[Jean]

Ann,

Thanks again for your response. The doctors I have been seeing are of the same thinking as you. They have said the very same dx regarding the chemo
and or herceptin. I will admit I am very concerned and wanted to be aggressive with the treatment. My surgeon and I did discuss a mastectomy and he did not adivse it since stats were showing that lumpectomy with radiation was as equal to mastectomy. This was a difficult call - and I then went with the lumpectomy and radiation. I spent time with my radiation doctor who explained that treatment today is much different then the rads that were given a few short years ago. I think my comfort level was high with the radiation because my sister when she was a young girl of 21 - had been dx. with Hodgkins and she was given huge amounts of radiation (she was stage IV) the old colbolt treatment at that time (hope I spelled that correctly). She is now 62 years old and has been in remission 41 yrs. (thank the good Lord) and no other health issues for her. So therefore, I was not
terrified of the radiation.

I am learning (the painful and hard way) to accept that this disease is an individual disease for each of us and yet so similiar in other ways. I find the site so informative and the sharing of experiences helps us to cope and learn how to take the best care possible. Have you also discovered that being Stage 1 - that often times you are almost considered to be cured and (not sure how to word this) not taken as seriously as others? When I went to Sloan they dismissed me because I was NOT sick enough. Strange but true,
those were the exact words of the doctor. They were at the time taking
on new paitents that were Stage 11 and better. The original doctor
I was seeing (just before my surgery) was killed in a accicent in the city.
You may have heard of this - she was a well known surgeon at Sloan.
So everything started off quite shakey with my first doctor having a fatal
accident. I am glad to hear that you are doing well and I send all
good blessing that you continue to do so.

I have just recently decided to have the Oncotype DX test done to learn additional information regarding my tumor to support my decision on the chemo/hercpetin issue. Have you ever given any thought to that test?

Thanks again Ann - look forward to keeping in contact.
Esp. regarding the Oncotype DX test - if you have any information
regarding women stage 1 on the fence with chemo/or /herceptin.
I am now learning that there are many who are turning to that test to help assist them in the decision based on the results of that test.

All good wishes,
Jean