[sarah]

Hello,
6-8mm is very small. Hopefully the lumptectomy will take it all out which will probably be the case. Yes, it's frightening to hear the word "cancer" but yours has been caught very, very early and since you are 71, it will be less aggressive than if you were 40. Herceptin is a miracle drug and will ensure that you are cancer free. Your heart will be checked every 3 months because a small number of people can't tolerate it, hopefully you will be able to take it for the full amount of time. You may also be given a chemotherapy and probably will have some radiation on the area. This is all very usual and nothing to worry about. Chemotherapy can be tiring so if you do get that in addition to the Herceptin, best to plan to rest that day and the following day. In case you do radiation, radiation is always the same time every day for 5 weeks so chose a convenient time for you. After you finish chemo and radiation, you may be given a pill to take every day - Femara probably if you are Estrogen positive. This is best to take at night.
Remember that millions of women have gone through this and many have had advanced cancer and yet done very well. It's all very confusing and worrying for you right now but you will get through it and on this site you will find you have many caring friends ready to help make your journey easier and better.
Sites like breastcancer.org and the cancer.org may also be helpful particularly in preparing questions to ask your doctor. Always good to go into a meeting with the oncologist with a list of questions even if you don't ask them all, at least you know you will remember to ask those that you want to most.
Just something cancer doctors do: the surgeon wants to solve it all with surgery, the radiologist with radiation and the oncologist with chemo although they generally have a more rounded view point.
Take care and ask any questions you want to on this site, someone will answer and often there are people who are really knowledgeable and helpful
hugs
sarah