removing healthy breast as well as diseased AND what to expect from chemo?

[Guest guest]

I knew it was going to be this way when I decided to do a double, and at the

last minute, as the surgeon was discussing the procedure with me over the phone

and getting my verbal consent on what would be going on, I nearly said, just do

the one you need to right now . . . but I knew . . .

If I kept the healthy breast, I would always wonder about recurrence and another

surgery needed, and possible spreading. If I had kept it, I would probably

have wondered when that decision was going to come back to haunt me. A friend

with breast cancer told me there is a 50 percent chance of a mirror image tumor

appearing in the healthy breast at a later date, so that swayed me somewhat . .

..she had more than one surgery, because she hadn't done it the first time. My

mother and aunt both had recurrence, so it made sense for me.

On the other hand, I also knew that if I did both at the same time, I would also

regret that somewhat, am feeling it a little more than I'd wished but I knew . .

..I wasn't going to be happy either way.

My main loss is the ability to nurse another child should the Lord see fit to

bless us with one . . . it was such a rewarding part of my life. But I was

misdiagnosed because I was lactating, and that lost precious time . . .my tumor

grew quite large, and I just wanted TO LIVE. That was enough.

I don't think it is EVER a wrong decision to go with the most aggressive, least

harmful treatment option you can get, and I'd take surgery over radiation and

chemotherapy any day . . .I'm still exactly the same person I was when I went

into surgery . . .for the most part.

The part that bothers me is the chemical treatment - it goes so against my

thoughts on taking care of my body and doing things naturally . . . but

everything seems to be moving in the chemical direction, and FAST . . .

I'm not sure what to expect if I do chemo . . .any thoughts?

I'm also curious, nne, if you want to share, why do you wish you'd done it

that way? You've been disease free for so long . . .since that is my primary

objective, I'd be glad to have kept the clean breast if I thought I could do it

.. . .there just wasn't a lot of statistics, or anything I'd read, that supported

me in it.

e

[Guest guest]

Hi e,

I had a single mastectomy. I think the decision for a double mastectomy

is based on your comfort level and statistics for recurrence for your

type of tumor and background, and what treatment you do. For me,

(er/pr-, her2+, stage1, took Adriamycin/Cytoxan, and Herceptin), the

chance of recurrence in my other breast is only a couple of percentage

points. I also am pretty small, so don't feel that lop-sided :-) Are you

positive for the brac1 gene? I wonder where that 50% chance of

recurrence comes from.

I decided to do chemo, because that significantly decreased my chance of

overall recurrence. Are you her2 positive?

The ultimate decision is yours and a difficult one to make. My doctor

recommended my chemo based on the existing trial data. New data just

came out (the other article I posted that you read), that indicates

Taxol, Carbiplatin, and Herceptin) might be a better treatment.

take care,

[Guest guest]

I am rather large breasted and if I go without a bra for any length of time it

bothers my neck and back. But the main reason is that I wouldn't have to worry

about the cancer coming back in this other breast. I never forget that it can

come back, even though its been over 16 yrs for me. We just had someone join who

mother's(?) cancer came back after 20 or 23 years. I don't remember if she has

posted or not. I have chemo brain something terrible. It affects my short term

memory.

I had absolutely no problems with my chemo. I had Methotrexate and 5fu the first

two Tues of the month, took Cytoxan pills the third week and rested the fourth

week. I did this for six month.

I will keep you in my prayers.

Hugs

nne

Breast Cancer Patients Soul Mates for Life

http://www.geocities.com/chucky5741/breastcancerpatients.html

BreastCancerStories.com

http://www.breastcancerstories.com/content/view/433/161/

Angel Feather Loomer

www.angelfeatherloomer.blogspot.com

Check out my other ornaments at

www.geocities.com/chucky5741/bcornament.html

Lots of info and gifts at:

www.cancerclub.com

removing healthy breast as well as diseased AND what

to expect from chemo?

