Hi
I saw my oncologist for the first time today. I was expecting to just have my chemo sorted out to (hopefuly) shrink my tumor. (I am hoping it will shrink enough so I can have a lumpectomy).
My tumor is ductal, ER+ and HER-, 4cm, node sample was clear.
He said my tuomor had a good chance of shrinking with chemo. But then he said hormone therapy may be an option to shrink. But that could mean 4 or 5 months of hormones, then operation, then possibly chemo anyway, then radiotherapy. That’s a possible year! Whereas with chemo to shrink, then operation, then radiotherapy, I will hopefully be finished before summer next year.
I was all set for putting myself through chemo, then he mentions another possible option.
He is booking me in for chemo anyway, which should start in a couple of weeks (15th/16th Sept). I am seeing him again on 14th Sept when he should have more information about my earlier biopsy (he is trying to get a grade from it.
Do I try hormone therapy or stick with chemo (which has a good chance of shrinking it)?
Has anyone experience of hormone therapy to shrink a tumor before surgery?
Julie
Just noticed dates I said were August, when it should have been September - so I changed them above.
i am on hormones to shrink stuff. We are waiting to see if it is working, and I am just 3 months in. The point is that I am getting minimal Se s with this, Femera, and life is as normal as it could be. Chemo can be debiltating, but not always. It’s natural to get everything over and done with, but it’s all about quality of life also. I have bone mets so I suppose the game is a bit different with me. I will see my onc tomorrow so I have fingers crossed.
x sarah
Hi
Hormones did not work for me I am afraid and I shall be going down the chemo route Sept 13th. Hopefully that should sort things. Feel a bit like back to square one,. Everyone is different, so hormones might be a kinder option for you.
Thanks for asking
x sarah
I think one possible advantage of having the hormone therapy first is you find out whether it works for you or not. Must of us have had an op and chemo first, then many years on hormone therapy afterwards (Tamoxifen or AI’s for the post menopausal)- but we could be taking it for a long time without knowing whether it is affective, during which time the cancer could be spreading. Cromercrab found out it didn’t work, so now will be offered a different treatment at the end of her chemo - and hasn’t wasted too much time finding out. Maybe this is something you could ask your onc about.
It’s confusing to be offered different options, but things often aren’t clear cut with breast cancer - it’s a complex disease, and thankfully there is more than one way to tackle it. Maybe when your onc gets more results form the biopsy it will make the decision easier.
Hello,
I had letrozole prior to surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy to shrink my tumour to enable breast conserving surgery rather than mastectomy. It was a clinical trial and I was also concerned about having to wait whilst having the hormone therapy prior to to the commencment of the conventional treatment. In hindsight now I am very pleased with the outcome I still have two breasts although one is smaller I look normal in clothes! It is difficult take a tablet when all you want is to get rid of the cancer but I am pleased with the outcome I have had so far. You should be closely monitored whilst you are on the tablets anyway.
Best wishes to all,
Rachel
Similar to Rachel who “had letrozole prior to surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy to shrink my tumour to enable breast conserving surgery rather than mastectomy”, I also want to avoid a mastectomy. But I don’t really want to have months of hormones and then still need chemo before surgery.
Rachel - Did you find the letrozole shrunk the tumour enough or did you also need chemo prior to surgery? How long did it take to shrink before you could have surgery?
Hello Julie,
I had Letrozole for almost 6 months prior to surgery, it shrank my tumour from 5 cm to 2.5 cm. I also had palpable lymph nodes which had become much reduced. Because I had cancer in my lymph nodes I needed chemotherapy. I am still taking letrozole, hopefully it will prevent it returning.
Best wishes to all,
Rachel.
So glad to find this thread. This is the exact dilemma I have at the moment. I have been offered full or partial mastectomy or homone treatment to shrink tomour (currently 23mm) followed by lumpectomy and radiotherapy. I’m seeing oncologist on Friday to discuss the hormone treatment but I have 2 worries. A) is the delay in surgery ‘dangerous’? If it doesn’t shrink might it grow and spread to my lumph nodes/elsewhere? and B) Can I cope with this cancer in my body for up to 9 months. Would be good to hear of more poelple’s experiences/outcomes. Thanks for reading.
Hello Everyone, I found this thread so don’t know if anyone will reply here but read with interest re the letrozole… I only got diagnosed with stage 1 breast cancer yesterday and because of various factors in my life and personal preference and because my tumour is slow growing and only 18mm I am preferring to change my diet and use natural non invasive treatments, so turned down for now at least the offer of surgery and chemotherapy but seriously considering the hormone treatment due to much less severe possible side effects… I would then take that alongside the complimentary medicine and the Dr has said it is always my choice… Booked in for a check up on 1st Nov for physical examination… My lymph nodes are all clear too… I have to let my nurse know tomorrow if I want to go ahead with letrozole and from reading all your comments I am 90% convinced that I will go ahead with it… I am hoping if I don’t get bad side effects and it does reduce the cancer possibly alongside my own efforts in my diet etc I won’t need to be cut open or have chemotherapy… Thanks to this forum I now have more hope…
I just found this thread. In Oct of 2017, I was diagnosed with invasive lobular breast cancer ER/PR + HER-.
stage 2 due to size 3.5cm. I didn’t want a mastectomy so they offered me Anastrozle to shrink the mass. It shrank 20% in the first 3 months. My oncologist suggested last week that they only wanted to give this 6 months. How long do you normally wait before moving to lumpectomy? 6 months doesn’t seem very long.
I was told this is slow growing cancer, therefore slow shrinking. Other than hot flashes and achiness I feel fine. I even lost a few pounds. Any thoughts?
This letrozole could very well be my answer. I’m also looking to shrink the tumor ASAP. To oncologist and they’re both totally Inside the Box with blinders. Can anyone recommend and oncologist that is familiar with letrozole. I’m in Atlanta Georgia area however anywhere is possible