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Ibc
Hi Kavy, Roz & Sandy,
When I had my mastectomy, I mentioned to my surgical Dr. about doing a double one, but he & my Oncology Dr. didn't want to do that. I live in a rural area, plus I also worked in the hospital where I had my Mastectomy, so I know both Drs. pretty well. I don't think that they have had but 4-5 IBC patients, but my surgical Dr. did know what to do so far as doing the Chemo first & I trust & have confidence in him. He was the first one I went to when I realized that I had more than an infection. I have seen him at least every week since my surgery & sometimes 2x a week. I have fluid in my incision & he drained that out 2x this week.
Kavy, b/c your tumor was so big is probably why you received the radiation as well as the Chemo before surgery. They want to shrink the tumor as much as possible before surgery. I had a clear margin around the breast. No one said anything about extensive or superficial lymphatic invasion. I will be having Adriamycin & Cytoxan x 16 weeks once I heal. After that I will have the radiation & start Herceptin x 1 year at the same time.
Roz, It looks like your tumor was pretty large, too. Mine was 5-6 cm. After that first Chemo (before surgery) it had shrunk 50%. It sounds like the Herceptin is a good drug for this type of cancer.
There are a few things I have not told either Dr. & that is I am taking quiet a few alternative medicines, vitamins, herbs, Essiac, etc.
All of you keep in touch.
Betty
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