ROJoson PEP Talk: Can one skip CHEMOTHERAPY in BREAST CANCER TREATMENT?

1. March 2, 2024
1400H - 1500H
Via Zoom
CAN ONE SKIP
CHEMOTHERAPY
IN BREAST
CANCER
TREATMENT?
Empowerment
objective - for laypeople
to have an essential
understanding on
WHETHER ONE CAN
SKIP CHEMOTHERAPY
IN BREAST CANCER
TREATMENT as part of
their health
management.

2. March 2, 2024
1400H - 1500H
Via Zoom
CAN ONE SKIP
CHEMOTHERAPY
IN BREAST
CANCER
TREATMENT?
Empowerment
objective - for laypeople
to have an essential
understanding on
WHETHER ONE CAN
SKIP CHEMOTHERAPY
IN BREAST CANCER
TREATMENT as part of
their health
management.
Welcome all!
MUTE yourself but always
show your video picture.
Sign in your name, FB
account, or email address in
the Chat Box! Include names
of companions attending.
Use the Chat Box to ask
questions and make
comments while the PEP TALK
is on.
There will be group pictures
at start and end of PEP TALK –
show your face in video.

3. Reminder after the PEP
Talk:
Take the Online Learning
cum Evaluation Test
Exercise (OLETE) for
mastery of learning and
have a perfect score to get
a Certificate.
Link is in Chat Box.

4. Reminder:
50 OLETE Certificates = 1
Voucher for ROJoson
Medical Consultation
either Face-to-Face or
Telemedical.

5. CAN ONE SKIP
CHEMOTHERAPY
IN BREAST
CANCER
TREATMENT?
Empowerment
objective - for laypeople
to have an essential
understanding on
WHETHER ONE CAN
SKIP CHEMOTHERAPY
IN BREAST CANCER
TREATMENT as part of
their health
management.
ROJOSON’S REQUEST:
FEEDBACK TO THIS
PEP TALK!
Pls. type in your
feedback in the chat
box during the open
forum and before we
adjourn!
Thank you!

6. CAN ONE SKIP
CHEMOTHERAPY
IN BREAST
CANCER
TREATMENT?
Empowerment
objective - for laypeople
to have an essential
understanding on
WHETHER ONE CAN
SKIP CHEMOTHERAPY
IN BREAST CANCER
TREATMENT as part of
their health
management.
LET’S NOW HAVE A
GROUP PICTURE
TAKING BEFORE WE
START PEP TALK
PROPER IN 2
MINUTES!
Pls. turn on your
video!
Show your face!

7. CAN ONE SKIP
CHEMOTHERAPY
IN BREAST
CANCER
TREATMENT?
Empowerment
objective - for laypeople
to have an essential
understanding on
WHETHER ONE CAN
SKIP CHEMOTHERAPY
IN BREAST CANCER
TREATMENT as part of
their health
management.
ROJoson PEP Talk
I have a Patient
Empowerment
Program in which I
like to empower the
lay people or
patients to take
control in the
management of
their health.

8. I started the PEP Talk
on May 15, 2021
during the COVID19
Pandemic. There are
3 courses in the PEP
Talk. I completed the
Core Course on
October 9, 2021.

9. From October 23,
2021 onwards, I have
been tackling Health
Disorder and Health
Issue Courses. This
may take 3 years or
longer depending on
our enthusiasm,
discipline and
perseverance.

10. CAN ONE SKIP
CHEMOTHERAPY
IN BREAST
CANCER
TREATMENT?
Empowerment
objective - for laypeople
to have an essential
understanding on
WHETHER ONE CAN
SKIP CHEMOTHERAPY
IN BREAST CANCER
TREATMENT as part of
their health
management.
My PEP TALK today is
entitled:
CAN ONE SKIP
CHEMOTHERAPY IN
BREAST CANCER
TREATMENT?

11. Contents
• What is chemotherapy?
• What is chemotherapy in breast cancer
treatment?
• Can one skip chemotherapy in breast cancer
treatment?
Disclaimer:
ROJoson PEP Talk
contains ROJoson’s
Thoughts,
Perceptions,
Opinions and
Recommendations
(TPORs) culled from
experiences of
ROJoson and other
professionals.
CAN ONE SKIP
CHEMOTHERAPY
IN BREAST
CANCER
TREATMENT?

