breast cancer roller coaster

@"not keen on chemo" Welcome!! I think there are plenty of people here with plenty of confusing stories yes!! My first diagnosis was 2011 and 2nd in 2015. I think ive seen it all in that time. One thing I learned was having had lumpectomies, biopsies, sentinel node biopsies, radiation and chemo is...I wouldnt do a biopsy again as every time I had one they were benign! so pain and suffering for nothing. Lumpectomy was the only way of getting definitive pathology for diagnosis. Its so hard then too when you get conflicting opinions on treatment, so its important to deal with just the Oncologist. I find it odd about the Chemo, he said you wont lose your hair? and you could work? what is your Regime? If you did just Taxol theres a good chance you may not lose your hair however on FEC or AC you absolutely would. I too found it confronting that part but had a great wig that nobody could tell. I was very ill on Chemo and could not work. Im now 16 months post and still suffering side effects, but I have a full head of hair and on my way LOL. I wore wigs for that reason, I so didnt want the attention (pity) from people, I just wanted to deal with it personally. hard to hide when I lost eyelashes and all hair all over my body, I really did look like that typical cancer patient and HATED it! I would ask a heap of questions so you can be ahead of what is going on and going to happen so that you will be able to cope a little better. 

People think they are helping and being well meaning, but they really aren't nobody gets it like we all do because we're all going through it. Its an amazing supportive community and a wealth of experience and knowledge and love!

Keep talking, and sing out if there's anything that doesn't make sense that we can help with. Hugs Melinda xo