After my mastectomy, I was diagnosed as Stage III B. I did chemo and radiation (6/36 rounds respectively). While it was not fun, I not only survived, but I’m nine years out from my initial surgery this month (four days from now). For chemo, I was working part time and would have my infusion on a Thursday and rest Friday-Sunday. When I was starting radiation (after chemo was finished), I began a full time supervisor position: I’d get up and go for my daily 7am radiation zap, go home, change and go to work. I slept most of the weekends, I was so exhausted. But I survived and actually thrive despite developing hypothyroidism from radiation and then hashimoto’s a few years later after a month long bout of COVID (two weeks after retiring 😂). I used the book below to help get through the different stages of treatment. It was really helpful. As LeighAnnGoode mentioned, an upside to mastectomies is no more mammograms. I get annual ultrasounds to check my breast area and implants: I chose reconstruction (one year after completion of radiation therapy). I went from a DDD cup to a C cup overnight 😂 but I wasn’t willing to go flat because that felt too drastic a change.
Both chemo and radiation are extremely fatiguing so rest should be a priority. If you decide to do radiation, take a fresh cutting of aloe Vera to slather on after each session. I only ended up with really weird tan lines that lasted a year and I have very fair skin that burns easily.

@A MyBCTeam Member I had a CT Scan soon after my Double Mastectomy. My scan showed no spread, this helped with the decision I made. Glad you are having a whole body scan, very important, are you having Natera screening?

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A MyBCTea...

Good morning Darlene.
I just want to say hang in there. Life is still good.
I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2018.
With the bracket 2 gene
Had a double mastectomy, womanly parts removed and radiation.
Was put on anastrozole for 5 year.
3 months after being taken off anastrozole wasn’t feeling good and started having shortness of breath.
Found out I had stage 4 metastasis breast cancer.
January of 2025.
Was but on meds that didn’t help (2 different) types.
Then put on Lynparza took awhile my body has adjusted.
I mentally thought I was going to pass. It took me a year to finally tell myself live your life, don’t let the cancer live my life.
I feel much better if I keep myself busy.
Music is my second best friend, Sing along
God is good

None of us have a crystal ball, that being said that question would be best answered by your Doctor Who is familiar with all aspects of your case. Hope you’re healing well.

I'm surprised you had surgery before chemo. I thought chemo came before surgery unless you had a very early stage BC. Based only on what I've read (bc you know we all go down that Google rabbit hole after diagnosis) it seems to me the survival rate is pretty good. Especially if there are no delays in treatment. Of course there's never a guarantee, but my understanding is that there's a lot they can do to prevent recurrence.