if i had breast cancer, is chemo addition better than tamoxifen only?
478402
yes it does matter if you are pre or post menopausal. \nI haven't looked into it for a while but a few years ago, premenopausal women were recommended for chemo. it probably also depends on the type of tumour you had. i believe some are more receptive to different types of treatment.\nmake sure you choose a good specialist, and ask what she/he recommends.
513482
The effects will depend on what type of chemo you are getting.   If you're getting Taxol (which seems to be the standard first round treatment for breast cancer nowadays) your hair will start to fall out in a week or so.  (At least mine did when I had it as treatment for relapsed lymphoma.)\n\nOther effects should be relatively mild, but remember to take your other meds.  You will be given an anti-nausea medication.  It will likely make you drowsy.  BUT -- remember to take it as directed.  You DO NOT want the nausea to get out of control.\n\nPlan on needing a lot more rest.  Plan on not feeling like doing anything sometimes.  You will probably have trouble concentrating on occasions.\n\nAll these are generalities.  You may lose feeling in your fingertips.  Your ears may start ringing.  \n\nBottom line.  Since you're young and in otherwise good health, you have a lot going for you, and your recovery should be faster, and your prognosis better than if you were older or had other health problems.  Keep walking.  (I used to walk 3 miles a day up and down the hospital halls with my chemo pole after my bone marrow transplant.  The nurses knew I was going to get well because of that.)\n\nWelcome to the "club" of cancer survivors.  You're going to lick this.  Wish you the best.
859954
Yes, it is.  With stage IV breast cancer the choice of chemotherapy treatment depends on the patient's goal of treatment. If the goal of treatment is to reduce symptoms and improve quality of life, it may be more desirable to select a chemotherapy treatment with minimal side effects. On the other hand, if the goal of treatment is to attempt to cure the cancer, treatment with more aggressive chemotherapy regimens is opted.  Either way, all the new advanced drug therapies have recorded average survival rates of fewer than 24 months—so your mom sure had a passion for life!  Here are some recent trial findings:\n\nET (Ellence® (epirubicin) and Taxotere® (docetaxel)): In a randomized clinical trial comparing ET to FEC (fluorouracil, epirubicin, and cyclophosphamide) as first-line therapy for stage IV breast cancer, the response rate to ET was 63%, compared to 31% for FEC. The average time to cancer progression was 8.6 months for patients treated with ET, compared to 6.1 months for patients treated with FEC.\n\nTAC (docetaxel, doxorubicin, and cyclophosphamide): In an attempt to further improve treatment, a third drug has been added to the combination of doxorubicin and docetaxel and evaluated as initial treatment for patients with stage IV breast cancer. Two years following treatment, nearly 60% of patients were still alive. The average survival had not yet been established past two years following treatment.\n\nAT (doxorubicin and paclitaxel): A recent clinical trial evaluated the use of AT in patients with stage IV breast cancer. Patients received AT or a common chemotherapy combination consisting of fluorouracil, doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide (FAC). The results of the two groups were then directly compared. The average survival time was 23.3 months for patients receiving AT versus 18.3 months for patients receiving FAC.\n\nTaxotere® (docetaxel) and Xeloda® (capecitabine): Researchers conducted a clinical trial to directly compare docetaxel plus capecitabine to docetaxel alone in the treatment of patients with stage IV breast cancer. Patients who received treatment with docetaxel/capecitabine were more likely to experience anti-cancer responses, have a longer time to cancer progression and survive longer when compared to patients treated with docetaxel alone. One year following therapy, 57% of patients treated with docetaxel/capecitabine had survived, compared to only 47% of patients treated with docetaxel alone.\n\nGemzar® (gemcitabine): Recently, clinical trials indicated that gemcitabine and paclitaxel is an effective treatment option for initial therapy of stage IV breast cancer. In one trial, researchers from France treated 36 patients with stage IV breast cancer or locally advanced breast cancer with gemcitabine and paclitaxel. Following therapy, approximately 42% of patients had an anti-cancer response. The average time to cancer progression was approximately 7.5 months.
1167935
Don't trust me or your doctor but pro-biotics are harmless compared to even an asiprin. Do your own research and discover the truth for yourself. If I told you that Chemo-Therapy was the best thing for your condition, would you believe me? If it is food then it is probably not going to injure you.
849618
Sure, don't hesitate, the longer it goes on the worse the treatment.  I have been through cancer 3 times, the cure is worse than the cold.  Get attention, even if you only suspect and have no symtoms.
