Guest guest Posted January 18, 2006 Report Share Posted January 18, 2006 Janet, Having gone through the chemo experience, should I ever recur - I will definitely opt to have chemo again. I want to be able to say that I did everything in my power to beat the cancer . Good luck with your decision . Ann Chemo Hats: www.cjhats.com Yahoo! Photos Ring in the New Year with Photo Calendars. Add photos, events, holidays, whatever. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 18, 2006 Report Share Posted January 18, 2006 Janet, Having gone through the chemo experience, should I ever recur - I will definitely opt to have chemo again. I want to be able to say that I did everything in my power to beat the cancer . Good luck with your decision . Ann Chemo Hats: www.cjhats.com Yahoo! Photos Ring in the New Year with Photo Calendars. Add photos, events, holidays, whatever. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 19, 2006 Report Share Posted January 19, 2006 Hi Janet, I would think if you had tumors, that would indicate IDC. My pathology found both DCIS and IDC - 2 tumors - one was 8mm one was 5 mm. There was nothing in my sentinel lymph nodes or vascular invasion (blood). And the tumor characteristics were aggressive. So based on that chemo was recommended for me. Hope you find all the information you need to make your decision. - Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 19, 2006 Report Share Posted January 19, 2006 Hi Janet, I would think if you had tumors, that would indicate IDC. My pathology found both DCIS and IDC - 2 tumors - one was 8mm one was 5 mm. There was nothing in my sentinel lymph nodes or vascular invasion (blood). And the tumor characteristics were aggressive. So based on that chemo was recommended for me. Hope you find all the information you need to make your decision. - Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 19, 2006 Report Share Posted January 19, 2006 Hi Janet, I would think if you had tumors, that would indicate IDC. My pathology found both DCIS and IDC - 2 tumors - one was 8mm one was 5 mm. There was nothing in my sentinel lymph nodes or vascular invasion (blood). And the tumor characteristics were aggressive. So based on that chemo was recommended for me. Hope you find all the information you need to make your decision. - Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 19, 2006 Report Share Posted January 19, 2006 Hi , I have IDC but it it not aggressive. My lymph nodes also was clear but I guess chemo depends on the type of cancer. Again, before bc I didn't know there were so many types and so many variables on the treatments. I always had heard it depended on your stage of cancer. Sharon wrote: Hi Janet,I would think if you had tumors, that would indicate IDC. My pathology found both DCIS and IDC - 2 tumors - one was 8mm one was 5 mm. There was nothing in my sentinel lymph nodes or vascular invasion (blood). And the tumor characteristics were aggressive. So based on that chemo was recommended for me.Hope you find all the information you need to make your decision.- Sharon Coley Director of Sales Doubletree Hotel Los Angeles/Rosemead 888 Montebello Blvd. Rosemead, Ca 91770 (323)201-3461 Yahoo! Photos Ring in the New Year with Photo Calendars. Add photos, events, holidays, whatever. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 19, 2006 Report Share Posted January 19, 2006 Hi , I have IDC but it it not aggressive. My lymph nodes also was clear but I guess chemo depends on the type of cancer. Again, before bc I didn't know there were so many types and so many variables on the treatments. I always had heard it depended on your stage of cancer. Sharon wrote: Hi Janet,I would think if you had tumors, that would indicate IDC. My pathology found both DCIS and IDC - 2 tumors - one was 8mm one was 5 mm. There was nothing in my sentinel lymph nodes or vascular invasion (blood). And the tumor characteristics were aggressive. So based on that chemo was recommended for me.Hope you find all the information you need to make your decision.- Sharon Coley Director of Sales Doubletree Hotel Los Angeles/Rosemead 888 Montebello Blvd. Rosemead, Ca 91770 (323)201-3461 Yahoo! Photos Ring in the New Year with Photo Calendars. Add photos, events, holidays, whatever. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 19, 2006 Report Share Posted January 19, 2006 Hi , I have IDC but it it not aggressive. My lymph nodes also was clear but I guess chemo depends on the type of cancer. Again, before bc I didn't know there were so many types and so many variables on the treatments. I always had heard it depended on your stage of cancer. Sharon wrote: Hi Janet,I would think if you had tumors, that would indicate IDC. My pathology found both DCIS and IDC - 2 tumors - one was 8mm one was 5 mm. There was nothing in my sentinel lymph nodes or vascular invasion (blood). And the tumor characteristics were aggressive. So based on that chemo was recommended for me.Hope you find all the information you need to make your decision.