What's Next After Chemo Eliminates My Cancer?

Your HER2 positivity and stage 3 might have something to do with needing radiation. I was told I would most likely need radiation but after mastectomy and lymph node removal I was deemed cancer free. My surgeon told me the radiation oncologist would look at my pathology and determine the next step. She said radiation was not necessary. Have you met with a radiologist yet?

Not yet....I am just hitting the 1 week post surgery mark. I go in for an appt with the surgeons tomorrow. I think I'm just spinning...I know the surgeon gave me this news as "good news". I just have so many more questions.

I had to do radiation treatments, my cancer was stage 1 and tumor was a grade 3, onco score was 21, no cancer in the lymph nodes, HER2- but estrogen+. My radiation oncologist said that radiation kills any cancer cells that may have escaped during surgery. Also the tumor was graded a three due to the size and the aggressive nature of the type of cancer. My medical oncologist recommends the estrogen blockers to keep the estrogen from feeding any cancer cells that may be present to prevent or lower my chance of a recurrence. We are still debating on the estrogen blockers, I don't want to do them because of the potential side effects. I finished my 21 radiation treatments a week ago.

Karen Did you have a mastectomy

I had a lumpectomy

HER+ HER2- Bilateral mastectomy for ductal and lobular cancer. During surgery a biopsy of lymph nodes taken and 5 days later got disheartening news that pathology confirmed 2 lymph nodes malignant and one not. Premenopausal. Once score 9. Now life turned upside down with treatment plan of… 4 rounds of chemo every 3 weeks, heal for 2 weeks, 25 rounds of daily radiation. I began chemo yesterday.

Best of luck with your chemo...for me, chemo was tough. I go back to the oncologist in about a week and a half to determine next steps.

I was informed that with mastectomy, if no lymph node involvement, I would not need radiation ( chemo would still be necessary ) Get a second opinion if you are not interested in the radiation .

Many patients experience similar feelings when treatment continues after such encouraging pathology results - it's completely understandable to feel confused about radiation when no cancer was found. The standard approach often involves completing the original treatment plan to target any potential microscopic cells that might remain, even when surgery shows excellent results. Others in this community have shared similar experiences with continuing treatment after great pathology news, and their insights about navigating these next steps might be really helpful for anyone facing this situation.