Was told no chemo, but now maybe chemo??

hi, i am in similar boat, i waaa diagnosed in the long weekend months this year too.

originally told or so er pr + her negative so same so e zapping and pills for 5 years, only to be slapped with the oncodx  test which threw a 35 at me so chemo is suggested as its seen as more aggressive, luckily my onco and surgeon are all dragging thoer feet so i have had weeks to agonise over it. 

heard the plan, waiting on report as it was all blurry.

did he go through the chemo plan w you? how many and how long? how can they expect you to decide?

however lots of stories of who did and didn't and different outcomes, it doesn’t help.

had an aunt who hasn't so far, many years later is ok, heard others who did and back in clinics, i am sorry i am not being helpful, but hoepefully helpful to know you are not the only one.

i think it is because you are young tbf but that is my take. others may have a better idea

He has given a chemo plan.  He does the accelerated approach, said it had better outcomes.  It would be 4 cycles of EC every other week for a total of 8 weeks, then 12 cycles of Paclitaxel every week for a total of 12 weeks.

I haven't been offered or had discussed the Oncotype DX test.  That would make it more informative.  I like numbers, they give me a framework to use.

And thank you for replying <3

most welcome for replying, however not sure if iam helpful 

but yes the thing about the onco is over 26 chemo, but it goes too 100, anyway

yours sounds similar to my suggestion, every two weeks for 3-4 then 9 weeks the other one, 

did he mention tamox after the fact? i was upped to 10 years yeek, i am a couple years older and perimentalpause (sic)

as i understand it is to mop up possible escapees, but nothing in life has guarantees. 

i will probably do it, at least i am preparing for it, as its going to be a hard few months.

but m still a couple weeks from surgery recovery

Hi Juliet,  That is a big decision for sure.  Did you have an oncotype dx test to see if you would benefit from chemo?  I think that would give you what you want to know.  Do you know what your Ki67 test showed?
Hugs to you snd it seems there are always changes to the program.  

Barbara

Hi I too had the shock of chemo being brought into play after surgery. My surgeon said lumpectomy then radiotherapy and I would be done by Christmas. Then suddenly it was we want you to have the oncotype test to guide further treatment. Lo and behold oncotype came back as 29 so chemo came to say hello. I've had 4 cycles of ec and three cycles of docetaxel every three weeks since new year. Not sure if it was luck but generally I sailed through. Yes I've lost a lot of hair but it's already growing back and I had one episode of sepsis that landed me in hospital but otherwise been ok. Oh and I had constipation but I just took my laxatives. I am now on a break before I start radiotherapy in July. 

If you decide to go for chemo you will get tons of support on here and your nurses at unit will be super supportive as will other patients. 

I was initially advised lumpectomy then radiotherapy. Surgery went well but disease had spread so had full axillary node clearance and was told I needed chemo. The second wound constantly opened up and was infected.  Chemo was at a different hospital  4 months later. I was seen by a different doc when I went to have bloods and consent to chemo who told me I didn't need chemo. I now have a radiotherapy appointment starting 15 sessions under another doctor. I am worried and asked for Oncotype DX test but can't have it on the N.H.S. as it isn't available to patients who have disease in nodes! I haven't had a scan , and it is now 9 months since diagnosis. It is really difficult to be confident that you are getting the best treatment 

It’s such a minefield.   I had the Prosigna test and it came back low intermediate risk.  chemo showed 3% possible benefit, so although this was my planned treatment, I declined.  I’m 65 and quality of life was my consideration.  I didn’t think 3% warranted the risks involved from chemo.  

Think that would have been my decision with those figures. Mine the chemo gave me a 15 percent benefit so I went with it

the onocdx test is an extra step for her 2 negative to see if chemo is helpful, however i find it odd that the new dr says no chemo needed  i too wonder if much is just guestimations.

hiwever if they do full clearance maybe chemo is less effective? 

Did they say you didn't need the oncodx test?  And would it be covered by NHS?  I live in a small area where I think I get slightly better access to options, but haven't been asked if I wanted this, have my second appt tomorrow and will definitely be asking if that test is possible.