Surgery or Taxol Chemo First

On My...what a dilemma. I had reconstruction with my mastectomy so the recovery was up to 6 weeks. Physically healed much more quickly but the tissue expanders gave me grief for 6 weeks  I imagine the recovery from a straight mastectomy will be quicker as no muscles cut etc. 

I found taxol quite hard. Not intially but by halfway I was truly fed up. To have the cancer removed for me was such a relief and knowing further chemo coming to mop up escapees gave me peace of mind.  

A 30th birthday presently you'll find challenging with or without surgery I think. 

It doesn't seem to matter on diagnosis which order you do it or they would have said.  I think what is harder for you is the delay...many of us had it whipped out at the beginning...you've had time to agonise more. I had more difficulties after changeover surgery as I only then acknowledged my loss...it was real. 

I can't give you any guidance. The reality is...and we get it...you actually don't want the surgery at all. Yep. We so get it. But...you know you have to eventually. Kath x

Mrs H, it is so tough all these decisions. I am doing chemo first and have one more treatment then mastectomy. I have lots of anxiety long before breast cancer . I'm scared about pain also so can really relate. I guess only you can decide what is best for you.
Are you having your treatment at RWBH.

I had mastectomy then Chemo.  Its your choice but I would finish your chemo then have surgery. The Taxol isnt as hard on your body and at least once its done you can focus on the rest of your healing without having to go back. Hang in there its a tough ride but you CAN and YOU will get through it.

@Mrs-H if it is any help I also had  AC and then Taxol  prior to surgery . 
 My experience of AC was not pleasant began okay and then steadily declined.
 In contrast I found Taxol easier  but only had ten not 12 doses as had to stop due to side effects.
I had such a positive result to chemo my tumour went from inoperable to then shrinking and only needing a lumpectomy..
I didnt have a choice but was glad I got chemo out of the way and then concentrated on the next step surgery.
You may be lucky and have minor side effects to Taxol it does happen to some. 
There is no right or wrong answer just go with what you are comfortable with either way the result will be well worth it. 
I had radiation to mop up any stray cancer cells.  You will make the right decision for you.

I like @fairydust dust had both chemo treatments AC x 4 over 12 weeks and then 12 x weekly taxol 1st and will know tomorrow weather it's surgery or radiation for me next. I was really lucky on both chemo treatments and found that fatigue was probably the worst side effect for me. I am really glad that I have chemo crossed off the list and that I can focus on whatever phase of treatment gets thrown at me next. It would be really difficult for you @Mrs-H not getting guidance from either of your specialists on which option would have the best outcome for you. Perhaps both options are equally as good?. Like we all say here, in the end you have to go with what is right for you. Good luck with whatever you decide.
Kat x

Hey @Mrs_H, one way I've found to decide (if I am unsure) is actually to flip a coin. Sounds silly but when I do that I realise that I do actually have a preference but haven't acknowledged it! If you go for two out of three flips you realise that you already have your answer. Xx Cath

I had a lumpectomy, with more advanced than expected pathology, so have to have a mastectomy as well. However my surgeon wanted me to have chemo first, perhaps because a sentinel lymph node was involved.
So I am having chemo before the mastectomy.
I actually had the last one on Monday, YAY!

My Oncologist said that at least doing the chemo first they will see if it has killed the cancer cells that remained, when they do the post surgery pathology, and that doing the surgery first you wouldn't see that.
Perhaps that is a good way to look at it?

I have 6 weeks now until surgery, which weirdly I am looking forward to, I just want to get this year over with.
I am happy to have the chemo behind me, it has been a rough ride. I really struggled with the FEC and the Taxol has not been pleasant either.
I don't know that I would be so happy about coming back to it after surgery.
 I think I am going to be a bit fragile about the lost breast/s and the whole realisation of it without that.
I also saw a psychologist as I had to make a decision about the other breast. But that was because the original cancer scans did not show my cancer extent properly. She was very helpful, I am having an MRI to make a decision whether to leave the other one on.
She was also helpful in helping me deal with the issue of reconstruction.

I am not having immediate reconstruction, I am going on a waiting list for reconstruction in a year or so. I want some time to think about it and get over all this.
If I have a double mastectomy I may eventually decide not to go ahead as I will be even. If I have a single I may decide to even it up.
You don't have to have reconstruction straight away, maybe later you will feel more definite about having it or not after living with the new you for a little while.

Good luck with finding an answer you are comfortable with, it is not an easy decision to have to make.