12. What is chemotherapy?
CAN ONE SKIP
CHEMOTHERAPY
IN BREAST
CANCER
TREATMENT?

13. What is chemotherapy?
Chemotherapy is the use of drugs to destroy
cancer cells.
This type of cancer treatment works by keeping
cancer cells from growing, dividing, and making
more cells.
Chemotherapy is a systemic medication. This
means it travels through the bloodstream and
reaches all parts of the body.
CAN ONE SKIP
CHEMOTHERAPY
IN BREAST
CANCER
TREATMENT?
https://www.cancer.net/na
vigating-cancer-care/how-
cancer-
treated/chemotherapy/wha
t-chemotherapy

14. What is chemotherapy?
There are many different kinds of chemotherapy.
In general, drugs used for chemotherapy are
powerful chemicals that treat cancer by attacking
cells during specific parts of the cell cycle.
All cells go through the cell cycle, which is how
new cells are made.
Cancer cells go through this process faster than
normal cells, so chemotherapy has more of an
effect on these fast-growing cells.
CAN ONE SKIP
CHEMOTHERAPY
IN BREAST
CANCER
TREATMENT?
https://www.cancer.net/na
vigating-cancer-care/how-
cancer-
treated/chemotherapy/wha
t-chemotherapy

15. What is chemotherapy?
Because chemotherapy travels through the whole
body, it can also damage healthy cells as they go
through their normal cell cycle.
This is why chemotherapy can cause side effects
like hair loss and nausea.
CAN ONE SKIP
CHEMOTHERAPY
IN BREAST
CANCER
TREATMENT?
https://www.cancer.net/na
vigating-cancer-care/how-
cancer-
treated/chemotherapy/wha
t-chemotherapy

16. What is chemotherapy?
The goals of chemotherapy depend on the type of
cancer and how far it has spread.
Chemotherapy can be given alone or as a part of
a treatment plan that includes different
treatments.
CAN ONE SKIP
CHEMOTHERAPY
IN BREAST
CANCER
TREATMENT?
https://www.cancer.net/na
vigating-cancer-care/how-
cancer-
treated/chemotherapy/wha
t-chemotherapy

17. What is chemotherapy?
Some of the ways chemotherapy is used include:
• As the primary treatment. This might be called
"curative chemotherapy."
• Before other treatments. This can be called
"neoadjuvant chemotherapy."
• After other treatments. This is called "adjuvant
chemotherapy."
• To slow the progression of cancer and relieve
symptoms. Chemotherapy used for these
purposes is sometimes called "palliative
chemotherapy."
CAN ONE SKIP
CHEMOTHERAPY
IN BREAST
CANCER
TREATMENT?
https://www.cancer.net/na
vigating-cancer-care/how-
cancer-
treated/chemotherapy/wha
t-chemotherapy

18. What is chemotherapy?
As the primary treatment.
Sometimes, the goal of chemotherapy treatment
is to get rid of all the cancer and keep it from
coming back.
This might be called "curative chemotherapy."
CAN ONE SKIP
CHEMOTHERAPY
IN BREAST
CANCER
TREATMENT?
https://www.cancer.net/na
vigating-cancer-care/how-
cancer-
treated/chemotherapy/wha
t-chemotherapy

19. What is chemotherapy?
Before other treatments.
Chemotherapy can be given before surgery or
radiation therapy to shrink tumors.
This can be called "neoadjuvant chemotherapy."
CAN ONE SKIP
CHEMOTHERAPY
IN BREAST
CANCER
TREATMENT?
https://www.cancer.net/na
vigating-cancer-care/how-
cancer-
treated/chemotherapy/wha
t-chemotherapy

20. What is chemotherapy?
After other treatments.
Chemotherapy can be given after surgery or
radiation therapy to destroy any remaining
cancer cells.
This is called "adjuvant chemotherapy."
CAN ONE SKIP
CHEMOTHERAPY
IN BREAST
CANCER
TREATMENT?
https://www.cancer.net/na
vigating-cancer-care/how-
cancer-
treated/chemotherapy/wha
t-chemotherapy

21. What is chemotherapy?
To slow the progression of cancer and relieve
symptoms.
Even when the cancer is not curable,
chemotherapy can partially shrink tumors and
prevent tumor growth and spread for various
lengths of time. In such settings, chemotherapy
can extend survival, relieve cancer-related
symptoms, and improve quality of life.
Chemotherapy used for these purposes is
sometimes called "palliative chemotherapy."
CAN ONE SKIP
CHEMOTHERAPY
IN BREAST
CANCER
TREATMENT?
https://www.cancer.net/na
vigating-cancer-care/how-
cancer-
treated/chemotherapy/wha
t-chemotherapy