I knew it was going to be this way when I decided to do a double, and at the

last minute, as the surgeon was discussing the procedure with me over the phone

and getting my verbal consent on what would be going on, I nearly said, just do

the one you need to right now . . . but I knew . . .

If I kept the healthy breast, I would always wonder about recurrence and

another surgery needed, and possible spreading. If I had kept it, I would

probably

have wondered when that decision was going to come back to haunt me. A friend

with breast cancer told me there is a 50 percent chance of a mirror image tumor

appearing in the healthy breast at a later date, so that swayed me somewhat . .

..she had more than one surgery, because she hadn't done it the first time. My

mother and aunt both had recurrence, so it made sense for me.

On the other hand, I also knew that if I did both at the same time, I would

also regret that somewhat, am feeling it a little more than I'd wished but I

knew . . .I wasn't going to be happy either way.

My main loss is the ability to nurse another child should the Lord see fit to

bless us with one . . . it was such a rewarding part of my life. But I was

misdiagnosed because I was lactating, and that lost precious time . . .my tumor

grew quite large, and I just wanted TO LIVE. That was enough.

I don't think it is EVER a wrong decision to go with the most aggressive,

least harmful treatment option you can get, and I'd take surgery over radiation

and chemotherapy any day . . .I'm still exactly the same person I was when I

went into surgery . . .for the most part.

The part that bothers me is the chemical treatment - it goes so against my

thoughts on taking care of my body and doing things naturally . . . but

everything seems to be moving in the chemical direction, and FAST . . .

I'm not sure what to expect if I do chemo . . .any thoughts?

I'm also curious, nne, if you want to share, why do you wish you'd done

it that way? You've been disease free for so long . . .since that is my primary

objective, I'd be glad to have kept the clean breast if I thought I could do it

.. . .there just wasn't a lot of statistics, or anything I'd read, that supported

me in it.

e

[Guest guest]

,

I'm triple negative, and the genetics test is *in the works*. Based on my

family history, it is HIGHLY likely that the gene test will be positive,

although it would be great if it was just a fluke because then I wouldn't have

the same concerns for my own children that I've had for myself all of these

years after losing my mom at age 7.

The reason it *might* be a fluke has to do with the fact that I was hospitalized

last January 4th for a threatened premature birth, and didn't get out until I

had our baby on February 12 (she was due April 27th). They pumped me full of

lots of things to keep her *in there* and healthy. She was in the NICU for 60

days. Then she didn' t learn to nurse so I pumped milk for 10 months until my

cancer diagnosis - lots of stress there as I have a houseful of other children

who need me, too.

The Lord was willing that she should live and be healthy after the specialists

gave her no hope when we she was just 15 weeks in utero, they told me her lungs

would NEVER fully develop and her condition would be incompatible with life . .

..she was a true miracle! We nearly named her . . .

What kept me going in the hospital was that I knew her life was truly in God's

hands, as is mine with a diagnosis that makes the thought of chemotherapy

repulsive to me based on the fact that the data do not support any therapies

being good for triple negative patients, and presently I have what they call a

*surgical cure* . . . they are just trying to mop up any renegade cancer cells

that might spawn potential tumors elsewhere . . .

When I was in the hospital, I also spent some time remembering a friend who was

hospitalized for a bad cancer and never became healthy, and though it was

selfish of me, I comforted myself with the thought that, even though I didn't

know if my baby would live or die, even though I suffered being separated from

my home and family for months, at least I was doing the right thing for my

little baby and the thought did cross my mind that at least I didn't have cancer

.. . .

The irony . . . I could have had the cancer then and no one was looking for it,

least of all me.

Doing well here, making some major decisions this week about treatment, planning

on driving to Chicago to work with a Dr. Block who takes a wholistic

approach and actually treated my sister-in-law's (Jean's) sister . . . and we

really like him! Even though it is twelve hours with the baby - we can bring her

and another child for some one on one time, we have friends to stay with, and

after this last year of not really taking care of myself, under his care I

should be feeling better AFTER treatment than before. Jean's sister was

rollerblading during her chemotherapy treatment for colon cancer . . .she did

great with him, and she knew him as a general doctor until he moved into this.

