Chemo before breast cancer surgery

Posted by josie0526 @josie0526, Jul 2, 2020

Hello. I was wondering if anyone had chemo before they had breast surgery and if so, how did it affect you. A friend has stage 1 in one breast and stage 2 in the other. She just saw her surgeon today so it's just beginning. She mentioned 6 months of chemo or chemo in 'pill' form. How much care would she be needing during her 6 month of chemo? Thank you so much. Hugs

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Laurie, Volunteer Mentor | @roch | Jul 2, 2020

I took Anastrozole for 6 months prior to surgery, Anastrozole decreases the amount of estrogen the body makes and helps to slow or reverse the growth of these breast cancers. It is taken in pill form and can have side effects but nothing like IV chemo. I took as part of a research study.

I had stage 2 in one breast. After 6 months on Anastrozole I had lumpectomy, IV chemo and then radiation.

Depending on type of breast cancer she has, the oncologist may be looking at different options.

Laurie

josie0526 | @josie0526 | Jul 2, 2020

Hi Laurie, thank you for the reply. How did the chemo affect you if you don't mind my asking and how long were you on it? I love your puppy. 🙂

Laurie, Volunteer Mentor | @roch | Jul 2, 2020

The Anastrozole gave me depression, but then I just found out I had cancer, so wasn't in the best mood.

I tolerated IV chemo well, never vomited. The oncologist gave be meds to take during and after chemo to handle nausea. Lost hair after 2nd treatment, was very tired as treatment continued. I was retired, so did not have to worry about job. Chemo takes away all your energy so she need to plan on lots of rest. One of the more frustrating part was the inability to concentrate, "chemo brain".

Everyone reacts to chemo different, best advice is to your friend is if she has side effect is to let her dr know, meds and treatments can be changed to make your friend more comfortable.

Laurie

josie0526 | @josie0526 | Jul 2, 2020

Thank you so much sweetie. She lives in my basement so I'm really concerned as to how sick she will be feeling. Like I said, it's just beginning but I'll need to talk to her daughter if she gets too sick. I really appreciate your time. Thank you.

lucillem72 | @lucillem72 | Jul 6, 2020

I had Triple negative and estrogen receptive cancer. I had to do adriamycin & cytocin before surgery. It was to kill as much of the cancer cells before surgery. It did work . I still had a mastectomy. Lost my hair, couldn't eat. I never had nausea.

jan11442 | @jan11442 | Jul 7, 2020

My daughter had breast cancer, but it was not found before it was Stage 4 (spread to brain, lungs, spine, liver). She had chemo & radiation, but the doctors felt surgery wouldn't help since the cancer was so wide-spread.