful.

    I realize it is all new and very scary but it is doable. Please let us know what your sister decides. If she wishes to come in here and post concerns many here would be more than happy to support her during her treatment and beyond. You both will find this board has a great group of people who care a great deal. My best to you both.

    RE

    nice photo
    Re, I just wanted to tell you that is a pretty picture of you!

    Also, of all the women on this board you are one of my heros. You have been thru so much, yet have survived. You are living proof that even a recurrence is not the end of the world.

    Happy Easter, Passover, or whatever you celebrate!

    Ohilly
  • Marcia527
    Marcia527 Member Posts: 2,729
    #6
    I'd probably ask the doctor
    I'd probably ask the doctor how the odds of survival would be improved if she did radiation/chemo. It might help her decide. My doctors didn't give me a choice. But I was stage 3a with lymph node involvement.
  • seof
    seof Member Posts: 819 Member
    #7
    As others have said, there
    As others have said, there are no guarantees. Drs. can only rely on statistics and probabilities. However, I would ask what the Dr. thinks would give you the highest chance of long term survival and smallest chance of recurrence. Back in summer of 07 when I was making those choices, I read a post on this site from someone (Sorry, I do not remember your name) who said to ask the Dr., "If it was your Mother or your Wife, what would you recommend?" In the end it is the decision of the person undergoing the treatment because she is the one who lives with the consequences. For myself, I want to do whatever gives the least chance for recurrence or trouble down the road.

    By the way, she is lucky to have a person like you by her side! seof.
  • RE
    RE Member Posts: 4,591 Member
    #8
    ohilly said:

    nice photo
    Re, I just wanted to tell you that is a pretty picture of you!

    Also, of all the women on this board you are one of my heros. You have been thru so much, yet have survived. You are living proof that even a recurrence is not the end of the world.

    Happy Easter, Passover, or whatever you celebrate!

    Ohilly

    THANK YOU SO MUCH!
    Ohilly, thank you for your kind words. I am come here to encourage and help others in any way that I can and in doing so I have been helped as well and gained many new friends. I am so glad to have found this site and each and everyone of you as you have all been so supportive and helpful to me. I am glad Ohiily that I have been able to encourage you as you have done the same for me.

    My Best to You

    RE
  • Jeanne D
    Jeanne D Member Posts: 1,867
    #9
    What did her lymph nodes
    What did her lymph nodes test? Were they clean? It will be up to your sister in the end as to what she does. But, she should listen to the Doctor's inre to what they suggest would be necessary to extend her life and stop a recurrence in the future. As far as I know, chemo is always done first as their is kind of a time limit as to when it will do good and after so long of waiting..it doesn't have the same effect. Good luck to her!
  • Eil4186
    Eil4186 Member Posts: 949
    #10
    I had a lumpectomy and it
    I had a lumpectomy and it was recommended that I definitely have the chemo. Radiation is automatically given with a lumpectomy. I was not given a choice about the order with chemo and rads. and I have never heard of anyone having radiation before the chemo. That does not make sense to me---you should get a second opinion. If the cancer was invasive then they always want to treat you systemically and then do the radiation.
  • JoyD
    JoyD Member Posts: 81
    #11
    Oncologist
    I had a masectomy on the left breast and the Surgeon cleaned up my lymph nodes - took out everything. My Doctors works as a Team - After the Surgeon's office visits, he sent me over to the Oncologist. The Oncologist will be the one to tell you the odds (% of re-occurence) if you do Chemo and radiation. Normally, its the chemo that comes first before the radiation. I will have my 2nd chemo this Wed - April 15 (I have 16 treatments - 4 treatments for Adriamycin + Cytoxan + Avastin every 2 weeks and 12 treatments of Taxol every week. After the chemo will be my radiation probably 6 weeks - everyday. I still need to discuss the final radiation treatment with my Radiation Oncologist Dr. )

    The only time that radiation will be first is when they are trying to shrink the lump in the breast, then surgery, then chemo. This what happened to one of my friend.

    Each and everyone one of us, even if we all have BC, have different treatment(s) and dosage of the chemo drugs.

    I decided to go with the lower re-occurence and recommendation of my Doctors and even took a clinical study of Avastin. Anything I could use to fight this beast I will do it. So its really up to your sister on how she would like to proceed. All we could give you on this site is our own experiences. Good luck.

    Joy
  • Kristin N
    Kristin N Member Posts: 1,968 Member
    #12
    As far as I know, they
    As far as I know, they always do chemo first and radiation after, unless they are trying to shrink a tumor first with radiation. Your sister's doctor should have given her information on why she should or should not take chemo or radiation and her odds on a recurrence and survival. You might want to get a second opinion. Good luck to your sister!
  • Eil4186
    Eil4186 Member Posts: 949
    #13
    I have heard more than a few
    I have heard more than a few times of some having chemo BEFORE surgery to shrink a tumor. Others have heard of them getting radiation to shrink a tumor before surgery but that is news to me. Interesting.
  • Moopy23
    Moopy23 Member Posts: 1,751 Member
    #14
    Chemo Before or After
    My surgeon half-heartedly offered me the option of chemo before surgery. I wanted the tumor out asap and was not interested, but I did ask what the advantage would be. He told me that chemo before would reveal whether the chemo chosen worked; adjustments could then be made if needed.

    My husband got the impression that the results so far have not been convincing, but he was just surfing and not focused on that particular question. I would ask the oncologists and surgeons and listen to the pros and cons. I do not regret my decision as I wanted the cancer out the quickest way possible, but everyone needs to know all their options and make the best choice for themselves.

    Good luck, and let us know what your sister decides. Please also tell her we would love to hear from her.
  • dmdudra
    dmdudra Member Posts: 50
    #15
    new
    In my opinion I would do the chemo.. if it is a light one then she might not have to do the radiation. Did the AC treatment first and it was hell..I am now doing taxol and it is a piece of cake. I am then doing surgery and I have decided no on the radiation. good luck. Diane
  • jakeca
    jakeca Member Posts: 92
    #16
    dmdudra said:

    new
    In my opinion I would do the chemo.. if it is a light one then she might not have to do the radiation. Did the AC treatment first and it was hell..I am now doing taxol and it is a piece of cake. I am then doing surgery and I have decided no on the radiation. good luck. Diane

    Why?
    If I may ask, why did you decide no radiation?
  • bits2u
    bits2u Member Posts: 1
    #17
    My experience
    I am different then most when it comes to critical decisions .
    I chose to have massectomy .Reasoning that a complete removal of the area
    cut the chances of cancer cells being left behind or caused to spread .
    My lypmh nodes were clear and no other signs appeared . I was told I didnt
    need any other treatment but was given the option of a dna test called
    OncoDx. That test reveals your chances of recurring cancer .My Oncologists
    said it was up to me but , if I took the test and it showed a high percentage
    of recurrence she would want me to take chemo to reduce the chances . I opted
    to take the test " which is expensive but insurance covers ".
    My percentage of recurrence was high so I did take 4 monts of intense chemo .
    Now had it been in my lymph nodes , I would have taken any and all treatments
    the oncologists reccomended .
    The treatments aren't pleasant but survivable .They have so many different meds to
    prevent nausea now that chemo is not bad at all. The worst effect I had seriously
    was fatigue .
    Tell your Sister to straigt forward tell her Oncologists to treat her with his/her knowledge
    .As long as she keeps a positive attitutde and they treat her with their knowledge "rather then clinical trials " she will have the best chance for survival .
    I wish her the best and whatever she decides will be right, anything is better then nothing .
    Hope this helps somewhat .By the way , it's been over 3 years and so far , all is well .

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