Thanks for reading - this place has to share thoughts has a home in my heart . .

..

e

Re: removing healthy breast as well as diseased AND

what to expect from chemo?

Hi e,

I had a single mastectomy. I think the decision for a double mastectomy

is based on your comfort level and statistics for recurrence for your

type of tumor and background, and what treatment you do. For me,

(er/pr-, her2+, stage1, took Adriamycin/Cytoxan, and Herceptin), the

chance of recurrence in my other breast is only a couple of percentage

points. I also am pretty small, so don't feel that lop-sided :-) Are you

positive for the brac1 gene? I wonder where that 50% chance of

recurrence comes from.

I decided to do chemo, because that significantly decreased my chance of

overall recurrence. Are you her2 positive?

The ultimate decision is yours and a difficult one to make. My doctor

recommended my chemo based on the existing trial data. New data just

came out (the other article I posted that you read), that indicates

Taxol, Carbiplatin, and Herceptin) might be a better treatment.

take care,

[Guest guest]

I just joined, and my mom's came back after 15 years...... She goes

for a masectomy on Monday morning. I'm going to spend tomarrow night

with her.... She is rather large, and with her history and her

sisters', a double would make sense. I don't think her dr even

mentioned it..... Maybe because she has medicaid, not another

insurance?

BTW, thanks for being here, I hope things go well for all of us,

y'all, my mom, and maybe me someday.......

>

> I am rather large breasted and if I go without a bra for any length

of time it bothers my neck and back. But the main reason is that I

wouldn't have to worry about the cancer coming back in this other

breast. I never forget that it can come back, even though its been

over 16 yrs for me. We just had someone join who mother's(?) cancer

came back after 20 or 23 years. I don't remember if she has posted or

not. I have chemo brain something terrible. It affects my short term

memory.

>

> I had absolutely no problems with my chemo. I had Methotrexate and

5fu the first two Tues of the month, took Cytoxan pills the third

week and rested the fourth week. I did this for six month.

>

> I will keep you in my prayers.

> Hugs

> nne

> Breast Cancer Patients Soul Mates for Life

> http://www.geocities.com/chucky5741/breastcancerpatients.html

> BreastCancerStories.com

> http://www.breastcancerstories.com/content/view/433/161/

> Angel Feather Loomer

> www.angelfeatherloomer.blogspot.com

> Check out my other ornaments at

> www.geocities.com/chucky5741/bcornament.html

> Lots of info and gifts at:

> www.cancerclub.com

> removing healthy breast as well as

diseased AND what to expect from chemo?

>

>

> I knew it was going to be this way when I decided to do a double,

and at the last minute, as the surgeon was discussing the procedure

with me over the phone and getting my verbal consent on what would be

going on, I nearly said, just do the one you need to right now . . .

but I knew . . .

>

> If I kept the healthy breast, I would always wonder about

recurrence and another surgery needed, and possible spreading. If I

had kept it, I would probably

> have wondered when that decision was going to come back to haunt

me. A friend with breast cancer told me there is a 50 percent chance

of a mirror image tumor appearing in the healthy breast at a later

date, so that swayed me somewhat . . .she had more than one surgery,

because she hadn't done it the first time. My mother and aunt both

had recurrence, so it made sense for me.

>

> On the other hand, I also knew that if I did both at the same

time, I would also regret that somewhat, am feeling it a little more

than I'd wished but I knew . . .I wasn't going to be happy either way.

>

> My main loss is the ability to nurse another child should the

Lord see fit to bless us with one . . . it was such a rewarding part

of my life. But I was misdiagnosed because I was lactating, and that

lost precious time . . .my tumor grew quite large, and I just wanted

TO LIVE. That was enough.

>

> I don't think it is EVER a wrong decision to go with the most

aggressive, least harmful treatment option you can get, and I'd take

surgery over radiation and chemotherapy any day . . .I'm still

exactly the same person I was when I went into surgery . . .for the

most part.

