Re: Menopausal status and choosing therapies
We tend to lean toward believing chemotherapy is the "most effective" treatment for breast cancer, but for those who are least menopausal, chemotherapy may only provide temporary or limited protection from ovarian influence. It may be that removal of the ovaries would actually provide at least some patients with more protection from recurrence than chemotherapy. Naturally, the younger one is, the more difficult it is to accept full menopausal status (in terms of planned pregnancies, as well as a more fulfilling sexuality for a longer length of life). In addition, menopausal symptoms and status is only one SE of chemotherapy and the host of drugs used in support of chemotherapy.
This too raises the question again about whether combining removal of the ovaries with trastuzumab may actually be fully protective against recurrence for certain breast cancer patients, rather than combining it with chemotherapy.
If the stem cell info from Fred Hutch study holds up, then it would be even more reason to avoid the chemo and substitute ovarian removal.
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Dx 2002 age 51
bc for granny, aunt, cousin, sister, mother.
ER+/PR+/HER2+++, grade 3
IDC 1.9 cm, some DCIS, Stage 1, Grade 3
Lumpectomy, CAFx6 (no blood boosters), IMRT rads, 1 3/4 yr tamoxifen
Rads necrosis
BRCA 1 & 2 negative
Trials: Early detection OVCA; 2004 low-dose testosterone for bc survivors
Diet: Primarily vegetarian organic; metformin (no diabetes), vitamin D3
Exercise: 7 days a week, 1 hr/day
No trastuzumab, no taxane, no AI
NED
Last edited by AlaskaAngel; 08-13-2012 at 02:06 PM..
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