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Posted 6/17/2008 8:14 PM (GMT 0)
A good friend of mine is going threw breast cancer and I have a question. Is it normal to have  chemo first? Can the chemo help to kill the cancer? I have never heard of anyone having chemo first. She has imflamitory cancer in stage 5 and another type of breast cancer and it is in the lymph noids. Any help I thank you for in advance.
Posted 6/17/2008 9:03 PM (GMT 0)

Hi and welcome. I think some of your facts might be confused, (I did not know there was anything higher than stage IV for cancer)...but we can probably add some help here.

Yes, some people do get chemo first. There are many kinds of chemotherapy, some of which are typical cancer drugs that kill cancer cells and some healthy ones too (causing hair loss, etc), and others can target parts of the cancer cells and not bother the healthy ones. Sometimes people have a large or extensive tumor and they do chemo first to try and shrink it or bring it under control before doing surgery. Some people might not be surgical candidates, depending on where the cancer is.

Inflammatory breast cancer is very serious and getting chemo first before surgery is not out of the norm.

Good luck to your friend!

Lori

Posted 6/19/2008 2:28 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Lori, thanks for the reply. Yes I got it wrong she is stage 4. She had her first round of chemo today and is so tired that she went to bed and woke up and was back down again. I was able to ask more questions today from the family so I do understand more. I have never had  someone close to me have this before. If anyone can help and tell us what to expect next it would help. I usually hang out on the Lupus and Fibro boards. Those are for  me. :-)

 

Thanks everyone

Posted 6/21/2008 12:34 AM (GMT 0)
I am sorry about your friend. I am having chemo first, before surgery. My oncoligist said the chemo could shrink the tumor and it might even disappear. Also if any cells got into other parts of my body the chemo might kill those bad boys too!

Carolyn

Posted 6/21/2008 9:42 PM (GMT 0)
Inflammatory bc is treated with a "sandwich" approach - chemo to reduce the mass, then surgery, then more chemo and radiation.  I am an 8-year survivor of IBC.  Hope this helps.  Hugs, Jamie
Posted 6/26/2008 5:52 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you all for the responds. P had her first round of chemo and she is having problems with the meds for the white blood cells. They are making adjustment. She has a nurse come in twice a week. She is my BFF and I am praying very hard for her.The family is ready for anything but are hopping for the best. Anything anyone can add is helpful.  

 

                 Thanks love and health to everyone

Posted 6/27/2008 5:20 PM (GMT 0)
Ten year survivor, and yes I had chemo first back then and then surgery and then chemo in combination with radiation. It was considered unusual back then. Now I understand it is quite common. The chemo actually shrunk the color area I had after about my third treatment. I was able to tell from just the color that it was doing something. But not everyone has that, and they still do well. Seems of all the girls I have met and that even includes a nunn, we all had different things going on but the nunn and I were his first trial with this treatment and we both did well. I wish the same for your friend. Prayers and best wishes. Joyce
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