[mts]

Becky,

I had a breast MR after my first lumpectomy (which had clean margins by the way!) only to find two more tumors (one larger than the one that was excised first) and subsequently had a re-excision for those two. I then did my chemo, rads and Herceptin.

So, three years later I am sitting next to a rad oncologist at the DoD Consumer Research gig I go to and she informs me that because of the numerous tumors (I only had 3) it would be difficult to tell if one tumor sloughed off a cell that grew into another tumor and then that one sloughed off a cell that grew into another tumor, OR did I just have a bad breast that grew bad cells and all three tumors were independent of one another (to me, the likely scenario because of the clean margins after each lumpectomy). Yet no one can answer exactly.
So, her advice (even though I am Stage I) if it were she in my shoes -was that she would have removed both breasts... Wow.
Yes, the rads would have killed the errant cells that likely lingered in my breast after surgery, but that still did not discount the unanswered question of how/why my cancer developed into three unconnected tumors.
So, with the thought of dormant tumor cells, and the fact that I know that my breasts can grow cancer... I am seriously considering having my breasts removed... but will that be enough?
Yes, it took a rad oncologist to enlighten me. Maybe I ask too many questions and doc's tell me what they think I want to hear- but the cancer is relentless and if it can grow in one breast why should I be so confident that it will not grow in the other ?

I honestly feel you are one of the most savvy, self aware and knowledgeable advocates on this board. And if I may, for a moment offer you any advice- I would suggest getting another opinion. Both surgical and rad. Eventhough you love your surgeon, he/she does not wake up every morning with your breasts and his/her chest.
love ya-
Maria