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Re: Rad or mastectomy ?
Sorry that your wife is dealing with a breast cancer diagnosis but you are in good hands here with all the advice and support you may need going forward.
I was diagnosed at 39 and also had early stage breast cancer. I immediately wanted a mastectomy due to fears of recurrance. I had one of the best surgeons in Pittsburgh and he is a believer in breast conserving surgery if possible. After he talked with me about my options, I took his advice and went the lumpectomy/radiation route. I'm happy with my decision but what I learned is that it is a personal choice. Every cancer diagnosis is different and every road is not the same in this battle. Take time to really talk with both your surgeon and oncologist on their opinions and advice. I know if I had went with my first instinct, it would've been different.
Best of luck and many prayers!
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11/17/10 - Diagnosed with 4.5cm tumor in right breast, IDC, Stage 2, Nuclear grade 2, ER+ PR+ HER2+
12/13/10 - Lymph node biopsy - negative
12/28/10 - Started neo-adjuvant treatment along with clinical trial with 4 rounds of AC chemo every 3 weeks
3/15/11 - Began weekly Taxol/Herceptin infusions along with 750mg of Tykerb taken by mouth daily
6/28/11 - Finished last cycle of Taxol
7/27/11 - Breast MRI shows tumor has dissolved, remarkable reaction to chemo
8/31/11 - Lumpectomy, Sentinel Node biopsy. Node negative, clear margins, 7mm of cancer left over from chemo.
10/05/11 - Started radiation, 5 days a week for 7 weeks.
11/8/11 - Finished radiation
3/21/12 - Last Herceptin!
3/26/12 - Port removed!
Tamoxifen for 5 years
8/4/15 - Hysterectomy & bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. Due to large fibroids. No cancer!
8/8/15 - Started Arimidex
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