HiCaptnK
I’m very sorry to hear about your diagnosis and can remember being faced with whether or not I had fully considered all options. My GP suggested a consultation after I had seen the oncologist and surgeon, to help me tease out any residual questions.
Some months into my treatment I found this decision aid (by Breast Cancer Trials) and it provides treatment option information, so breast cancer patients can factor in what type of breast cancer they have been diagnosed with.
In a nutshell, recommended treatment really depends on the specific characteristics of your breast cancer diagnosis.
I found it a steep learning curve, but step 1 is to good to get clarity on the “type” of breast cancer you’ve been diagnosed with. In my case I had Invasive Lobular Carcinoma (ILC) which was Oestrogen positive, Progesterone positive and HER2 positive (aka Triple Positive). It’s a less common combination, so it was helpful for me to know why my treatment approach and drugs didn’t look the same as the treatment some of my friends had.
Some people also do genomic testing or oncotype testing (I didn't).
I had Neo adjuvant (pre-surgery) chemo and immunotherapy, surgery, radiation and post adjuvant (post-surgery) chemo and immunotherapy. Treatment with “ the lot” :-) over a 15 month timeframe.
And sending positive energy and virtual hugs your way.
I
