Questions

[Shweta11]

Dr.Sumeet, I have been diagnosed with stage 2b bca.I am er/pr+ve, her2-ve and have tested negative for BRCA1&2. I have completed 5 rounds of N-ACT ( 4 Adrimycin + 1 Paclitaxel) with 3 more taxol to go. After my 4th chemo, I do not feel the lump anymore and my onc did not advise for a scan as he is happy with my response to chemo. Please answer the below:

1. Should I insist for a scan midway? He says since I will complete chemo next month, he will do a scan after it.

2. I have not had a sentinel node biopsy, though my pet ct indicated a lump in my underarm. Under what circumstances is this done?

3. I have read about pathologic complete response. Since I am not TNBC or Her2-ve, can I hope to get such a report?. Is this the best report I can get after my surgery?

[sumeet_shah Administrator]

1. Some docs request for a mammography to assess response and some don't. I suggest you just follow your Surgeon as to what he or she is comfortable with. Let him decide when he wants to do the Scan

2. When there is already an obvious lymph node palpable, sentinel node biopsy does not have any meaning. It is done where there are no nodes palpable or felt and one wants to know whether lymph nodes are involved or not.

3. Pathological complete response has no relation to type of tunour and it can be seen in any type. You can very well expect it.

[Shweta11 in reply to sumeet_shah]

Thank you for the answers. How long would you suggest to keep the chemo port in my case..

[sumeet_shah Administrator in reply to Shweta11]

As long as your Oncologist asks you to...