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Lien · 07-04-2010, 01:42 PM

Hi

I had a lumpectomy and was told the risk of recurrence was similar to BLM, so I feel okay about that. If you have a lumpectomy, you need rads to kill any residual cancer cells. If you had chemo, it probably caught any circulating cancer cells as well. So scientifically speaking you have an optimal chance of surviving this disease. Rich has a point about the effect a new (major) surgery could have on your system and its ability to fight cancer.

One important question is: how do you feel about your treatment? Do you trust your doctors? Are you convinced they are the best in your area? Do you feel safe with them?

Perhaps a second opinion from a major breast cancer centre would help you make up your mind. Are there plans for hormonal tx? If so, which type? Are you premenopausal or not?

The 40% risk of recurrence would be without any further treatment, but you are getting chemo and herceptin, so your odds are much better than that. Did they use Adjuvant Online to calculate that risk? It doesn't take Her2 positivity or Herceptin tx into account.

I think you need to talk to some experts here. Experts on Her2 positive disease, and experts on breast cancer in general. Then you can make an educated decision. Until then, please keep writing to us, so we can help you deal with what's going on.

Hugs

Jacqueline

07-04-2010, 01:42 PM	#9
Lien Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Haarlem, the Netherlands Posts: 835	Re: Need Info! Hi I had a lumpectomy and was told the risk of recurrence was similar to BLM, so I feel okay about that. If you have a lumpectomy, you need rads to kill any residual cancer cells. If you had chemo, it probably caught any circulating cancer cells as well. So scientifically speaking you have an optimal chance of surviving this disease. Rich has a point about the effect a new (major) surgery could have on your system and its ability to fight cancer. One important question is: how do you feel about your treatment? Do you trust your doctors? Are you convinced they are the best in your area? Do you feel safe with them? Perhaps a second opinion from a major breast cancer centre would help you make up your mind. Are there plans for hormonal tx? If so, which type? Are you premenopausal or not? The 40% risk of recurrence would be without any further treatment, but you are getting chemo and herceptin, so your odds are much better than that. Did they use Adjuvant Online to calculate that risk? It doesn't take Her2 positivity or Herceptin tx into account. I think you need to talk to some experts here. Experts on Her2 positive disease, and experts on breast cancer in general. Then you can make an educated decision. Until then, please keep writing to us, so we can help you deal with what's going on. Hugs Jacqueline __________________ Diagnosed age 44, January 2004, 0.7 cm IDC & DCIS. Stage 1, grade 3, ER/PR pos. HER2 pos. clear margins, no nodes. SNB. 35 rads. On Zoladex and Armidex since Dec. 2004. Stopped Zoladex/Arimidex sept 2009 Still taking mistletoe shots (CAM therapy) Doing fine.