>

> The part that bothers me is the chemical treatment - it goes so

against my thoughts on taking care of my body and doing things

naturally . . . but everything seems to be moving in the chemical

direction, and FAST . . .

>

> I'm not sure what to expect if I do chemo . . .any thoughts?

>

> I'm also curious, nne, if you want to share, why do you wish

you'd done it that way? You've been disease free for so

long . . .since that is my primary objective, I'd be glad to have

kept the clean breast if I thought I could do it . . .there just

wasn't a lot of statistics, or anything I'd read, that supported me

in it.

>

> e

>

>

[Guest guest]

: I am praying for all of you. As your mom goes in for the mastectomy, I

hope she knows that God has her in His great and healing arms.

Take care. Let us know how she does and how you are doing.

Jan K

adklaura28@...> wrote:

I just joined, and my mom's came back after 15 years...... She goes

for a masectomy on Monday morning. I'm going to spend tomarrow night

with her.... She is rather large, and with her history and her

sisters', a double would make sense. I don't think her dr even

mentioned it..... Maybe because she has medicaid, not another

insurance?

BTW, thanks for being here, I hope things go well for all of us,

y'all, my mom, and maybe me someday.......

>

> I am rather large breasted and if I go without a bra for any length

of time it bothers my neck and back. But the main reason is that I

wouldn't have to worry about the cancer coming back in this other

breast. I never forget that it can come back, even though its been

over 16 yrs for me. We just had someone join who mother's(?) cancer

came back after 20 or 23 years. I don't remember if she has posted or

not. I have chemo brain something terrible. It affects my short term

memory.

>

> I had absolutely no problems with my chemo. I had Methotrexate and

5fu the first two Tues of the month, took Cytoxan pills the third

week and rested the fourth week. I did this for six month.

>

> I will keep you in my prayers.

> Hugs

> nne

> Breast Cancer Patients Soul Mates for Life

> http://www.geocities.com/chucky5741/breastcancerpatients.html

> BreastCancerStories.com

> http://www.breastcancerstories.com/content/view/433/161/

> Angel Feather Loomer

> www.angelfeatherloomer.blogspot.com

> Check out my other ornaments at

> www.geocities.com/chucky5741/bcornament.html

> Lots of info and gifts at:

> www.cancerclub.com

> removing healthy breast as well as

diseased AND what to expect from chemo?

>

>

> I knew it was going to be this way when I decided to do a double,

and at the last minute, as the surgeon was discussing the procedure

with me over the phone and getting my verbal consent on what would be

going on, I nearly said, just do the one you need to right now . . .

but I knew . . .

>

> If I kept the healthy breast, I would always wonder about

recurrence and another surgery needed, and possible spreading. If I

had kept it, I would probably

> have wondered when that decision was going to come back to haunt

me. A friend with breast cancer told me there is a 50 percent chance

of a mirror image tumor appearing in the healthy breast at a later

date, so that swayed me somewhat . . .she had more than one surgery,

because she hadn't done it the first time. My mother and aunt both

had recurrence, so it made sense for me.

>

> On the other hand, I also knew that if I did both at the same

time, I would also regret that somewhat, am feeling it a little more

than I'd wished but I knew . . .I wasn't going to be happy either way.

>

> My main loss is the ability to nurse another child should the

Lord see fit to bless us with one . . . it was such a rewarding part

of my life. But I was misdiagnosed because I was lactating, and that

lost precious time . . .my tumor grew quite large, and I just wanted

TO LIVE. That was enough.

>

> I don't think it is EVER a wrong decision to go with the most

aggressive, least harmful treatment option you can get, and I'd take

surgery over radiation and chemotherapy any day . . .I'm still

exactly the same person I was when I went into surgery . . .for the

most part.

>

> The part that bothers me is the chemical treatment - it goes so

against my thoughts on taking care of my body and doing things

naturally . . . but everything seems to be moving in the chemical

direction, and FAST . . .

