Do I Need Chemotherapy for Stage 1A Breast Cancer with Ki-67 at 30%?
In stage 1A breast cancer with a Ki-67 index of 30%, is chemotherapy necessary? Hello, Doctor! I just underwent a lumpectomy, and the postoperative pathology report indicates that the original tumor size was 1.3 cm, with ER positive, 80% PR positive, 70% HER-2 positive, and Ki-67...
Dr. Chen Sirong Reply:
Amily / 46 years old / Female Hello! 1. Does the data above indicate a low or high risk of recurrence? I calculated the IHC4 score, and the postoperative specimen is 1.89, while the core needle biopsy specimen is 1530. Both are classified as intermediate malignancy. It is reco...[Read More] Do I Need Chemotherapy for Stage 1A Breast Cancer with Ki-67 at 30%?
Can Artificial Blood Vessels Be Removed Without Chemotherapy?
Can an artificial blood vessel be removed without chemotherapy? Hello, my mother is 53 years old and has stage IV endometrial cancer. She underwent chemotherapy after having an artificial blood vessel placed, but her white blood cell count has been consistently low, causing delay...
Dr. Chen Sirong Reply:
Si-Rong / 53 years old / Female 1. He asked if it is possible to remove the artificial blood vessel. A: 1.1 Recommendations may vary by hospital; Taoyuan Hospital typically suggests waiting for 2 years without recurrence before removal. 1.2 Of course, if he is certai...[Read More] Can Artificial Blood Vessels Be Removed Without Chemotherapy?
Understanding Radiation and Chemotherapy for Stage II B Endometrial Cancer
Radiation Therapy and Chemotherapy for Cancer Hello, my mother has been diagnosed with stage II B endometrial adenocarcinoma and will undergo radiation therapy. The side effects of radiation therapy seem quite significant. With the current linear accelerator technology, will ther...
Dr. Lai Yicheng Reply:
1. Regarding radiation therapy: The uterus and bladder are adjacent organs, so part of the bladder may fall within the radiation field, which can lead to difficulties in urination during treatment. These symptoms are temporary and reversible, and will gradually improve after trea...[Read More] Understanding Radiation and Chemotherapy for Stage II B Endometrial Cancer
Understanding Chemotherapy Options for Advanced Bile Duct Cancer
A 9 cm cholangiocarcinoma tumor? Hello Dr. Chen: My grandfather is in his seventies. When bile duct cancer was discovered, the tumor was already 9 centimeters and had metastasized to the abdominal cavity. The hospital mentioned that the family could consider chemotherapy, but my ...
Dr. Chen Yunfang Reply:
Hello: Currently, there are not many chemotherapy drugs available for cholangiocarcinoma. Generally, physicians may choose injectable options such as 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU), Gemcitabine (Gemzar), or Cisplatin (selecting one or two of these). Additionally, there is an oral chemothe...[Read More] Understanding Chemotherapy Options for Advanced Bile Duct Cancer
Can Palliative Care Be the Only Option for Advanced Cholangiocarcinoma?
Is a 13 cm tumor from bile duct cancer that has metastasized to the liver only eligible for palliative care? In June, the mother was found to have elevated liver enzymes during a diabetes check-up. She had previously experienced an allergic reaction to contrast agents. A subseque...
Dr. Chen Sirong Reply:
Grace: I personally believe that with a life expectancy of three months to a few weeks, the pain from surgery and chemotherapy is unbearable. Other methods to boost immunity may be costly and may not extend survival time. Palliative care is the option that should be accepted at t...[Read More] Can Palliative Care Be the Only Option for Advanced Cholangiocarcinoma?
Post-Surgery Breast Cancer Treatment: Understanding Options and Concerns
Postoperative treatment for breast cancer? A month ago, my mother felt a small hard lump under her breast. She went to a nearby hospital for an examination, and the results indicated it was benign. However, feeling uneasy, she returned to Chung Shan Medical University for a more ...
Dr. Chen Sirong Reply:
Dear Ms. Hui, 1. It is the patient's reasonable right to request a copy of the pathology report from the original treating hospital. Seeking a second opinion from another oncologist with this information is also a reasonable course of action, and the hospital and physician ...[Read More] Post-Surgery Breast Cancer Treatment: Understanding Options and Concerns
Understanding Chemotherapy Decisions for Elderly Cancer Patients
Some questions regarding chemotherapy? Dear Dr. Fan, My mother is 78 years old and discovered a lump in her breast in February. She underwent surgery at Dalin Tzu Chi Hospital, where a biopsy confirmed it was cancer. A few weeks after the surgery, we received the pathology repor...
Dr. Fan Sheng Reply:
Dear Mr. Yuan, Hello. First of all, considering your mother's age, it is highly likely that her breast cancer specimen's estrogen receptor (ER) is positive. If this is the case, I recommend administering the oral estrogen receptor antagonist Tamoxifen for two years, fo...[Read More] Understanding Chemotherapy Decisions for Elderly Cancer Patients
Understanding Side Effects of Chemotherapy for Colorectal Cancer Metastasis
Colorectal cancer metastasizing to lung cancer and liver cancer? Hello doctor, my grandfather had surgery for colon cancer four years ago, and in the past one to two years, he has had surgeries for metastatic lung cancer and liver cancer. He started using the drug Erbitux two mon...
Dr. Chen Sirong Reply:
Hello: 1. Are platinum compounds the same as erblifux? You should know! 2. Platinum compounds refer to substances like cisplatin and oxaliplatin. 3. The side effects are as follows: (1) Bone marrow suppression: It has an inhibitory effect on the main components in the blo...[Read More] Understanding Side Effects of Chemotherapy for Colorectal Cancer Metastasis
Understanding Why CEA Levels Rise After Colon Cancer Surgery and Chemotherapy
Why does CEA remain elevated after colon cancer resection and chemotherapy? Dear Doctor, My mother was diagnosed with a colon tumor at the end of January this year, with an initial CEA level of 114. After the Lunar New Year, she underwent a resection surgery one week later, and ...
Dr. Chen Sirong Reply:
Hello: 1. An increase in CEA levels does not necessarily indicate a clear recurrence of cancer. 2. I also recommend continuing with 5-FU chemotherapy, as it is the most effective drug for colorectal cancer and is the standard treatment; furthermore, examinations have not shown an...[Read More] Understanding Why CEA Levels Rise After Colon Cancer Surgery and Chemotherapy
Understanding the Side Effects of Chemotherapy in Cancer Treatment
What are the side effects of chemotherapy? What are the side effects of chemotherapy?
Dr. Zeng Yuhua Reply:
Hello! Chemotherapy is administered through oral and intravenous routes, with the drugs being absorbed and transported by the circulatory system to the tumors, exerting their anti-cancer effects. Chemotherapy is a systemic treatment. Common side effects include nausea, vomiting, ...[Read More] Understanding the Side Effects of Chemotherapy in Cancer Treatment
Understanding Chemotherapy for Lung Cancer: Side Effects and Prognosis
What is chemotherapy for lung cancer? Last month, my grandmother experienced pain in her right foot, which was suspected to be due to nerve compression, leading her to be admitted to the neurosurgery ward. However, after examinations, no cause was identified. It wasn't until...
Dr. Yang Youhua Reply:
Some patients with stage III lung cancer may be eligible for surgical resection. If surgery is not feasible after evaluation, the remaining treatment options are chemotherapy and radiation therapy. The side effects of chemotherapy often include nausea, vomiting, fatigue, leukopen...[Read More] Understanding Chemotherapy for Lung Cancer: Side Effects and Prognosis