[Jenna]

Hey guys - Thank you all for your opinion on my reoccurance. I thought I'd share some important information with you all regarding my decision to receive chemotherapy or not.

I went to the University of Chicago - for my second opinion - I met with Dr. Fumi Ogalpade (she specializes in young women's breast cancer & genes) .... At any rate, their multidisciplinary board reviewed my case and is recommending radiation only. In their words if I did chemo it would be "overkill"....

Here is the difference. My tumor was .66 mm (most of which was DCIS) .1mm was invasive ductal cancer. No Node Involvement. Bone Scans Negative. CT scan Negative. Clean Margins. Although this was a reoccurance the area that was invasive was so small therer is no reason to do chemo (the risks outweigh the benefits in my case.)

My previous doctor recommended a/c taxol and herception .... She had not performed the ER- test, FISH test, IHC test until I asked her to perform it. She just assumed since I was young she'd give me the big guns -without really studying my case. Obviously, I felt unsure of all of this and did a lot of research ... and got my second opinion from a comprehensive cancer center.

At any rate, I want to encourage everyone of you to seek second opinions if you are unsure of your treatment plan... It is worth the extra cost and the extra time it involves! Doctors can differ in their opinions. In my case, the difference was extreme.

At any rate, I hope my story will inspire some of you who are unsure of your treatment plan to ask questions. Not everyone who is young should receive chemotherapy.... The risks are tremendous.

Thanks for your well wishes.
Jenna Hill