[CLTann]

That is an excellent question, on why I opted for mastectomy since the lesion is only 1 cm. My view was that there are millions cancer cells in the area, trying their best to grow. By cutting out a main target area, there got to be stray cells left. In 12 to 18 months, one stray cell can geometrically multiplied into another palpable or detectable cancer tumor. Of course, radiation would have to be added after lumpectomy for preventing the above from occurring. Since I am so much exposed to the medical environment, I try my best to avoid chemo and radiation, the latter is a cumulative dose restrictive, cancer causing tool in itself. All, including my gut feeling and personal preference, led me to my educated conclusion. I must also add that at the time of my decision making, my good friend, a wife of a medical doctor, both are certainly very knowledgeable in oncology, chose the mastectomy without chemo and without radiation also with her diagosis almost identical to mine. Furthermore, in my trained routine at hospital, we are so cautious in handling chemo agents as well as to guard against accidental exposure to radiation that could have swayed my conclusion.