- Sharon Coley Director of Sales Doubletree Hotel Los Angeles/Rosemead 888 Montebello Blvd. Rosemead, Ca 91770 (323)201-3461 Yahoo! Photos Ring in the New Year with Photo Calendars. Add photos, events, holidays, whatever. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 19, 2006 Report Share Posted January 19, 2006 wow Sharon those odds are good. Ren Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 19, 2006 Report Share Posted January 19, 2006 Hello Janet, I have IDC but not aggressive cancer. My onc. said before I started radiation that with radiation a 91% chance that I would not have another occurence and a 92% chance of it not coming back with chemo. To me, the 1% was not significant for me to undergo chemo. Sharon wrote: Hi Janet,Not to confuse things, but I'm surprised that with your DCIS diagnosis you were given such low percentages for cure and chemo was even recommended. Are you sure you don't also have IDC?At the breastcancer.org website it states that DCIS is considered Stage 0 and chemo is not needed.http://www.breastcancer.org/dcis_ductal_carcinoma_in_situ.htmlI have IDC Stage 1, and even with my aggressive tumor characteristics, I was given 82% chance of no recurrence without chemo. With chemo my chance of no recurrence went up to 90%, so I went for it.- Janet Andersen wrote on 1/18/2006, 8:06 PM: I need some input tonight. I saw my breast cancer dr this morning early. He explained to me a lot better about the risk of cancer returning....with surgery and radiation.....and then with and without Chemo. I am supposed to start chemo on Friday morning. However, I am being plagued with Shingles which has shown up again (I had it for three months about 18 months ago). So my two cancer doctors agreed that I should take acyclovir which is an anti virus tablet before the chemo starts. I have started it. The decision is about chemo or not to have chemo......,. BC doctor told me about the actual risk with and without chemo. With surgery and radiation my percentage of cure is 75% But if I add chemo to that percentage it only goes up by 12.5% making it a total of 88%. But there is always a 12.5% chance I could get cancer back. Without chemo...75% With chemo 88% Has anyone else had to make this difficult choice. I am taking a day to decide so I can sleep on it. My children seem to be o.k. whatever I decide. BC dr. said he was not disagreeing with the oncologist. And not recommending anything..... but he thought I should have a little more information. I would rather have the radiation now and then chemo, if needed. But so far that choice has not been given to me. I appreciate your help. Janet dcis Stage I p.s. No cancer cells found in my sentinel lymph gland or in the surrounding blood cells. Biopsy of my left breast in Dec. turned out normal. Sharon Coley Director of Sales Doubletree Hotel Los Angeles/Rosemead 888 Montebello Blvd. Rosemead, Ca 91770 (323)201-3461 Yahoo! Photos Got holiday prints? See all the ways to get quality prints in your hands ASAP. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 19, 2006 Report Share Posted January 19, 2006 Hi Sharon, I, too have found out so much about cancer. Because of my aggressive cancer, my odds of recurrence went up and chemo was recommended. My chemo recommendations also happened because of the results of recent trials. So treatments are constantly changing based on new information. Though there still has to be alot more research to determine what treatments really benefit women. My oncologist was candid that if I had no recurrence in 5 years she wouldn't be able to definitively say it was due to the chemo vs. I would have been the lucky 82% not to need chemo. - sharon coley wrote on 1/19/2006, 12:15 PM: Hi , I have IDC but it it not aggressive. My lymph nodes also was clear but I guess chemo depends on the type of cancer. Again, before bc I didn't know there were so many types and so many variables on the treatments. I always had heard it depended on your stage of cancer. Sharon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 19, 2006 Report Share Posted January 19, 2006 Hi Sharon, I, too have found out so much about cancer. Because of my aggressive cancer, my odds of recurrence went up and chemo was recommended. My chemo recommendations also happened because of the results of recent trials. So treatments are constantly changing based on new information. Though there still has to be alot more research to determine what treatments really benefit women. My oncologist was candid that if I had no recurrence in 5 years she wouldn't be able to definitively say it was due to the chemo vs. I would have been the lucky 82% not to need chemo. - sharon coley wrote on 1/19/2006, 12:15 PM: Hi , I have IDC but it it not aggressive. My lymph nodes also was clear but I guess chemo depends on the type of cancer. Again, before bc I didn't know there were so many types