[Erin]

Hi Donna and Kathy,

Welcome, I am sorry you need this group, but you are lucky to have found it. First, on the issue of the paperwork, I will volunteer my opinion, even though you didn't ask for it :-) I insist on getting copies of all my surgery notes, pathology reports and lab reports. I did not start out to question my docs, but after an experience where a doc told me one thing on the phone..."the lump is nothing to worry about", while I was staring right at a path report that said "suspicious for malignancy, suggest a biopsy", I really learned that we have to be vigilant and proactive to get the best care. You have a right to your medical records. It may be easier to work directly with the Medical Records Department of your health care provider, rather than your docs office, as they understand the law on this. Also, if you want to get a second opinion at some point, having your own copies of records makes it much easier.

Second, chemo. I was very much in your same situation as you can see by my signature. My oncologist would not have pushed me to do chemo if I did not want it, (and I am sure there are oncs out there who whould not have suggested it at all.) But at our first meeting, when he started talking about different treatments and 10-year survival stats, I stopped him and and asked him to tell me my best options for 30-year survival! 10 years is not enough for me! I want to see my grandchildren graduate high school!! In his opinion chemo was my best shot.

Still, chemo is tough to endure, and there are potential long-term side effects to all the treatments, so it is not a decision to make lightly. Maybe in 10 years we will look back at chemo as a relic of a by-gone age...like bleeding, or leaches. But for now, it is the best we have, and I wanted to go at this thing with both guns blazing.

Best of luck with your decision, the ladies here will give you lots of info and support.