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I have been doing chemo and radiation instead of having breast surgey. Has anyone else chose this way?
I was not given the option of doing chemo/radiation vs surgery as I needed the whole arsenal to have a fighting chance at living. That been said you must consider the stage/grade/and type of cancer. Some cancers have a higher rate of recurrence and some are more aggressive then others. Also remember quality of life must play a part into your decision.
Hoping you find the answers you seek and are at peace with your choices no matter which direction you go.
@SharonElliot From what I understand (Same as @A MyBCTeam Member) that BC is not defined, diff from patient to patient so therefor treatment is diff. For me, I had to jump right into Chemo before surgery due to the HER2 in a node. They wanted to stop the chance of it spreading before surgery. I felt like everyone around me (as in my cancer center) seemed to have Mastectomy first then chemo or rads (whatever is needed).
If you are not sure of your course of treatment, PLEASE seek a second or third opinion. I did and the treatment for me was the same. Its piece of mind too, having two or more places test your biopsies, review your files, etc. Good like to you! ~ Danielle
My breast cancer was taught early, when all was said and done, Stage 2a. I looked at it the cancer has the potential to take your life. I wanted the cancer gone. What mammograms will not show is what is pre-cancerous tissue. Chemotherapy with raise havoc not only on cancer cells but every cell in your body. Chemotherapy can destory your immune system so much you could need a stem cell transplant. Chemotherapy can leave you with a lifetime of debilitating medical conditions. Radiation can severely damage your skin.
My suggestion is depending what stage you are at have the tumor surgically removed.
Initially I went with protocol for lumpectomy and radiation. Pathology came back no clear margins. My breast surgeon gave me two options go back in and remove more tissue and bilateral mastectomy and immediate reconstruction. I chose the later and I don't regret it.
I did chemotherapy, then surgery, then radiation, then hormone therapy medications, then a complete hysterectomy/oophorectomy. Like @A MyBCTeam Member my cancer was so advanced I didn't have much of a choice in the matter (although having to get educated and then make your choices isn't necessarily a blessing, as you've probably already realized). The choices are all awful really, they're hard to make and then afterwards they're hard to live with. I like to tell people that whatever choice you make you're going to lose, but that's just me and my twisted relationship with breast cancer. I also agree with @A MyBCTeam Member go get a second opinion, and a third one if you need to. Don't be afraid to get rid of any clinician for any reason. I'm sorry this happened to you.
It sounds to me like you are not comfortable with your answers at this point. I think you will be more comfortable with a second opinion also. I also have seen women do, as Danielle said, do the chemo first, then surgery. I have also seen the chemo, then decide what surgery was or was not going to happen.
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