Need to Make a Decision Quickly!

[Darlene Denise]

I wrestled with this same decision and learned in the process, there is no clear cut medical data that supports treatment protocol.

My onc felt it important to remove the primary tumor after initial chemo results. I wanted the bitch out of there, for sure. He had no preference as to type of surgery. My breast surgeon explained both lumpectomy and mastectomy as options. Had I been early stage, I would have gone mastectomy route. Since I was already Sage IV, I decided to attempt the lumpectomy since my tumor did shrink dramatically from chemo and the surgery was being used for loco-regional control, not curative. I felt if clear margins were obtained, the auxila was removed and I had radiation along with the fact I would be a lifetime recipient of Herceptin that odds of another occurrence was small and that I could avoid a major surgery event and the reconstruction issues. If I have recurrence ( I still get mammograms every 6 months and onc does exam every 3 weeks) I can then have a mastectomy. We got clear margins, the lymph nodes were all negative (from chemo) and I completed radiation. The radiation onc wasn't initially receptive to giving radiation since I was stage IV, but after a consult with my surgeon he agreed it could offer potential benefit since I could have some longevity with Herceptin.

It's been a year since the surgery and I am comfortable with my decision. It was best for me. That should be your ultimate decision test, what makes sense to you and what are you comfortable with. There is no guarantee that either will eliminate future occurrences. I just prefer to address things only if or when they present, just like we do with our other sites of mets and with the least stress on my body.

I wish you peace of mind and a successful surgery.

Darlene