Breast cancer spread to lymph nodes. Would you choose chemo?

@windyshores thank you for your response - very helpful! ❤️ I was so confused yesterday when she told me that about the oncotype score because during our first visit in August she explained how important it was in determining chemo therapy. She did order the oncotype after our discussion; thankfully. So I will have that info in about 3 weeks. And yes, I am definitely getting a second opinion. Thanks again!

Hello fellow “Lobster “ which is those of us who have/had lobular breast cancer.

I was triple positive so I had to have chemo. It’s usually recommended to have chemo if you find that the nodes are positive.

On the other hand, some research questions the success using chemo for those with lobular cancer as this type of cancer can be quite stubborn.

I had great success with both chemo and radiation minimal side effects.

I think it might be a good idea to get another opinion, just to reassure yourself that you’re in the right ballpark.

I know you’re probably feeling a tremendous amount of shock right now and it can be so incredibly overwhelming these first few weeks when major life decisions will need to be made.

You can do more research using the Mayo Clinic or American Cancer Society’s online website. Both provide good solid information that’s easy to digest. Also breast cancer.org is a wonderful tool as well.

Please keep in mind that although we all now belong to a club we never really wanted to join, each of our experiences are uniquely our own. You may not necessarily experience what someone else may.

And lastly, listen carefully, take someone to appointments with you to take notes, perhaps get a second opinion and above all, listen to your gut feeling and what feels right for you and have faith. ♥️🙏♥️

Thanks for your kind reply. I’m glad you find this helpful…I wish I’d known this information 5 months ago. 🙂

Part of me wants to see if I can kill this tumor withOUT surgery, just with this protocol alone…..but I don’t know if I can do it. I don’t know if there’s any other way to determine if I’ve achieved NED (No Evidence of Disease) without surgery to get a pathology report. I intend to ask this question of my oncologist at our next appointment.

If I do go ahead with surgery, it will only need to be SMX….with a lift/reduction to the non-cancerous breast. Best wishes to you! There definitely ARE alternatives to chemo and radiation (which I will NOT be doing, either.)

@lisakinpa can you cite your statement that chemo is usually recommended if you have a positive node or nodes? For 1-3 the Oncotype is usually the guide on this decision. I know people with a positive node who did not have chemo. I am genuinely curious and not challenging you! I had LVI so it is relevant to me too since LVI is said (in one place online anyway) to be similar to one node positive.

Hello fellow “Lobster “ which is those of us who have/had lobular breast cancer.

I was triple positive so I had to have chemo. It’s usually recommended to have chemo if you find that the nodes are positive.

On the other hand, some research questions the success using chemo for those with lobular cancer as this type of cancer can be quite stubborn.

I had great success with both chemo and radiation minimal side effects.

I think it might be a good idea to get another opinion, just to reassure yourself that you’re in the right ballpark.

I know you’re probably feeling a tremendous amount of shock right now and it can be so incredibly overwhelming these first few weeks when major life decisions will need to be made.

You can do more research using the Mayo Clinic or American Cancer Society’s online website. Both provide good solid information that’s easy to digest. Also breast cancer.org is a wonderful tool as well.

Please keep in mind that although we all now belong to a club we never really wanted to join, each of our experiences are uniquely our own. You may not necessarily experience what someone else may.

And lastly, listen carefully, take someone to appointments with you to take notes, perhaps get a second opinion and above all, listen to your gut feeling and what feels right for you and have faith. ♥️🙏♥️

@chopin51 Please keep us updated on your progress. Hoping for the very best outcome for you! I'm ordering the books today and researching the iv C therapy - hoping I can find a place locally. Take care 🦋

I was in a slightly different boat as the triple negative cancer I had was very fast and had spread to my lymph nodes within a month between mammograms and then the cancer got into my skin and chest wall, but I had a similar regiment as you: 5 months of chemo and then 35 rounds of radiation (although with surgeries and a year-long chemo pill I also took).

For me chemo was the easiest thing I did. I had found a study online either through Harvard or the Mayo clinic where they had people fast during chemo - basically at 12 hours before and a few hours after. This really helped my side effects although I ended up fasting longer I had infusion on Wednesdays so I would have a dinner Monday night and then not eat anything until dinner Wednesday night. It kept my nausea down. It definitely recommend taking all the bowel movement medicines they give you, I skipped it for a bit and was in misery.

There's lots of great advice out here for managing the symptoms. I also lost weight but that was because I was 38 and had just had a baby so I was slowly shedding that as I went through chemo. The surgeries were harder on my body and the radiation, since it was every day, was too.

Good luck!