Sorry don’t mean to be stupid but why do some people have chemo first then surgery? Is it just the hospital’s way or is it to do with severity of cancer etc. Also how many lymph nodes are there or is it individual? does anyone know???
I had chemo first to see if the tumour could be shrunk so that I could have a lumpectomy rather than a mastectomy. Luckily for me, the decision was good and the lump reduced from 5 cm to 15 mm. I am told that the prognosis is no different if you have chemo and surgery in any order
I think, but not sure, that the decision also rests on the grade of cancer and how well it will respond to chemo. Mine was grade 3 which, apparently, is receptive to chemo despite being aggressive.
Sharon x
I’m having chemo first for the same reason as Sharon. My onc added that this way they can see how effective the chemo is being as well, and can change the drugs if they don’t see the tumour shrinking. I’m triple negative and grade 3.
Vicky
Also zjlove the advantage of chemo first is that it will be apparent very quickly if that particular chemo is working on your tumour. In my case, at initial diagnosis, my tumour was quite large and I was told it was safer to go for chemo first. I know each individuals breast cancer can vary so much and I am sure there are other factors taken into account on deciding which course of treatment to follow.
dawnhc
Hi,
I had 6 x FEC before surgery which is due in the new year for two reasons! to shrink the tumor as it was 10cm (now shrunk to less than 5cm) and because it was invasive grade 3 to zap any rogue cells that may have been circulating around my body! I hope this helps!
Hugs
Mel
xx
I too had chemo first to try to shrink the tumour - it had almost halved half way thro chemo so had another 3 of same. After finishing chemo it had actually grown a bit again and I now have to have mastectomy. There is no difference to prognosis whichever way round you do it. I too am grade 3 and triple negative. Op is on 10th - very scared!
Love to all
Fiona
x
I was given the choice of order of treatment - being grade 2/3 it was kind of borderline. I chose chemo first, basically it gave me time to wrap my head around everything and, more importantly, time to save up for hospital wear - tatty t-shirts just don’t work!
It has also shown the chemo is working, after three cycles of TAC it was reduced from 1.8 cm to just 6 mm - and we are hopeful the FEC will continue the work! Because it’s shrunk so much though I need to have an ultrasound guided marker put in. Still not decided whether to have surgery or rads next, will discuss this when i see my surgeon
regards
Ruth
x x x
I too had neo-adjuvant chemo, as my tumour was 10cm and grade 3. I am also quite small busted (just an A cup), so this was also to try and avoid a full masectomy.
However, after 3 x AC the chemo stopped working althougth the tumour has shrunk to 7cm. But, I have had 3 Taxotere since and it has certainly blasted the tumour. It has not shrunk as one, but has fragmented into 2 sections - one of 2.5cm and the other 1.2cm with scatterings inbetween, It is still contained within the breast, but will mean the chances are I will still have to have a full masectomy in January (I finish chemo on the 21st Dec) I am not too upset, as I was made aware from day one that I could still possibly need one.
I wish you the best of luck, the ladies on this forum are wonderful and a great source of comfort and help should you have any questions.
All the best,
Tracy xx
Hi,
I also am having chemo first to shrink tumour so I can have a wide excision rather than a mastectomy.
I have had 2 of EC with 2 more to go (next in 5 days, not that I am counting!) Then due to have 4 taxetere combined with Herceptin. With surgery in the spring then radiothearpy, then 9 months of herceptin.
So far, I am aware the tumour seems smaller (or is it wishful thinking!) but not had any more scans yet.
I was also told by my onc what order you had your treatment made no difference to outcome but if chemo first it allowed the medics to see how your tumour responded to the chemo.
I am hormone neg and was told that was why I was having the taxatere.
Take care
Jackie xxxx
Hi,
The choice seems to lie with which method your local hospital/consultant prefers from my experience, although I was reassured as yet there are no facts to prove wich is more effective.
I was diagnosed at Basingstoke, and was told I would have surgery first. then chemo, rads, and a look at recon after that. As I was moving house, I then transfered to Wolverhampton, there I was offerered chemo first, then surgery with recon, and rads, although was given the option to choose myself… very confusing.
I decided to go with chemo first for several reasons, the surgeon was on hols for several weeks, and I had already had a delayed diagnosis, plus a delay to transfer hospitals, and I just wanted something to happen. Also I thought the idea of checking if the lump would shrink would be psychologically reassuring if it happened. I was also offered a place on the neo-tango trial to do this, which meant more checks and follow-up, which seemed good. Also it gave me time to get my head around the surgery and what might follow, it did lessen the “roller-coaster” feeling… BUT as the others have said, there is still no firm evidence which is best, so I’m sure whatever you’ve been offered will be the best treatment you can have for your situation.
Best of luck
Shannon
xxx
I’m also having neo-adjuvant trement for the same reasons as the others have said already.
My tumour was 6cm and grade 3 and am now approaching the end of 12 weekly taxol (+herceptin and tykerb on a trial), it has shrunk by more than half! I still have 4 Fec to do after this, so hopefully it will have shrunk more by the end of it!
Hello there
I am having my chemo first 4 taxol and 4ec. I was told to have chemo first as my stage 2 lump was big and 2 lymph nodes were involved.Half way through the lump has shrunk right down. I was also told the chemo would cleanse my system.
I had surgery first and was never given any option. It’s only after coming on this site that I realised they do it differently elsewhere.