A member asked:

Is there any test that can be done to know whether the chemotherapy drugs for breast cancer stage 1 are working properly?

6 doctors weighed in across 3 answers

No: Your doctor will follow your progress clinically, but there is no "test" per se. However it is a little unusual to need chemotherapy for stage 1 breast cancer, so i presume you are using one of the herceptin-type antibody agents targeted at a specific type of cancer. The doctor will use examination and xrays - mammogram, ct usually - to follow your progress.

Answered 10/4/2016

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Dr. Carlos Encarnacion answered

Specializes in Medical Oncology

Not really: Remember that chemo given after surgery is meant to treat potentially existing microscopic deposits of cells and thus improve the odds of surviving cancer, not to treat cancer that we can see and measure. For that reason, only time will tell if it was successful. From now on, it is time for surveillance. Be alert but don't live in fear. Best to you.

Answered 8/20/2013

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See your doctor: You should go to the doctors and they can evaluate whether a treatment or drug is effective or if it is not as effective and increase or decrease dosage or change medications or change treatment plan. But you need to go to your doctor for this and nothing at home will test efficacy of chemotherapy drugs for breast cancer.

Answered 11/30/2014

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