>

> I'm not sure what to expect if I do chemo . . .any thoughts?

>

> I'm also curious, nne, if you want to share, why do you wish

you'd done it that way? You've been disease free for so

long . . .since that is my primary objective, I'd be glad to have

kept the clean breast if I thought I could do it . . .there just

wasn't a lot of statistics, or anything I'd read, that supported me

in it.

>

> e

>

>

[Guest guest]

Thank you, she just left for the hospital. I have to get the kids

off to school and then follow. Gonna be a looong morning.

> >

> > I am rather large breasted and if I go without a bra for any

length

> of time it bothers my neck and back. But the main reason is that I

> wouldn't have to worry about the cancer coming back in this other

> breast. I never forget that it can come back, even though its been

> over 16 yrs for me. We just had someone join who mother's(?)

cancer

> came back after 20 or 23 years. I don't remember if she has posted

or

> not. I have chemo brain something terrible. It affects my short

term

> memory.

> >

> > I had absolutely no problems with my chemo. I had Methotrexate

and

> 5fu the first two Tues of the month, took Cytoxan pills the third

> week and rested the fourth week. I did this for six month.

> >

> > I will keep you in my prayers.

> > Hugs

> > nne

> > Breast Cancer Patients Soul Mates for Life

> > http://www.geocities.com/chucky5741/breastcancerpatients.html

> > BreastCancerStories.com

> > http://www.breastcancerstories.com/content/view/433/161/

> > Angel Feather Loomer

> > www.angelfeatherloomer.blogspot.com

> > Check out my other ornaments at

> > www.geocities.com/chucky5741/bcornament.html

> > Lots of info and gifts at:

> > www.cancerclub.com

> > removing healthy breast as well as

> diseased AND what to expect from chemo?

> >

> >

> > I knew it was going to be this way when I decided to do a

double,

> and at the last minute, as the surgeon was discussing the

procedure

> with me over the phone and getting my verbal consent on what would

be

> going on, I nearly said, just do the one you need to right

now . . .

> but I knew . . .

> >

> > If I kept the healthy breast, I would always wonder about

> recurrence and another surgery needed, and possible spreading. If

I

> had kept it, I would probably

> > have wondered when that decision was going to come back to haunt

> me. A friend with breast cancer told me there is a 50 percent

chance

> of a mirror image tumor appearing in the healthy breast at a later

> date, so that swayed me somewhat . . .she had more than one

surgery,

> because she hadn't done it the first time. My mother and aunt both

> had recurrence, so it made sense for me.

> >

> > On the other hand, I also knew that if I did both at the same

> time, I would also regret that somewhat, am feeling it a little

more

> than I'd wished but I knew . . .I wasn't going to be happy either

way.

> >

> > My main loss is the ability to nurse another child should the

> Lord see fit to bless us with one . . . it was such a rewarding

part

> of my life. But I was misdiagnosed because I was lactating, and

that

> lost precious time . . .my tumor grew quite large, and I just

wanted

> TO LIVE. That was enough.

> >

> > I don't think it is EVER a wrong decision to go with the most

> aggressive, least harmful treatment option you can get, and I'd

take

> surgery over radiation and chemotherapy any day . . .I'm still

> exactly the same person I was when I went into surgery . . .for

the

> most part.

> >

> > The part that bothers me is the chemical treatment - it goes so

> against my thoughts on taking care of my body and doing things

> naturally . . . but everything seems to be moving in the chemical

> direction, and FAST . . .

> >

> > I'm not sure what to expect if I do chemo . . .any thoughts?

> >

> > I'm also curious, nne, if you want to share, why do you

wish

> you'd done it that way? You've been disease free for so

> long . . .since that is my primary objective, I'd be glad to have

> kept the clean breast if I thought I could do it . . .there just

> wasn't a lot of statistics, or anything I'd read, that supported

me

> in it.

> >

> > e

> >

> >