Our Health Library information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Please be advised that this information is made available to assist our patients to learn more about their health. Our providers may not see and/or treat all topics found herein. You may want to have a say in this decision, or you may simply want to follow your doctor's recommendation. Either way, this information will help you understand what your choices are so that you can talk to your doctor about them. Get the Compare Your Your Quiz Your Summary This information is for those who are deciding about chemotherapy for early-stage breast cancer. It is not about surgery or hormone therapy. Breast cancer occurs when abnormal cells grow out of control in one or both breasts. These cells can invade nearby tissues and form a mass, called a malignant tumor. The cancer cells can spread (metastasize) to the lymph nodes and other parts of the body. The first treatment for early-stage breast cancer usually includes surgery and sometimes radiation. Your doctor may also talk to you about added treatment, such as chemotherapy ("chemo") and hormone therapy, that may help keep cancer from coming back. It isn't possible for all women to know for sure who will benefit from added treatment. But if you have early-stage, estrogen receptor positive (ER+) breast cancer with no cancer in the lymph nodes, you may have a gene test. Gene tests, such as the Oncotype DX, may be done on the cancerous tissue that was removed to look for tumor markers. These tests can give your doctor important information about whether chemotherapy will help you. The type of added treatment you have depends on the stage and classification of your breast cancer: Different chemotherapy medicines tend to cause different side effects. Many women do not have problems with these side effects, while other women are bothered a lot. There are other medicines you can take to treat the side effects of chemo. Talk to your doctor about the type of chemotherapy medicine that he or she is planning to give you. Ask about any side effects that the chemo may cause. Short-term side effects can include: Long-term side effects of chemotherapy can include: Your doctor might recommend chemotherapy ("chemo") after surgery if: Your doctor may use a genetic test to find your risk for having your cancer come back. This information can help you and your doctor decide about chemotherapy. Compare What is usually involved? What are the benefits? What are the risks and side effects? These stories are based on information gathered from health professionals and consumers. They may be helpful as you make important health decisions. I found out about the breast cancer earlier this year. I don't have a family history of it or any of the risk factors that you read about. I chose to have a lumpectomy. My doctor had some gene tests done on the tissue that was removed during my surgery. The tests showed that the cancer was not very aggressive and that chemotherapy would not be helpful for me. So instead I'm taking letrozole every day. I am glad that there are tests for women with ER+ cancer that can show if chemo will help. Brenda, age 57 I got breast cancer 2 years ago. What a surprise! I don't have any family history (that I know of), and I don't have the other risk factors that my doctor talked to me about. Because of my age and the type of breast cancer I had, my doctor did some tests. It turned out that I was at a higher risk for having the cancer come back. So, I had chemo. I'm doing fine so far. And I think this was the right decision for me. Janice, age 40 I was diagnosed with breast cancer just last year. The breast cancer was small, and I didn't have any cancer in the lymph nodes. But my doctor did a gene test and said my risk was high enough that I needed to decide whether I wanted to have chemo. I decided to go ahead and have it. And even though that was harder than I thought, I'm still glad I made that choice. It was the right one for me. Paula, age 61 Your personal feelings are just as important as the medical facts. Think about what matters most to you in this decision, and show how you feel about the following statements. Reasons to have chemotherapy after surgery Reasons not to have chemotherapy I want to do everything possible to treat the breast cancer. I would rather wait and see if the cancer comes back before I have more treatment. I would have strong feelings of failure if the breast cancer returned. I know there's no way to know for sure whether chemo would keep the cancer from coming back. I want to have the added treatment and be done with it. I would be comfortable having frequent follow-ups, without the added treatment. I feel ready to deal with the possible side effects of chemo. I am very worried about the side effects. My other important reasons: My other important reasons: Now that you've thought about the facts and your feelings, you may have a general idea of where you stand on this decision. Show which way you are leaning right now. Having chemo NOT having chemo Check the facts Decide what's next Certainty 1. How sure do you feel right now about your decision? Here's a record of your answers. You can use it to talk with your doctor or loved ones about your decision. This information is for those who are deciding about chemotherapy for early-stage breast cancer. It is not about surgery or hormone therapy. Breast cancer occurs when abnormal cells grow out of control in one or both breasts. These cells can invade nearby tissues and form a mass, called a malignant tumor. The cancer cells can spread (metastasize) to the lymph nodes and other parts of the body. The first treatment for early-stage breast cancer usually includes surgery and sometimes radiation. Your doctor may also talk to you about added treatment, such as chemotherapy ("chemo") and hormone therapy, that may help keep cancer from coming back. It isn't possible for all women to know for sure who will benefit from added treatment. But if you have early-stage, estrogen receptor positive (ER+) breast cancer with no cancer in the lymph nodes, you may have a gene test. Gene tests, such as the Oncotype DX, may be done on the cancerous tissue that was removed to look for tumor markers. These tests can give your doctor important information about whether chemotherapy will help you. The type of added treatment you have depends on the stage and classification of your breast cancer: Different chemotherapy medicines tend to cause different side effects. Many women do not have problems with these side effects, while other women are bothered a lot. There are other medicines you can take to treat the side effects of chemo. Talk to your doctor about the type of chemotherapy medicine that he or she is planning to give you. Ask about any side effects that the chemo may cause. Short-term side effects can include: Long-term side effects of chemotherapy can include: Your doctor might recommend chemotherapy ("chemo") after surgery if: Your doctor may use a genetic test to find your risk for having your cancer come back. This information can help you and your