22. What is chemotherapy?
Chemotherapy can be used to treat many types
of cancers.
It can also be used to treat recurrent cancer and
metastatic cancer.
Recurrent cancer is cancer that comes back after
treatment.
Metastatic cancer is cancer that has spread to
other parts of the body.
CAN ONE SKIP
CHEMOTHERAPY
IN BREAST
CANCER
TREATMENT?
https://www.cancer.net/na
vigating-cancer-care/how-
cancer-
treated/chemotherapy/wha
t-chemotherapy

23. What is chemotherapy?
What factors determine a chemotherapy plan?
There are many drugs available to treat cancer.
One may receive a combination of drugs, because
this sometimes works better than 1 drug by itself.
CAN ONE SKIP
CHEMOTHERAPY
IN BREAST
CANCER
TREATMENT?
https://www.cancer.net/na
vigating-cancer-care/how-
cancer-
treated/chemotherapy/wha
t-chemotherapy

24. What is chemotherapy?
The drugs, dose, and treatment schedule depend on many factors.
These include:
• The type of cancer
• The stage of the cancer. Cancer stage is determined by the size
and location of the tumor and whether or not the cancer has
spread. tumor size, its location, and if or where it has spread.
• One’s age and general health
• One’s body weight
• The possible side effects of each drug
• Any other medical conditions one has
• Previous cancer treatments
CAN ONE SKIP
CHEMOTHERAPY
IN BREAST
CANCER
TREATMENT?
https://www.cancer.net/navigating-
cancer-care/how-cancer-
treated/chemotherapy/what-
chemotherapy

25. What is chemotherapy?
Chemotherapy may be given in several different
ways.
• Intravenous (IV) chemotherapy
• Oral chemotherapy
• Injected chemotherapy
• Chemotherapy into an artery
• Chemotherapy into the peritoneum or
abdomen
• Topical chemotherapy
CAN ONE SKIP
CHEMOTHERAPY
IN BREAST
CANCER
TREATMENT?
https://www.cancer.net/na
vigating-cancer-care/how-
cancer-
treated/chemotherapy/wha
t-chemotherapy

26. What is chemotherapy?
Types of chemotherapy (drugs)
Chemotherapy for cancer includes more than a
100 different drugs.
Main types of chemotherapy:
•Alkylating agents
•Antimetabolites
•Anti-tumor antibiotics
•Topoisomerase inhibitors
•Mitotic inhibitors
•Plant alkaloids
CAN ONE SKIP
CHEMOTHERAPY
IN BREAST
CANCER
TREATMENT?
https://www.cancer.net/na
vigating-cancer-care/how-
cancer-
treated/chemotherapy/wha
t-chemotherapy

27. What is chemotherapy?
Chemotherapy in combination with other cancer
treatments:
• Hormone therapy
• Immunotherapy
• Targeted therapy
CAN ONE SKIP
CHEMOTHERAPY
IN BREAST
CANCER
TREATMENT?
https://www.cancer.net/na
vigating-cancer-care/how-
cancer-
treated/chemotherapy/wha
t-chemotherapy

28. What is chemotherapy?
Chemotherapy in combination with other cancer
treatments:
Hormone therapy - type of cancer treatment that
removes, blocks, or adds specific hormones to the
body. It is also called hormonal therapy or
endocrine therapy.
CAN ONE SKIP
CHEMOTHERAPY
IN BREAST
CANCER
TREATMENT?
https://www.cancer.net/na
vigating-cancer-care/how-
cancer-
treated/chemotherapy/wha
t-chemotherapy

29. What is chemotherapy?
Chemotherapy in combination with other cancer
treatments:
Immunotherapy - type of treatment that helps
the body's natural defenses fight the cancer.
Targeted therapy - these treatments target and
disable genes or proteins found in cancer cells
that the cancer cells need to grow.
CAN ONE SKIP
CHEMOTHERAPY
IN BREAST
CANCER
TREATMENT?
https://www.cancer.net/na
vigating-cancer-care/how-
cancer-
treated/chemotherapy/wha
t-chemotherapy

30. What is chemotherapy?
How long is the chemotherapy?
Chemotherapy is often given for a specific time,
such as 6 months or a year. Or one might receive
chemotherapy for as long as it works.
CAN ONE SKIP
CHEMOTHERAPY
IN BREAST
CANCER
TREATMENT?
https://www.cancer.net/na
vigating-cancer-care/how-
cancer-
treated/chemotherapy/wha
t-chemotherapy

