As you know, in order for you and your doctor to determine whether chemotherapy will be appropriate for you (in addition to hormone therapy), it is important to understand both the benefits and the risks associated with chemotherapy. You can start by assessing how likely it is that your cancer will return. This can be done using tests which specifically determine this likelihood.

If you have a low chance of your cancer returning, you may decide that the benefit of chemotherapy may not be large enough to outweigh the risk of side effects. If you have a high likelihood of your cancer returning, you may find that the potential benefit of chemotherapy outweighs the potential side effects. More information on both the benefits and the risks of chemotherapy appears below.

How can you and your doctor assess the likelihood that your cancer will return? In the Just Diagnosed section of this site, we discuss some of the characteristics of your cancer that your doctor will take into consideration. If your breast cancer is early-stage, ER+ and lymph node-negative, there is a test called Oncotype DX, that can provide additional insight into your individual likelihood of your cancer returning (recurring).

Benefits Of Chemotherapy

When used appropriately, chemotherapy offers benefits for certain women that may outweigh the risks associated with side effects. Specifically, chemotherapy:

• can reduce the number of cancer cells that spread to other parts of the body, reducing the likelihood that cancer will return and potentially prolonging life
• can be used before surgery to shrink larger tumors, making less invasive surgery possible

Risks Of Chemotherapy

The following list is an overview of possible short- and long-term side effects that can occur as a result of chemotherapy. Keep in mind that some side effects are temporary, and others can be minimized through medication and management by your doctor.

• Hair loss
• Nausea and vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Infection
• Fatigue
• Nerve pain and muscle pain
• Decrease in red blood cells and/or white blood cells
• Heart disorders
• Leukemia

The side-effect profiles vary for each individual chemotherapeutic drug. For information about the risks associated with specific therapies, please consult your treating healthcare provider.

Although chemotherapy may cause side effects that affect quality of life, it is important to remember the potential benefits of chemotherapy as well. In addition, it is important to note that there are medications available to minimize some of the side effects of chemotherapy. You and your healthcare team should carefully consider the benefits and risks of chemotherapy before deciding whether it is appropriate for your individual situation.