doctor decide about chemotherapy. These stories are based on information gathered from health professionals and consumers. They may be helpful as you make important health decisions. "I was diagnosed with breast cancer about 3 years after I went through menopause. The breast cancer was small, and I did not have any cancer in my lymph nodes. I stopped taking my menopause hormones, had surgery and radiation, and have been taking tamoxifen ever since. I see my doctor a couple of times a year and so far have been okay. I'm going to ask my doctor if I'm a good candidate for switching to something like Arimidex. I hear that it's a smart choice for some women." — Marty, age 56 "I found out about the breast cancer earlier this year. I don't have a family history of it or any of the risk factors that you read about. I chose to have a lumpectomy. My doctor had some gene tests done on the tissue that was removed during my surgery. The tests showed that the cancer was not very aggressive and that chemotherapy would not be helpful for me. So instead I'm taking letrozole every day. I am glad that there are tests for women with ER+ cancer that can show if chemo will help." — Brenda, age 57 "I got breast cancer 2 years ago. What a surprise! I don't have any family history (that I know of), and I don't have the other risk factors that my doctor talked to me about. Because of my age and the type of breast cancer I had, my doctor did some tests. It turned out that I was at a higher risk for having the cancer come back. So, I had chemo. I'm doing fine so far. And I think this was the right decision for me." — Janice, age 40 "I was diagnosed with breast cancer just last year. The breast cancer was small, and I didn't have any cancer in the lymph nodes. But my doctor did a gene test and said my risk was high enough that I needed to decide whether I wanted to have chemo. I decided to go ahead and have it. And even though that was harder than I thought, I'm still glad I made that choice. It was the right one for me." — Paula, age 61 Your personal feelings are just as important as the medical facts. Think about what matters most to you in this decision, and show how you feel about the following statements. Reasons to have chemotherapy after surgery Reasons not to have chemotherapy I want to do everything possible to treat the breast cancer. I would rather wait and see if the cancer comes back before I have more treatment. I would have strong feelings of failure if the breast cancer returned. I know there's no way to know for sure whether chemo would keep the cancer from coming back. I want to have the added treatment and be done with it. I would be comfortable having frequent follow-ups, without the added treatment. I feel ready to deal with the possible side effects of chemo. I am very worried about the side effects. My other important reasons: My other important reasons: Now that you've thought about the facts and your feelings, you may have a general idea of where you stand on this decision. Show which way you are leaning right now. Having chemo NOT having chemo 1.
Is chemo the main treatment for early-stage breast cancer? 2.
Should every woman with early-stage breast cancer have chemotherapy? 3.
Are the side effects of chemo always bad? 1.
Do you understand the options available to you? 2.
Are you clear about which benefits and side effects matter most to you? 3.
Do you have enough support and advice from others to make a choice? 1.
How sure do you feel right now about your decision? 2.
Check what you need to do before you make this decision. Current as of: October 25, 2023 Author: Healthwise Staff Clinical Review BoardBreast Cancer: Should I Have Chemotherapy for Early-Stage Breast Cancer?
Breast Cancer: Should I Have Chemotherapy for Early-Stage Breast Cancer?
1
Facts2
Options3
Feelings4
Decision5
Yourself6
Get the facts
Your options
Key points to remember
What is breast cancer?
When is chemotherapy used to treat early-stage breast cancer?
What are the risks of chemotherapy?
Why might your doctor recommend chemotherapy?
Compare your options
Personal stories about choosing chemotherapy for breast cancer
What matters most to you?
Where are you leaning now?
What else do you need to make your decision?
Your Summary
Your decision
Next steps
Which way you're leaning
How sure you are
Your comments
Your knowledge of the facts
Key concepts that you understood
Key concepts that may need review
Getting ready to act
Patient choices
Credits
Author Healthwise Staff Clinical Review Board Clinical Review Board
All Healthwise education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.Breast Cancer: Should I Have Chemotherapy for Early-Stage Breast Cancer?
1. Get the Facts
Your options
Key points to remember
What is breast cancer?
When is chemotherapy used to treat early-stage breast cancer?
What are the risks of chemotherapy?
Why might your doctor recommend chemotherapy?
2. Compare your options
Have chemotherapy after surgery Don't have chemotherapy What is usually involved? What are the benefits? What are the risks and side effects? Personal stories
Personal stories about choosing chemotherapy for breast cancer
3. What matters most to you?
4. Where are you leaning now?
5. What else do you need to make your decision?
Check the facts
Decide what's next
Certainty
By Healthwise Staff Clinical Review Board Clinical Review Board
All Healthwise education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.
Note: The "printer friendly" document will not contain all the information available in the online document some Information (e.g. cross-references to other topics, definitions or medical illustrations) is only available in the online version.
All Healthwise education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.
FAQs
Have chemotherapy after surgery Have chemotherapy after surgery
Don't have chemotherapy Don't have chemotherapy
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Leaning toward
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Somewhat sure
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Credits
You may want to have a say in this decision, or you may simply want to follow your doctor's recommendation. Either way, this information will help you understand what your choices are so that you can talk to your doctor about them.
Here's a record of your answers. You can use it to talk with your doctor or loved ones about your decision.
FAQs
More important
Equally important
More important
More important
Equally important
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You're right. Chemotherapy is an added treatment, a sort of insurance policy designed to kill any cancer cells that may still be in your body after surgery.
You're right. Not every woman will need chemo. It depends on what type of breast cancer she has and how far it has spread.
That's right. Some women are not bothered by side effects. Your doctor can give you other medicines to help you deal with side effects like nausea and vomiting.
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Somewhat sure
Very sure
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