Chances Without Chemo
shygirl2206-20-2003, 03:32 AMMy grandmother, 77, was recently diagnosed by biopsy with breast cancer. The entire breast has been removed, as well as several lymph nodes. At least some of these lymph nodes have tested positive, and due to the size of the intial tumor, my grandmother is Stage III.
From what I understand, chemotherapy is usually the standard treatment for breast cancer this advanced, but my grandmother is adament about not doing chemo; she's willing to do radiation, not chemo. Is there still a chance of her surviving this without the chemo?klayr06-20-2003, 04:25 AMI am so sorry to hear about your grandmother's diagnosis and staging. I'm sure that she has discussed all of the options with the oncologist, and she feels that her quality of life will be better if she doesn't have to go through the chemo. The breast cancer regime is very difficult to take, so she probably doesn't want to spend the rest of her time feeling sick. Stage III is pretty advanced, and radiation alone will only target the area of the breast that actually had tumor growth. If there were positive nodes, she has had cancer cells running throughout her entire system. But at her age, she may feel that it's worth the risk of it. No matter what she decides to do, try to be encouraging and supportive, because ultimately, it's her life. Only God can know the outcome, but without the chemo, her odds are definitely lower. I wish her well, and you too.shygirl2206-20-2003, 05:18 AMShe didn't know till today when she saw the surgeon and oncologist, but she has been refusing chemo since the start and she doesn't ask questions either, so it's really frusterating.
Thanks though for the wishes.amphigory06-20-2003, 06:22 PMI'm so sorry to hear about your grandmother.
One possible option on the no-chemo issue, though from what you say I can't tell how open she is to suggestions: if her tumor is estrogen receptor positive, she could go on tamoxifen. Properly speaking, tamoxifen isn't chemo (it's hormone therapy), and it doesn't have as atrocious a side effect profile as most chemos do.shygirl2206-21-2003, 01:36 AMShe'll probably be open to hormone therapy, I think it's chemo she isn't really willing to go on. My great aunt, same age at diagnosis, had breast cancer, stage III as well, a few years ago and the regimen was very hard on her, and due to other health issues, the usual further chemo wasn't done, but she has done fine since then.
Thanks, it's good to know even though the chances aren't as good, that there's still a chance without chemo.
From what I understand, chemotherapy is usually the standard treatment for breast cancer this advanced, but my grandmother is adament about not doing chemo; she's willing to do radiation, not chemo. Is there still a chance of her surviving this without the chemo?klayr06-20-2003, 04:25 AMI am so sorry to hear about your grandmother's diagnosis and staging. I'm sure that she has discussed all of the options with the oncologist, and she feels that her quality of life will be better if she doesn't have to go through the chemo. The breast cancer regime is very difficult to take, so she probably doesn't want to spend the rest of her time feeling sick. Stage III is pretty advanced, and radiation alone will only target the area of the breast that actually had tumor growth. If there were positive nodes, she has had cancer cells running throughout her entire system. But at her age, she may feel that it's worth the risk of it. No matter what she decides to do, try to be encouraging and supportive, because ultimately, it's her life. Only God can know the outcome, but without the chemo, her odds are definitely lower. I wish her well, and you too.shygirl2206-20-2003, 05:18 AMShe didn't know till today when she saw the surgeon and oncologist, but she has been refusing chemo since the start and she doesn't ask questions either, so it's really frusterating.
Thanks though for the wishes.amphigory06-20-2003, 06:22 PMI'm so sorry to hear about your grandmother.
One possible option on the no-chemo issue, though from what you say I can't tell how open she is to suggestions: if her tumor is estrogen receptor positive, she could go on tamoxifen. Properly speaking, tamoxifen isn't chemo (it's hormone therapy), and it doesn't have as atrocious a side effect profile as most chemos do.shygirl2206-21-2003, 01:36 AMShe'll probably be open to hormone therapy, I think it's chemo she isn't really willing to go on. My great aunt, same age at diagnosis, had breast cancer, stage III as well, a few years ago and the regimen was very hard on her, and due to other health issues, the usual further chemo wasn't done, but she has done fine since then.
Thanks, it's good to know even though the chances aren't as good, that there's still a chance without chemo.