17mm Grade 2 IDC OR & PR positive score 8. HER2 negative. 1 of 6 lymph nodes macro mets. Nottingham prognostic index score 4.34. Prosigna results still outstanding. Oncologist has run through chemo treatment and side effects and told me Chemotherapy benefit is 3.2% so I really confused as to whether to have chemo or just radiotherapy. He’s given me lots of leaflets to read and think about what I want and I’ve to go back when the prosigna results are back. It’s feels like the decision has been left up to me. I’ve not been offered any type of scan to see if any other cancer cells? Am I able to ask for one?
Anyone else in a similar predicament. Thanks for any info/guidance.
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sorry you find yourself here, having the decision about chemo put back in your hands to decide is something quite a few forum users have been faced with. I was tnbc back in 2017 so it was always going to have to be chemo. I’m sure others who had to make the decision will pop on and share with you how they decided one way or another. There is also the number on here where you can speak to a nurse and also the someone like me option also the ask the nurse thread on here. Remember this is your personal choice that you make for what’s right for you chemo was doable for me bit of a juggling act dealing with blocked steroid bum, hair loss, thrush mouth but I was never sick through chemo the antisickness meds are so good now. Others sail through chemo so if you do choose chemo there’s threads on here, you all hold on tight to each other and get each other safely through breast cancer now and all of us are here however much or as little as you need us. Be fabulous, be you and sending 
Shi xx
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My pathology was similar to yours, except I had a slightly larger tumour and it was Grade 3. I was borderline for chemo. On one hand my nodes and margins were clear, on the other it was a a grade 3 and hitting the 20mm mark. In the end it was the results of the oncotype testing that decided it, chemo had a >15% benefit.
I’m almost at the end of my treatment and it has been tough at times but I’m happy to have taken a ‘belt and braces’ approach. I’ve received great care and have had great support and met some really nice women going through the same thing.
Good luck with your decision. I suspect the detailed pathology will give you better information x
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I was also given a “choice” whether to have chemo or not. I cant remember the % difference now but I came to my decision by thinking if I have a recurrence down the line how will I feel if I didn’t throw everything at it the first time round.
I’m just about nearing the end of my chemo journey and it’s 4 months of my life I’m glad to see the back of but I’ve got there!
Good luck with whatever you decide.
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This post is about my friend. We’re really struggling and could use some help!
Much like you guys she is now facing a decision of whether or not to undergo post-surgical chemotherapy for her invasive ductal carcinoma, or simply radiotherapy along with the letrosol hormone treatment. For a bit of information: she had a 25mm grade 2 tumour removed with clear margins back in late September, lymph nodes negative, oestrogen receptor positive and HER2 low. She has also recently undergone the prosigna gene arraying test, scoring 57 (so intermediate), luminal b intrinsic subtype, with a roughly 13% chance of recurrence without any post-op treatment. She has been on letrosol for a few weeks now, but since we received the results of the prosigna (almost 2 weeks ago) the decision has been left in her hands. She’s feeling like it is an impossible decision, and I’m trying to do all that I can to help (hence this post). If she were to go with chemo the treatment would be EC followed by docetaxel, then obviously followed by radiotherapy.
We have all the information and some useful stats (around 10% chance of recurrence over 10 years with no chemo, 3% less chance of recurrence with chemo, 1% chance of life-threatening side effects - or new cancer emergence - from chemo) but it isn’t making things any easier/more obvious sadly, and she feels paralysed to make a decision. She feels that she’s essentially damned either way, and I can see where she’s coming from, because even with the negative lymph nodes there’s no guarantee that it hadn’t spread elsewhere in the body.
You are all amazing human beings for getting through this horrible, evil illness, and if you could share any thoughts about my friend’s circumstances that would be so much appreciated.
What I think we would both appreciate more than anything are honest opinions (the thing that the doctors and nurses cannot give us) about which direction to take, or any new information that could help us feel more confident about either option. Additionally, if anyone has any experience with the chemo drugs mentioned that would be really helpful to hear about as well.
Love to you all and thank you!
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Honestly? Looking back, chemo doesn’t feel that terrible. I had EC then paclitaxel. The first EC was rough because I didn’t take anti emetics quickly enough and ended up quite sick but after that it was manageable. Losing my hair was shit, but it’s coming back now along with the chore of having to to shave/wax body hair (Christ I wish my head hair came back as quickly as my pubes!)
I actually hated the radio more. It was so clinical and impersonal and has given me late effects including lymphoedema in my boob. Hormone therapy can also be a rough ride. There are no easy options. I feel quite glad I’ve had the chemo as I feel it has given me the best chance going forward, and also makes me feel more empowered to make decisions about other treatments.
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So sorry your friend is going through all this but what wonderful support she has in you. May we all be so fortunate 
I am yet to find out if I need chemo so unfortunately I can’t help but I look forward to reading the replies. Peoples personal insights are so helpful
Wishing you and your friend all the best