I was diagnosed two months ago with ER+ PR+ HER2- IDC, with a tumour roughly 5x5cms. I’m having chemo before surgery, partly bc they initially diagnosed me as inflammatory breast cancer (but then rediagnosed me as non-Inflammatory) and partly to shrink the tumour.
I’m 2 weeks after my second EC cycle and I’m becoming increasingly worried my tumour isn’t shrinking. I keep reading about all these ladies whose tumours were palpably smaller after just one cycle, and mine looks and feels the same. Sometimes I feel it and think maybe it’s getting softer but then I think I’m kidding myself. I have my next EC in a week, and then have 3 cycles of Docetaxol.
I guess I’m looking for some reassurance or even just tips on how to stop worrying about it! Are there people whose tumour took a while to shrink on chemo? Is there any point me constantly poking at it? Is it true that ER positive cancer is less likely to shrink? My hospital doesn’t do mid-chemo scans but I’m thinking of asking for an ultrasound so at least I have a sense of what is happening.
One complicating factor is that I’m also on Zoladex to suppress my ovaries to try to preserve my fertility. Given my HR positive status, I was hoping this might also be working alongside the tumour to shrink it. Anyone have experience with this?
I don’t think my tumour had started to shrink much when I was at your stage, which was probably why I didn’t have a scan until after starting Taxol. At that point it had shrunk from 21mm to 9 mm but by the time I had surgery I’d had a complete pathological response. I don’t think it occurred to me to poke at it and I certainly wouldn’t if it’s making you worried.
I was Diagnosed last May 18 with IDC. ER+ PR+ HER-. Oncologist previously diagnosed Inflammatory BC, then re Diagnosed IDC with DCIS. I prodded my tumour, mine was 9cm, it was midline in a line. I could not feel any difference through Chemo, however the oncologist could, notice a difference in size.
I had scans mid chemo, which always showed partial response to chemo, however again clinically onco felt a difference.
I suggest don’t keep prodding it, let the chemo do it’s job, if you have concerns, chat with your BCN.
I had a mastectomy, which removed the rest of whatever was left behind.
I also had chemo before surgery (as triple positive so different diagnosis to yourself). My treatment was FECT (3 of each). I had mammo and ultrasound midway (to check on the progress) and at the end. You state in your original post that your “hospital does not do midway scans”. If this is the case then perhaps you need to question this as maybe there is a good reason for this in your particular case. However, it would seem very beneficial for you and help to put your mind (and fingers!) at rest.
My understanding is that one of the benefits of chemo beforehand is that it can be ascertained whether chemo is working. A midway check can show whether a tumour is responding or not. If evidence of response then chemo usually continues and if little evidence or no response or evidence of growth then treatment may be stopped and surgery undertaken.
By the way, I did not try and feel for mine during chemo etc.- I had enough in my head to be worrying about!! However the midway scans ( not sure if they were after the 3 FEC or 3 FEC and one T) gave me some reassurance as shrinkage was reported and hence chemo continued. At surgery, it was found that there was a complete pathological response with no active cancer apparent.
I was diagnosed with an HER+ and Oestrogen+ Tumour in January, around 4cm. I had one round of docetaxel, herceptin and pertuzamab, and felt I could feel the difference in size after this. However mine is close to the surface so I could find it easily. I then couldn’t have the next chemos due to other complications, but continued to have the targeted therapies. After the 3rd cycle I had the second ultrasound and they found it almost impossible to find the tumour- they guessed at 2x1cm based on where they had placed a titanium clip during biopsy. I don’t prod anymore…
Ive had 4 cycles of docetaxel.had an ultrasound today.had two lessions that had merged into one.ultrasound found it had divided the two lessons but still 5cm overall. Not shrunk the tumours so dont know what to think about it.my chemo has been tough.having another two cycles next of Epirubicin they have to monitor my heart.im having a mastectomy anyway.chemo sucks
Hi @mich54 I’ve had 4 docataxel and I’ve only had a partial response to chemo I’ve got two left and it’s made me quite ill. My tumour is big so I’m worried what they’ll do next with mine x
Hello @Phet7178
I had 6 sessions of chemo - carboplatin and doxitaxel - and had a scan after second session which showed a slight reduction. I had another scan after 4th session and nothing had changed.
My nurse said it’s rare that chemo makes tumours disappear completely and that shrinkage isn’t a definite either. she said any shrinkage is a bonus but their main concern is to kill off cancer cells.
I had a double mastectomy after chemo and my surgeon said all the margins were clear.
Everyone responds differently to chemo and has a different response time so even if you can’t feel a difference now that’s not to say there won’t eventually be one. And maybe the prodding has made the area around it swell up which will make it feel bigger than it is!!
I hope the remainder of your chemo goes well for you. It’s a horrible time I know.
Big hug to you xx
Sorry to hear you have been ill with docetaxel. I had a really rough time with it.i had only one of Epirubicin because of my heart as i have slight angina.i have two leissons about 5cm in total.have they mentioned anything about surgery? I have got my mastectomy in two weeks time.
Hi yes I know I’ll be having a mastectomy my tumour was 8.5 and only shrunk to 6.8 with holes in it. I don’t know how long I’ll have to wait for my op as I have Two more chemo’s left which has been cancelled the last three times because of bloods being low, it’s seven weeks since my last one. I don’t know whether they’ll still operate with it being so big. I haven’t spoken to a surgeon yet. Wishing you all the best with your mastectomy x
My tumour was 5.5cm together. Got 2 leissons. Overall size was 55mm. Had 5 cycles of chemo.
They had separated and now 48mm. Not really significantly shrunk was a bit disappointed what with what i had to go through but having surgery next week.
Its been 8 weeks since my last chemo.hair very slow growing. Wearing my wig more now.