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Mary Jo · 08-08-2009, 07:28 PM

My tumor was a bit larger harrie....4 cm. One oncologist recommeded neoadjuvent chemo to shrink the tumor and then have surgery. However, after an MRI showed another suspicious area in the breast I wasn't comfortable with waiting to do surgery. That oncologist (not the one I stayed with) felt that the "suspicious area was no big deal (probably a DCIS in his opinion) and still felt that neoadjuvent chemo was the way to go (in his opinion ... "I was only 45 years old"...."why would I want to lose my breast"....my response to that is - you are a man - what would you know about it from my perspective anyway) So, it was on to another hospital (an academic hospital this time) and a new surgeon and new oncologist. This surgeon said yes, I could do neoadjuvent if I was comfortable with that but I was not. I wanted surgery first. Because of the area of my tumor and the size a mastectomy was what was recommended. Too much of my breast and nipple would have been gone. I agreed to that and honestly, truly, wouldn't have wanted anything other than a mastectomy. My breast was removed and clean margins were obtained and I did have 1 sent. node with 1 microscopic cell of invastion.

I guess I shared way more information than you needed....oops. Well, anyway, I hope it helped.

Mary Jo

08-08-2009, 07:28 PM	#5
Mary Jo Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Sheboygan, WI Posts: 2,582	Re: Stg II, lumpectomy vs mastect My tumor was a bit larger harrie....4 cm. One oncologist recommeded neoadjuvent chemo to shrink the tumor and then have surgery. However, after an MRI showed another suspicious area in the breast I wasn't comfortable with waiting to do surgery. That oncologist (not the one I stayed with) felt that the "suspicious area was no big deal (probably a DCIS in his opinion) and still felt that neoadjuvent chemo was the way to go (in his opinion ... "I was only 45 years old"...."why would I want to lose my breast"....my response to that is - you are a man - what would you know about it from my perspective anyway) So, it was on to another hospital (an academic hospital this time) and a new surgeon and new oncologist. This surgeon said yes, I could do neoadjuvent if I was comfortable with that but I was not. I wanted surgery first. Because of the area of my tumor and the size a mastectomy was what was recommended. Too much of my breast and nipple would have been gone. I agreed to that and honestly, truly, wouldn't have wanted anything other than a mastectomy. My breast was removed and clean margins were obtained and I did have 1 sent. node with 1 microscopic cell of invastion. I guess I shared way more information than you needed....oops. Well, anyway, I hope it helped. Mary Jo __________________ "Be still and know that I am God." Psalm 46:10 Dx. 6/24/05 age 45 Right Breast IDC ER/PR. Neg., - Her2+++ RB Mast. - 7/28/05 - 4 cm. tumor Margins clear - 1 microscopic cell 1 sent. node No Vasucular Invasion 4 DD A/C - 4 DD Taxol & Herceptin 1 full year of Herceptin received every 3 weeks 28 rads prophylactic Mast. 3/2/06 17 Years NED <>< Romans 8:28 Last edited by Mary Jo; 08-08-2009 at 07:31 PM..