and so many variables on the treatments. I always had heard it depended on your stage of cancer. Sharon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 19, 2006 Report Share Posted January 19, 2006 Hi Sharon, I, too have found out so much about cancer. Because of my aggressive cancer, my odds of recurrence went up and chemo was recommended. My chemo recommendations also happened because of the results of recent trials. So treatments are constantly changing based on new information. Though there still has to be alot more research to determine what treatments really benefit women. My oncologist was candid that if I had no recurrence in 5 years she wouldn't be able to definitively say it was due to the chemo vs. I would have been the lucky 82% not to need chemo. - sharon coley wrote on 1/19/2006, 12:15 PM: Hi , I have IDC but it it not aggressive. My lymph nodes also was clear but I guess chemo depends on the type of cancer. Again, before bc I didn't know there were so many types and so many variables on the treatments. I always had heard it depended on your stage of cancer. Sharon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 19, 2006 Report Share Posted January 19, 2006 my percentages were 75% survival rate if I did the chemo and rads and double mystectomy, and I did them all and now the Tamoxofin. Good luck to you, that is great. ren Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 19, 2006 Report Share Posted January 19, 2006 my percentages were 75% survival rate if I did the chemo and rads and double mystectomy, and I did them all and now the Tamoxofin. Good luck to you, that is great. ren Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 19, 2006 Report Share Posted January 19, 2006 my percentages were 75% survival rate if I did the chemo and rads and double mystectomy, and I did them all and now the Tamoxofin. Good luck to you, that is great. ren Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 19, 2006 Report Share Posted January 19, 2006 Hello Ren, I thought that too. I go back to the onc. in a couple of weeks. Now you make me think I should clarify the percentages with him. Sharonrendurall@... wrote: wow Sharon those odds are good. Ren Sharon Coley Director of Sales Doubletree Hotel Los Angeles/Rosemead 888 Montebello Blvd. Rosemead, Ca 91770 (323)201-3461 Yahoo! Photos Ring in the New Year with Photo Calendars. Add photos, events, holidays, whatever. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 19, 2006 Report Share Posted January 19, 2006 Hello Ren, I thought that too. I go back to the onc. in a couple of weeks. Now you make me think I should clarify the percentages with him. Sharonrendurall@... wrote: wow Sharon those odds are good. Ren Sharon Coley Director of Sales Doubletree Hotel Los Angeles/Rosemead 888 Montebello Blvd. Rosemead, Ca 91770 (323)201-3461 Yahoo! Photos Ring in the New Year with Photo Calendars. Add photos, events, holidays, whatever. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 19, 2006 Report Share Posted January 19, 2006 -Hi, I also was IDC -the mass was 7cm , but not all cancer, and no lymph node involvement -but I had micro invasations so chemo (4 rounds) was recc. I just finhised # 2 . 2 down 2 to go. Hair loss has been the most traumatic thing for me (after the mastectomy I of course) . -- In breastcancer2 , sharon coley <shndbt@y...> wrote: > > Hi , > > I have IDC but it it not aggressive. My lymph nodes also was clear but I guess chemo depends on the type of cancer. Again, before bc I didn't know there were so many types and so many variables on the treatments. I always had heard it depended on your stage of cancer. > > Sharon > > <ajtf.tm@v...> wrote: > Hi Janet, > > I would think if you had tumors, that would indicate IDC. My pathology found both DCIS and IDC - 2 tumors - one was 8mm one was 5 mm. There was nothing in my sentinel lymph nodes or vascular invasion (blood). And the tumor characteristics were aggressive. So based on that chemo was recommended for me. > > Hope you find all the information you need to make your decision. > > - > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 19, 2006 Report Share Posted January 19, 2006 -Hi, I also was IDC -the mass was 7cm , but not all cancer, and no lymph node involvement -but I had micro invasations so chemo (4 rounds) was recc. I just finhised # 2 . 2 down 2 to go. Hair loss has been the most traumatic thing for me (after the mastectomy I of course) . -- In breastcancer2 , sharon coley <shndbt@y...> wrote: > > Hi , > > I have IDC but it it not aggressive. My lymph nodes also was clear but I guess chemo depends on the type of cancer. Again, before bc I didn't know there were so many types and so many variables on the treatments. I always had heard it depended on your stage of cancer. > > Sharon > > <ajtf.tm@v...