31. What is chemotherapy?
How long is the chemotherapy?
Side effects from many anti-cancer drugs are too
severe to give treatment every day. Doctors
usually give these drugs with breaks, so one has
time to rest and recover before the next
treatment. This lets one’s healthy cells heal.
CAN ONE SKIP
CHEMOTHERAPY
IN BREAST
CANCER
TREATMENT?
https://www.cancer.net/na
vigating-cancer-care/how-
cancer-
treated/chemotherapy/wha
t-chemotherapy

32. What is chemotherapy?
How long is the chemotherapy?
For example, one might get a dose of
chemotherapy on the first day and then have 3
weeks of recovery time before repeating the
treatment.
Each 3-week period is called a treatment cycle.
Several cycles make up a course of chemotherapy.
A course usually lasts 3 months or more.
CAN ONE SKIP
CHEMOTHERAPY
IN BREAST
CANCER
TREATMENT?
https://www.cancer.net/na
vigating-cancer-care/how-
cancer-
treated/chemotherapy/wha
t-chemotherapy

33. What is chemotherapy?
Common side effects:
•Fatigue
•Hair loss
•Easy bruising and bleeding
•Infection
•Anemia (low red blood cell counts)
•Nausea and vomiting
•Appetite changes
•Constipation
•Diarrhea
•Mouth, tongue, and throat problems such as
sores and pain with swallowing
CAN ONE SKIP
CHEMOTHERAPY
IN BREAST
CANCER
TREATMENT?
https://www.cancer.org/can
cer/managing-
cancer/treatment-
types/chemotherapy/chemo
therapy-side-effects.html

34. What is chemotherapy?
Common side effects:
•Peripheral neuropathy or other nerve problems,
such as numbness, tingling, and pain
•Skin and nail changes such as dry skin and color
change
•Urine and bladder changes and kidney problems
•Weight changes
•Chemo brain, which can affect concentration
and focus
•Mood changes
•Changes in libido and sexual function
•Fertility problems
CAN ONE SKIP
CHEMOTHERAPY
IN BREAST
CANCER
TREATMENT?
https://www.cancer.org/ca
ncer/managing-
cancer/treatment-
types/chemotherapy/chem
otherapy-side-effects.html

35. What is chemotherapy in breast cancer
treatment?
CAN ONE SKIP
CHEMOTHERAPY
IN BREAST
CANCER
TREATMENT?

36. What is chemotherapy in breast cancer
treatment?
• Use of drugs to destroy breast cancer cells.
• Is a systemic medication. This means it travels
through the bloodstream and reaches all parts
of the body.
• Usually parenteral (IV) at times, oral.
• May be or usually used in combination with
hormonal therapy, targeted therapy and
immunotherapy
CAN ONE SKIP
CHEMOTHERAPY
IN BREAST
CANCER
TREATMENT?

37. What is chemotherapy in breast cancer treatment?
May be used:
• As the primary treatment. This might be called "curative
chemotherapy.“ USUALLY, EARLY STAGED BREAST CANCERS.
• Before other treatments. This can be called "neoadjuvant
chemotherapy.“ USUALLY, ADVANCED STAGED BREAST CANCERS.
• After other treatments. This is called "adjuvant chemotherapy.“ EARLY
and ADVANCED STAGES.
• To slow the progression of cancer and relieve
symptoms. Chemotherapy used for these purposes is sometimes
called "palliative chemotherapy.“ FOR ADVANCED STAGES (recurrent /
metastatic)
CAN ONE SKIP
CHEMOTHERAPY
IN BREAST
CANCER
TREATMENT?

38. What is chemotherapy in breast cancer
treatment?
Indications:
• Usually in advanced stages of breast cancers
• Those with lymph node metastasis
• Those with distant metastasis
• Those with biomarkers for poorer prognosis
such as triple negative (ERA, PRA, and HER-2-
NEU) and positive HER-2-NEU
CAN ONE SKIP
CHEMOTHERAPY
IN BREAST
CANCER
TREATMENT?

39. Can one skip chemotherapy in breast cancer
treatment?
CAN ONE SKIP
CHEMOTHERAPY
IN BREAST
CANCER
TREATMENT?

40. Can one skip chemotherapy in breast cancer treatment?
YES –
• If one has early stage breast cancer, especially with negative axillary
lymph node metastasis
• If one has early stage breast cancer, especially with positive ERA /
PRA and negative HER-2-NEU
• If there is / are medical conditions in a patient that will cause severe
complications with chemotherapy
• one does not want to for one reason or another –such as mindset and
does not believe in the usefulness of chemotherapy (no physicians
can force any patients to have chemotherapy)
CAN ONE SKIP
CHEMOTHERAPY
IN BREAST
CANCER
TREATMENT?

