Hello I wonder if anyone can offer a view on my situation?
I have a 5cm (mixed dx) mass in my right breast. The chemo I have had so far: 3 EC and 3 TAX.
I have seen both my oncologist and plastic surgeon and have had at least 3 MRIs. My oncologist has decided after continuous monitoring that the response has been ‘disappointing’ and indeed in a copy letter to me she states there is ‘no significant reduction’, and she felt that 6 was enough and I should now proceed to mx.
This week I saw the plastic surgeon she initially dx me, she examined me and pronounced that she was ‘very very pleased’ with the response and asked me to return today to discuss surgery, However, following an MDT this morning she said as the lump had reduced by a third and even up to a half, she would like me to continue with the TAX - have 2 more to further reduce the lump. She explained that MRI does not always tell the full story and that looking and feeling the breast was very important too.
I have agreed to this, but obviously it is a lot of TAX!!! - and although I have not been to bad on it I do not relish the thought of more!! especially if there are going to be limited gains!
My question is how do I reconcile the 2 very different opinions of the 2 medics, wthin the same team?? - I do feel like I do trust the team, but it is a tricky situation to get my head round!
Thanks
WSxx
From my experience I would be inclined to go along with the surgeon. After all she or he is the one who will operate. I know that my onc always left decisions on surgery up to my surgeon. Whilst on chemo I saw saw her once whilst I saw the surgeon regularly to check shrinkage. You don’t say what dosage of tax you are on. I was on a 3 hour bag every 2 weeks so quite a big dose. You could ask if having a larger dose would get more shrinkage.
Hiya SamLee,
Your reply is really helpful and it does make sense that the surgeon , will be the operating medic and she is likely to be able to predict a more accurate picture, It is just disconcerting that one says ‘disappointing’ and the other ‘very very good’. I am unsure whether to be pleased or not, and I don’t want inaccurate expectations, but I realise with bc it is not always possible to pin these things down.
My chemo takes about an hour or so to infuse, every 3 weeks so it certainly is not as intensive as yours. I am speaking to the bcn on Mon so I will ask about my dose and the possibility of something more intensive.
Thank-you.
WSX
Hi Wintersocks,
My tumour was 5cms too, I had 2 x Fec which didn’t shrink the tumour at all, I was then given 4 x Tax and the tumour had shrunk a little to 3.8 , my team saw no merit in putting me through more chemo as the tumour wasn’t responding significantly to the chemo, and Tax made me feel dreadful. The opinion was - the amount of chemo sessions I had would have done the trick in killing the cells, but my type of tumour (metaplastic) wasn’t responding so far as shrinkage was concerned. Even though my tumour after chemo was 3.8 I was able to have a lumpectomy which was successful, and apart from the two scars (WLE and Lumph op) no-one would know I’d had op’s as my breast is the same size as my good breast. This amazed me, I’d voiced concern to my surgeon regarding looking disfigured and he assured me I wouldn’t, he was right. Why do you need an MX as opposed to a WLE? Is it because there’s lymph nodes involved? Forgive my ignorance, but, if you are definitely having an MX why does it matter what size the tumour is? Is there a chance you could have a lumpectomy?
I think it a good idea to discuss your dilemma with your BCN as they are so well informed and will look at your case from your perspective. Good luck.
Take care, and do let us know how you get on.
Libby (remember Roundhay Park?)
xxx