Treatment options for recurrence

Hi Beppie,

Thanks for replying.  You have posted replies to my previous posts and I have read some others of yours.  I have been wondering how you have been going.  I hope you are feeling better and have had some better results by now.

I too have had complications from the first lot of treatments but not as bad as what you have experienced.  So I am sorry for what you have been through.  I developed lymphedema in my breast after finishing radiation treatment and that has caused a lot of discomfort and at times pain.  In the last few years I have had numerous infections which the doc thinks is because of the compromised tissue from radiation and the lymphedema.  At one point he thought I may have had inflammatory breast cancer because of the amount of redness and swelling but after more ultrasounds and biopsies it was concluded to be infection.

I have been to see two plastic surgeon who both seem to be quite good and gave informative opinions.  One of the main issues I have at present is trying to make the decision to have a mastectomy when I am being told it is the "recommended procedure" for a recurrence but then being told I could choose to monitor and take Arimidex.  But then also being told that they don't have data on women who don't have a mastectomy because most women have it.  This is like going around in circles.  It is not like having a mastectomy if a small thing to do.

Anyway, I do appreciate your reply and I will keep trying to just gather information to make the decision that I feel is right for me.

I hope you are doing ok.

Cheers, Pauline xx