41. Can one skip chemotherapy in breast cancer treatment?
NO –
• If there are valid indications for the chemotherapy (will offer benefits
in turn of better chance for remission)
• If one has advanced stage breast cancer
• If one has advanced breast cancer, especially with triple negative
(negative ERA / PRA and negative HER-2-NEU)
• If one has advanced breast cancer, especially with positive HER-2-NEU
• If there is / are NO medical conditions in a patient that will cause
severe complications with chemotherapy and there are more benefits
than harm
CAN ONE SKIP
CHEMOTHERAPY
IN BREAST
CANCER
TREATMENT?

42. Can one skip chemotherapy in breast cancer
treatment?
General Recommendation:
“Except for small, very early stage cancers that
haven’t spread to the lymph nodes, most people
with triple-negative and HER2-positive breast
cancer require chemotherapy. This gives them the
best chance of not having their cancer spread or
return.” https://www.healthline.com/health/breast-
cancer/when-is-it-possible-to-skip-chemotherapy-in-breast-
cancer-treatment#future-research
CAN ONE SKIP
CHEMOTHERAPY
IN BREAST
CANCER
TREATMENT?

43. Can one skip chemotherapy in breast cancer
treatment?
Strongest Recommendation:
If anyone wants to avoid chemotherapy in the
breast cancer treatment, in case one develops,
have a personal strategy to catch the breast
cancer early enough, such as monthly breast self-
examination and early consult and treatment.
CAN ONE SKIP
CHEMOTHERAPY
IN BREAST
CANCER
TREATMENT?

44. CAN ONE SKIP
CHEMOTHERAPY
IN BREAST
CANCER
TREATMENT?
Summary
Take Away
Contents
• What is chemotherapy?
• What is chemotherapy in breast cancer
treatment?
• Can one skip chemotherapy in breast cancer
treatment?

45. Take Away in
relation to
Patient
Empowerment
Be always in touch with reliable medical
information on WHETHER ONE CAN SKIP
CHEMOTHERAPY IN BREAST CANCER TREATMENT.
Knowledge is power; it gives power.
Use the 4Ks of Patient Empowerment:
Kaalaman, Kakayanan, Karapatan and
Kapangyarihan to gain greater control over
decisions / make better decisions on
WHETHER ONE CAN SKIP CHEMOTHERAPY
IN BREAST CANCER TREATMENT as part of
your health management.
CAN ONE SKIP
CHEMOTHERAPY
IN BREAST
CANCER
TREATMENT?

46. CAN ONE SKIP
CHEMOTHERAPY
IN BREAST
CANCER
TREATMENT?
Empowerment
objective - for laypeople
to have an essential
understanding on
WHETHER ONE CAN
SKIP CHEMOTHERAPY
IN BREAST CANCER
TREATMENT as part of
their health
management.
This ends my PEP
TALK today on:
CAN ONE SKIP
CHEMOTHERAPY IN
BREAST CANCER
TREATMENT?

47. Reminder after the PEP
Talk:
Take the Online Learning
cum Evaluation Test
Exercise (OLETE) for
mastery of learning and
have a perfect score to get
a Certificate.
Link is in Chat Box.

48. Reminder:
50 OLETE Certificates = 1
Voucher for ROJoson
Medical Consultation
either Face-to-Face or
Telemedical.

49. CAN ONE SKIP
CHEMOTHERAPY
IN BREAST
CANCER
TREATMENT?
Empowerment
objective - for laypeople
to have an essential
understanding on
WHETHER ONE CAN
SKIP CHEMOTHERAPY
IN BREAST CANCER
TREATMENT as part of
their health
management.
ROJOSON’S REQUEST:
FEEDBACK TO THIS
PEP TALK!
Pls. type in your
feedback in the chat
box during the open
forum and before we
adjourn!
Thank you!

50. CAN ONE SKIP
CHEMOTHERAPY
IN BREAST
CANCER
TREATMENT?
Empowerment
objective - for laypeople
to have an essential
understanding on
WHETHER ONE CAN
SKIP CHEMOTHERAPY
IN BREAST CANCER
TREATMENT as part of
their health
management.
LET’S NOW HAVE A
GROUP PICTURE
TAKING BEFORE WE
START Q&A AND
INTERACTIONS!
Pls. turn on your
video!
Show your face!