Pathology

wanted to add - i did bilateral mestecpomy about 14 month ago, after I had break from chemo and recovered a bit. Even if it would not change the final result, it may slightly extend my survival. But I would have done it 3 years ago w/o as much as bating the eye-lid if i knew i'm high risk person. And honestly, it is not that painful surgery (i spent 2 d in hospital and returned to work after 4 days) and life w/o breast has a lot of pluses. If you ask your oncologist what are the progonis of recurrence with/after chemo and after mastectomy, think about mastectomy. Think how you dont have to wake up in cold sweat at night thinking "what if it si coming back?". Especially if you have children to take care of.

Some surgeons (male mostly, including mine) for some reason assume automatically that mastectomy is the last resort. If their guess turned wrong, they just shrug shoulders and tell you "sorry, i can't help you any longer"

beware of HER2+, read this

http://www.mdanderson.org/newsroom/news-releases/2008/early-stage-her2-positive-breast-cancer-patients-at-increased-risk-of-recurrence.html

and also note that because herceptin costs about $50k a year, the oncologists use NHMRC guidelines to recommend adjuvant treatment and herceptin only if tumor is more 1cm, some oncologists do a bit more that discuss this if tumour >5mm. But NOT if it is less. Mine was less. And 12 month after "excellent prognosis, clear marging, negative node bla-bla" I have ended up with mets in liver, bones, lungs. Since then for past 2 yr and 10 mth I do "palliative treatment" to prolong my life. Kind of suck if you just turned 42 at the time of diagnosis and had 2 children of school age.

But doctors are not much concerned with the risks you take by being HER2+.  my doc even did not bother to tell me I'm her2+ and did not warn me. But told me instead that "everything is great and i dont expect your cancer to return...ever". And yet that research from USA indicates that the risk is as much as 23% and it is very aggressive cancer, could turn metastatic very quickly. Even despite 6 mnth of chemo i still got some cancer cells eventually make to my brains and grew tumours in a matter of 2 month as much as 1.5cm. get rid of them was also very expensive piece of work.

Tatiana, resident of Adelaide, currently 45yo, may be still be around to be 46yo

Good luck Trish - let me know your results. Hope your results are good. x

Delayed response Marg, but I  am pleased to hear you great results! Well done and keep up that positive attitude!

I must still wait another week before getting my full results, but am reassured reading your blogs.

Happy for you Marg, good luck with the next stage.

Delayed response Marg, but I  am pleased to hear you great results! Well done and keep up that positive attitude!

I must still wait another week before getting my full results, but am reassured reading your blogs.

Happy for you Marg, good luck with the next stage.

me too - thanks girls!

back to work tomorrow. 

next step is to meet the oncologist to discuss therapy - chemo still not off the table as tumour was 18mm and stage 2. Plus I am "young" for breast cancer. 

Marg xx

Great news honey, I am doing the happy dance for you right now.

Donna

and its also negative!! trifecta

and its also negative!! trifecta