Has Anyone Taken Oral Chemo After Clear Results?

All margins and lymph nodes clear too but I am undergoing chemo x4 then radiation.

I had the same treatment as Barb and chemo pill never brought up. Check Mayo site or Cleveland Clinic site

Second time TNBC for me and I’ll be starting chemo pills (Capesitabine) on Tuesday. I had no lymph involvement and clear margins but could have the same chemo as last time for various reasons.

Hi Barb I took 6 rounds of capacetabine following 30 treatments of radiation. I was diagnosed with tnbc, 1.8 cm stage 1c with no lymph nodes prior to lumpectomy. I had 4 rounds of TC prior to my lumpectomy. Following surgery and sentinal lymph node biopsy of 3 lymph nodes, one was + with micrometastasis. I did have .4 mm of the lump left after chemo. My oncologist hinted at the chemo pills throughout treatment. For me the deciding factor for taking Capacetabine was the + lymph node closest to the lump which had been negative prior to surgery. My cancer was Grade 3 and I knew it was aggressive by my having cancer remaining and a positive lymph node. I knew I had to accept the capeciabine oral pill to increase my chances of getting all of the cancer cells. Also I was told that one margin was closer than it should have been. So far all is well. Each person has to assess their own situation and possible risk. Capacetabine in the later rounds had some side effects requiring me to reduce the dose. I tried my best to take the full dose for as long as I could. Best wishes to you with your decision.

Barb, You may want another opinion. I actually had a TNBC 12 years ago and this is a reoccurrence, Not in common. Both times caught early and not in lymph nodes. I am going through a University Hospital. No additional pill has been brought up either time. Depending on your age you may want to consider ovaries removed. I would consider a second opinion to be sure and for your own peace of mind.

I had the same exact situation as you. I’ve never been told about chemo pills after chemo and radiation.

I did but it came back anyway

I am on a trial. Chemo and immunotherapy. Have 1 immunotherapy left on Jan 3

I am doing oral chemo and Keytruda after lumpectomy and margins clear and nodes clear. Dr says it is best change of not have reoccurring tumors as my tumor was 2 cm’s

Barbara, My initial surgery March 2023 had tiny breast tumors with 3 clean lymph nodes, including one in breast tissue and margins, all Meg in mastectomies, but aggressive triple neg disease. KI 95% and told uncommon rapid growth for breast cancers. Oncologist with initial follow up struggled deciding chemo or not, because pre op Oncology and surgeons felt all cancer was gone. Markers were not done pre op. Post op my 3 Month scans clean but markers CA 27 29, up 50s and following 3 Mon x2 more scans clean but markers slowly elevated to 80s and I was approved for a PET about 9 Mon later with tiny lump in axillary area, and I indeed metastasized to one axillary node and although scans clean, the node now on US was necrotic and positive. Scary. I went thru 6 months of aggressive doses of chemo IV port, repeat surgery to remove the dissolved node with 2 nodes removed again that were again, “clean from post op chemo,” and yes, 3 more months of oral Chemo Xeloda that was rough (worse side effects than IV chemo but accumulating effects), and starting PARP Oliparib orally next, but starting this low dose, initially, for at least another year. Fears initiating leukemia and wants to avoid blood concerns. My tests are clear now again, but markers up slightly 50s. Felt that the cancer was in my blood from the get go. BRCA is sneaky and so dangerous. Although I refused the preventive mastectomies 9 years earlier, I still did aggressive recommendations of screening with mammogram and Breast MRIs annual and 6mon apart. That’s why my tumors found on MRI were tiny but so very aggressive. I wish you the very best. My feelings are to do what Oncologist recommended.

Additionally I’m being evaluated now for radiation, but I’m thin and have Sjogren’s and other autoimmune, so not sure what Pittsburgh Dr will decide…. I will do what is recommended. I’m walking aggressively and accepted all chemo, managing bad side effects. I took full doses because of the aggressiveness.

I'm in the same exact position and I had my follow up appointment with my oncologist today who had mentioned taking the chemo pill before radiation and today suggested that I try taking Xeloda for six months if my body tolerates it well.8 cycles ,14days on and 7 off and see the oncologist every three weeks 8 pills a day 4/morning and/4/ night I'm also considering taking sour sop

Karen, We definitely have similar paths. I see radiologist in 10 days and am a bit nervous because my skin was very reactive and major painful rashes on chemo. Oncologist said I need evaluation but he is concerned with my past skin issues and being thin… fears bad burns. I’m in the waiting mode. Prayers to you 🙏🙏🙏

Prayers to you also

Many people in the TNBC community have faced similar decisions about additional treatments when results look clear. Oral chemotherapy after completing standard treatment can be recommended as a preventive measure in certain situations, even when initial results are encouraging. This sounds like an important conversation to continue with your oncology team, and connecting with others here who may have navigated similar treatment decisions could provide valuable insights and support.