[Val Pfeiffer]

Skoolmom--Have you asked about getting neo-adjuvant chemo before surgery? My tumor shrunk greatly prior to surgery. As soon as you are cut open, the blood vessels to the tumors are severed and chemo & Herceptin can't get in there. I had a similar diagnosis to yours and I am so thankful that I had the neo-adjuvant chemo. If I had waited until after surgery it would have been another four weeks or so with no Herceptin.

I opted for a mastectomy instead of a lumpectomy, but I am smal breasted and had a larger tumor, so I didn't have a choice :-)

I realize everyone is different, but if you want to know more, please contact me.

good luck with your decision :-)
Val