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Gerri · 07-18-2008, 01:06 PM

Hi Rebecca and welcome to our site. You will find many helpful people here to answer concerns you may have along the way. Your question regarding lumpectomy vs masectomy is indeed a deeply personal one. I think you will find (for the most part anyway) that each of us is happy with what we chose to do. At the time of my decision making I asked my surgeon for his recommendation. Considering the size and location of my tumor, he told me he was comfortable with me having either procedure, and that it was a decision only I could make. I opted for a lumpectomy. My tumor was also grade 3, 2.2 cm with no lymph node involvement. I am not small breasted and there is very little difference in how my breasts look - my scar is barely visible. I am happy with the choice I made, knowing that there are no guarantees, but it was the right one for me.

Don't let the stats on HER2+ scare you, most of what is out there is a few years old. More recently we are considered to be fortunate in that newer and better drugs are being developed every day targeting our partcular cancer. Herceptin, and now Tykerb are indeed miracle drugs!

Good luck with your decision making. Please keep us updated.

Take good care,

07-18-2008, 01:06 PM	#7
Gerri Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Southern California Posts: 900	Hi Rebecca and welcome to our site. You will find many helpful people here to answer concerns you may have along the way. Your question regarding lumpectomy vs masectomy is indeed a deeply personal one. I think you will find (for the most part anyway) that each of us is happy with what we chose to do. At the time of my decision making I asked my surgeon for his recommendation. Considering the size and location of my tumor, he told me he was comfortable with me having either procedure, and that it was a decision only I could make. I opted for a lumpectomy. My tumor was also grade 3, 2.2 cm with no lymph node involvement. I am not small breasted and there is very little difference in how my breasts look - my scar is barely visible. I am happy with the choice I made, knowing that there are no guarantees, but it was the right one for me. Don't let the stats on HER2+ scare you, most of what is out there is a few years old. More recently we are considered to be fortunate in that newer and better drugs are being developed every day targeting our partcular cancer. Herceptin, and now Tykerb are indeed miracle drugs! Good luck with your decision making. Please keep us updated. Take good care, __________________ Gerri Dx: 11/23/05, Lumpectomy 12/12/05 Tumor 2.2 cm, Stage II, Grade 3, Sentinel Node biopsy negative ER+ (30%) /PR+ (50%), HER2+++ AC X 4 dose dense, Taxol X 4 dose dense Herceptin started with 2nd Taxol, given weekly until chemo done then given every 3 weeks for one year ending on March 16, 2007 Radiation 30 treatments Tamoxifen - 2 yrs (pre-menopausal) May 2008 - Feb 2012 Femara Aug 2008 - Feb 2012 Zometa every 6 months March 2012 - Stop Femara, now Evista for bone strengthening ********** Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things. - Robert Brault Last edited by Gerri; 07-18-2008 at 04:44 PM..