I had doubts about chem (past horror stories from vague stories in my memory
and what I had read).  First, I had 3 relatively easy pregnancies, but chemo
was much easier to get through than those.  I also have other health
problems--otosclerosis, a congenital heart disorder, unexplained bilateral leg
swelling, and multiple sclerosis--all before my cancer diagnosis.  
I think it is important to do what is going to give one their best chance.  If
the cancer returns and your mom didn't do chemo, she will most likely always
regret it.  
With a negative sentinel node your mom's  chances for recurrence are, of
course, less.  However, there are some false negatives with negative sentinel
nodes, and a certain percentage (30%) may have positive internal mammary nodes
which were not biopsied.  The fact that two tumors were found would make me a
bit uneasy.  She only had a partial mastectomy.  There is the possibility of
other small micrometastases that have not shown up still being there.
I just read a recent research article which  indicated that even with
mastectomy, overall survival and reduced risk of recurrence are significantly
improved with radiation, too.
Your mom might do very well on no further treatment.  There is no sure way to
tell.  It is a decision that she will need to make--but know that is tough
based on being given only a verbal report of 'statistics.'  My best thoughts
are with your mom on which ever course she decides.  Take care...

Two tumours and being relatively young would together indicate that chemo
was worth doing.  On the other hand node-negative, ER-positive (and doing
Tamoxifen) and small tumours mean that the risks are fairly low, and it
wouldn't be that much of a loss to omit chemo.

I'm not going to go overboard either way on this one.

I suppose it depends how small the tumours were and what her other health
problems are, and in the end it is a subjective decision.  What she has to
think though, is that if she ends up dying of cancer, will she be able to
accept that the (fairly small) risk was worth taking and that she made the
right decision.

Tim Jackson

She's only 49 -- that's fairly young. I don't know what her
other health problems are, but assuming they're not
particularly life-threatening I think I'd want her to do the
chemo.  (Tamoxifen and the other estrogen suppressors are
easy relative to some other chemos, e.g. adriomyacin.)

Well, you asked for opinions.  BTW, my wife was dx'ed at age
50.  She's currently on her seventh chemo regimen. - Tony

Mom saw another oncologist for a second opinion.  This guy was much younger
than the first, actually listened to her, and he was a lot more open minded.
He agreed with her, after going through every sheet of her report with her,
that chemo wasn't necessary, and wouldn't make much of a difference.  He did
suggest radiation, but if she doesn't like it it's her choice whether to
continue or not.

Thank you all for your input,
Jasmine