> wrote: > Hi Janet, > > I would think if you had tumors, that would indicate IDC. My pathology found both DCIS and IDC - 2 tumors - one was 8mm one was 5 mm. There was nothing in my sentinel lymph nodes or vascular invasion (blood). And the tumor characteristics were aggressive. So based on that chemo was recommended for me. > > Hope you find all the information you need to make your decision. > > - > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 19, 2006 Report Share Posted January 19, 2006 -Hi, I also was IDC -the mass was 7cm , but not all cancer, and no lymph node involvement -but I had micro invasations so chemo (4 rounds) was recc. I just finhised # 2 . 2 down 2 to go. Hair loss has been the most traumatic thing for me (after the mastectomy I of course) . -- In breastcancer2 , sharon coley <shndbt@y...> wrote: > > Hi , > > I have IDC but it it not aggressive. My lymph nodes also was clear but I guess chemo depends on the type of cancer. Again, before bc I didn't know there were so many types and so many variables on the treatments. I always had heard it depended on your stage of cancer. > > Sharon > > <ajtf.tm@v...> wrote: > Hi Janet, > > I would think if you had tumors, that would indicate IDC. My pathology found both DCIS and IDC - 2 tumors - one was 8mm one was 5 mm. There was nothing in my sentinel lymph nodes or vascular invasion (blood). And the tumor characteristics were aggressive. So based on that chemo was recommended for me. > > Hope you find all the information you need to make your decision. > > - > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 19, 2006 Report Share Posted January 19, 2006 I think those percentages are right for Stage 1 non-aggressive cancer. - sharon coley wrote on 1/19/2006, 6:40 PM: Hello Ren, I thought that too. I go back to the onc. in a couple of weeks. Now you make me think I should clarify the percentages with him. Sharon rendurall@... wrote: wow Sharon those odds are good. Ren Sharon Coley Director of Sales Doubletree Hotel Los Angeles/Rosemead 888 Montebello Blvd. Rosemead, Ca 91770 (323)201-3461 Yahoo! Photos Ring in the New Year with Photo Calendars. Add photos, events, holidays, whatever. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 19, 2006 Report Share Posted January 19, 2006 I think those percentages are right for Stage 1 non-aggressive cancer. - sharon coley wrote on 1/19/2006, 6:40 PM: Hello Ren, I thought that too. I go back to the onc. in a couple of weeks. Now you make me think I should clarify the percentages with him. Sharon rendurall@... wrote: wow Sharon those odds are good. Ren Sharon Coley Director of Sales Doubletree Hotel Los Angeles/Rosemead 888 Montebello Blvd. Rosemead, Ca 91770 (323)201-3461 Yahoo! Photos Ring in the New Year with Photo Calendars. Add photos, events, holidays, whatever. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 19, 2006 Report Share Posted January 19, 2006 I think those percentages are right for Stage 1 non-aggressive cancer. - sharon coley wrote on 1/19/2006, 6:40 PM: Hello Ren, I thought that too. I go back to the onc. in a couple of weeks. Now you make me think I should clarify the percentages with him. Sharon rendurall@... wrote: wow Sharon those odds are good. Ren Sharon Coley Director of Sales Doubletree Hotel Los Angeles/Rosemead 888 Montebello Blvd. Rosemead, Ca 91770 (323)201-3461 Yahoo! Photos Ring in the New Year with Photo Calendars. Add photos, events, holidays, whatever. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 20, 2006 Report Share Posted January 20, 2006 I think some of you know that my first decision was to postpone chemo for one week so that I could get more information. And I made a decision after having a chance to ask Dr. Rubin a lot of questions. What kind of cancer do I have? Invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) Stage I. Can I take radiation first? Yes, but the chemo might not work as well. At this point Dr. gave me another option which I'm prettty sure I will take .......Have three months of chemo first, seven weeks of radiation and then three more months of chemo. This is the plan. My biggest rejection of the idea of having six months of chemo first, was that I didn't want to wait that long to have radiation. This type of chemo is not too bad according to some people I've talked with. You don't usually lose all of your hair but it does thin down. The anti nausea drugs work really well. And because we have St. ph's Cancer Center here it won't take me forever to get there. The cure rate for surgery and radiation is 75%. Dr. said that adding chemo adds another 6% to the cure rate for a total of 81%. But, there are no guarantees. We all know that anyway. I had lots more questions and answers but I think that really sums it up. And I am back in control of my life...............................a little bit. I am sooooooo relieved to be done with making choices. I took my friend, Peggy, with me and it really helped. Thanks for all your support and prayers. Janet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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