497757
I have lupus and I've been taking glyconutrients for six years. And I haven't had a flare up since. I can go out in the sun with no problems, my hair has grown back and my skin has cleared up. My mom takes it too, she is a breast cancer survivor and chemo really takes a lot away from you years later. But she astounds doctors because she has a lot of energy and is in good health compared to others who have taken chemo treatment. If you're thinking about getting it I say go for it you won't be sorry.
380424
Right, chemo and radio are both very harmfull to the body. people who have had them will tell u it's a thing they never want to endure again.\nIt's also very expensive and there are often limited resources so the sensible thing to do is to give it to the people who most need it. If only 10% will benefit, 90% will have unnessesary treatment which is not very ethical seeing as it can kill u.
187035
Nausea is associated with some cancer *treatments* (such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy), but not with cancer itself (especially breast cancer). However, if you are in the first three months of pregnancy, you will likely experience both daily nausea (possibly at the same time each day) AND lumpy, sore, swollen breasts!
1036792
Breast cancer or any other cancer does not hurt,Thats why  so many people die (they have no idea their sick).It only starts to hurt when its to late,If it was to late,You would have many more symtoms... Check with your Dr.
854809
Yes, there is a difference. One gives you natural cancer and the other one gives you just plain old cancer.
954149
my mother in law just went through this and just had radiation too.  her doctor said the cancer was in a fairly small area, and the radiation was just as effective and wouldn't give her the side effects of chemo, but if it came back or they found it had spread, she would have to have the chemo then.  good luck to your sister!
411841
sorry to hear your news but my mom had it long ago & had a hysterecomy to take care of the cancer. she never had to go throgh chemo. ata ll & has been cancer free since the surgery was done back in the mid 1970's. talk to your gyno. about that please & soon.
784688
You should look at the website eyesontheprize.com.  It has stories about women and gyno cancers.  I had endometrial cancer last year which was removed completely by surgery.  Chemo and radiation will depend upon which stage and grade your cancer is.  I was stage 1b, grade 2, and you find out after the surgery-after pathology has time to read it.  Good luck.
134500
You can look up info on the internet just by searching for breast cancer or cancer as the topic.  To find someone to talk to in person call your local hospital for a reference to an organiztion that deals with cancer patients and/or surivivors.  Hospice is an excellent organization...They have connections to diet and holisitc treatments, not only for those who are close to death, but also for those who are full of life.  An oncologist is an expert in cancer therapies including a good diet to promote healing or to promote optimal health during chemo and/or radiation therapy.
125151
First of all, as a cancer survivor myself, I want to offer you a warm hug and my best wishes.  I know making treatment decisions is not easy at all, and the worst thing is having people who don't know your situation tell you what to do.  Plus different cancers have different prognosises and treatments, so what worked for one may not work for another.\n\nStill, the fact that you said you are opting for NO treatment concerns me, especially because you said you have an early stage.  I do believe that the choice of treatment is up to you, but at least try something.  Even if it is an all natural treatment with no side effects you will at least be doing something to make yourself less tired and live a fuller life!  There are all kinds of natural remedies (herbs, change in diet) research them!  Even if they don't cure you, they could at least give you more energy.\n\nPersonally, when I was diagnosed with cancer at 23, I chose conventional treatment (chemo plus radiation).  That was my choice and I am not pushing it on you, but I will say I am glad I went through it.  I am now 24 and in remission.  Have you researched treatments to see how "bad" they really are?  There are so many horror stories, but treatment may not be near as bad as you think it is.  Some cancers, like mine, have really high cure rates and early stages usually require less treatments.  Please thoughtfully consider all options with your mother.  Like I said, this is a personal decision for you and your mom.  Still, be prepared that your symptoms are going to get worse without any treatment at all.
874849
Depends, did the dr say that, or have u just heard it from different people? The dr would be the most qualified to tell u if chondritin interacts with any cancer treatment meds.
454653
Depending on the extent of the disease, treatment will lead to meeting different specialists.\nDiagnosis will take you to: Radiologist, pathologist, medical lab tech, general surgeon (or breast surgeon).\nTreatment: radio- or medical oncologist, general (breast) surgeon.\nIf that's all too much, the most important people that would be involved in caring for you and seeing you the most would be the surgeon or oncologist, depending on the mode of treatment, and they can often be combined surgery and drug and radiation. These two people would consult with the other specialists who you may not actually meet. \nSo if you want to meet someone for breast cancer diagnosis and treatment, meet the surgeon and oncologist.