Grade 2. Stage 2/3

Diagnosed with breast cancer DCIS/LCIS
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So iv had an update on my diagnosis which is now confirmed at grade 2 stage 2/3 the overall size that needs removing is 9cm so they will be giving me a mastectomy which im ok with but will be advocating for a double with reconstruction, with it not spreading into my lymph nodes I am curious as to why they want me on the chemo first before surgery alongside hormone therapy if it hasn’t spread I don’t want to be pumped full of chemo if it can be avoided I’m still unsure and have a lot of conflicting advice it’s so frustrating not knowing fully what to do for my best interest :frowning: I meet with oncology on December 10th so will know exactly how much and how long they will want me to have the chemo another long wait ahead :upside_down_face:

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Hi,
They will probably be giving you chemo first to shrink the tumour this will make the surgery easier.

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Hi Chantelle

I’m not having chemo, although I would have liked the choice. In my mind chemo is the only way to “flush” through your whole system……just in case there are rouge cells.
But I also understand why people would be reluctant, both my mum and best friend had chemo. It was a difficult step for them.

From what I read, most treatments have some kind of unpleasant side effect. I’ve just started hormone therapy and that has the potential to give 5 to 10 years of side effects, as it changes your chemical balance.

Its a trade off….which treatment to endure, to reduce or stop it coming back.

It’s important you are given clinical guidance, so you have an informed choice, and that you are comfortable with the decision.

The waiting is awful, but it does give you time to think and rethink, and make notes for your appointment.

Best wishes x

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Hi Sal,

Thankyou for replying

I wanting to try the more natural healing methods all in all and I’m very worried about the side effects i could endure long term and even says it has a chance of secondary cancer elsewhere so in my mind I’m just so unsure :face_with_diagonal_mouth:

The are giving me treatment which would only be for a year but it could have effects on my heart and all sorts it’s very scary x

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Morning,

I understand it’s to shrink the tumour but if they are removing with a mastectomy anyway does it make a difference? X

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Hi Chantelle

I admire you for thinking of alternative solutions, it is extremely difficult but hopefully the oncologist can explain the reasons for chemo better. But you can still have the final decision.

Regarding the secondary cancer worry….i hate to be blunt, but there is always a chance (albeit very small for many) that it could come back, regardless of treatment. They can’t give a 100 percent guarantee it has all gone, so these extra treatments are recommended to reduce the chance of recurrence. Yes some of them have their own risks. My hormone therapy put me at risk of ovarian cancer, but I’m at higher risk of breast recurrence without it.

It’s all very personal choice when it comes to treatment, and what is right for one may not be right for the other. I wish you well. X

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I wish it was straight forward honestly like the battle isn’t hard enough with the added extras but it is what it is

I need to do some heavy research but that was always my weak point in college :joy: so I doubt it’s any better now :upside_down_face:

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I agree 9cm is large and it may be close to the skin so they’ll want good clear margins if reconstructing therefore chemo would be suggested. It also is dependent on the type HER+, Triple negative etc…

I trusted my team to decide which treatment option would give me best chance of a cure. Chemo wasn’t easy but I’d kick myself if having been given the option I’d turned it down and had a recurrence. No one wants to poison their body……and chemo is poison, but for every side effect I had I thought about those sneaky little cells that were being killed off. Finished chemo in June. With the exception of clumpy hair (I cold capped and have tufts regrowth!) and one rather grotty toenail I am pretty much back to normal. Even letrozole side effects are minor. If natural treatments worked then I’m sure they would be mainstream, but they’re not. Some of the positive news stories regarding success with diet etc. (Elle McPherson et al) relate to very different early and non invasive cancers ( and they all still have had surgery) - you have to compare apples with apples. Diet and vitamins won’t cure cancer. They can help a healthy recovery after conventional treatments I agree that quality of life is important, but having the best chance of many more healthy years was worth a few unpleasant months for me. My team were very helpful and explained everything at every step of the way. DONT USE GOOGLE! Speak to your surgeon, oncologist breast nurse Maggies, Macmillan nurse.