Stg II, lumpectomy vs mastect

[Mary Jo]

My tumor was a bit larger harrie....4 cm. One oncologist recommeded neoadjuvent chemo to shrink the tumor and then have surgery. However, after an MRI showed another suspicious area in the breast I wasn't comfortable with waiting to do surgery. That oncologist (not the one I stayed with) felt that the "suspicious area was no big deal (probably a DCIS in his opinion) and still felt that neoadjuvent chemo was the way to go (in his opinion ... "I was only 45 years old"...."why would I want to lose my breast"....my response to that is - you are a man - what would you know about it from my perspective anyway) So, it was on to another hospital (an academic hospital this time) and a new surgeon and new oncologist. This surgeon said yes, I could do neoadjuvent if I was comfortable with that but I was not. I wanted surgery first. Because of the area of my tumor and the size a mastectomy was what was recommended. Too much of my breast and nipple would have been gone. I agreed to that and honestly, truly, wouldn't have wanted anything other than a mastectomy. My breast was removed and clean margins were obtained and I did have 1 sent. node with 1 microscopic cell of invastion.

I guess I shared way more information than you needed....oops. Well, anyway, I hope it helped.

Mary Jo