Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with GoogleGet your health question answered instantly from our pool of 18000+ doctors from over 80 specialties
Diagnosed With Breast Cancer, Surgery Successful, Negative Lymph Nodes, No Metastasis, Advised Chemotherapy. Reason?
HI, My mother has been diagnosed with PT4bN0M) breast cancer. Surgery was successful. Lymph nodes are free of tumor. No metastasis . Her pathology report says 3) Estrogen Receptor (ER) - Poitive (Allred Score 3+3 =6) 4) Progestrone Receptor (PgR) - Positive (Allred score 3+3 = 6) 5) Her-2/neu - Negative Her medical oncologist said 4 cycles chemotherapy is required. and also 5 years hormone therapy . Completed 1st cycle on 22nd Aug, 2012 with endoxan, adrim(remember only those 2) When there is no metastasis and -ve lymp nodes, why chemotherapy is required?
Fri, 7 Sep 2012
Hi, Welcome to HCM, I am Dr. Das
Look, Carcinoma is a microscopic event. Even if surgery is succesful and negative lymphnode and no metastasis it cant be said you are cured. Because by doing surgery the mass is removed but not its previous effect.
That is when a cancer is detected it has completed it most of aggressiveness. So, there may be presence of micrometastasis which can not be identified now but can show up later.
For this reason you have to take chemotherapy which will nearly complete the eradication.
So just go for it.
Look, Carcinoma is a microscopic event. Even if surgery is succesful and negative lymphnode and no metastasis it cant be said you are cured. Because by doing surgery the mass is removed but not its previous effect.
That is when a cancer is detected it has completed it most of aggressiveness. So, there may be presence of micrometastasis which can not be identified now but can show up later.
For this reason you have to take chemotherapy which will nearly complete the eradication.
So just go for it.
I find this answer helpful
Disclaimer: These answers are for your information only and not intended to replace your relationship with your treating physician.
This is a short, free answer.
For a more detailed, immediate answer, try our premium service
[Sample answer]
Related questions you may be interested in
Recent questions on Micrometastasis
Loading Online Doctors....