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May 30, 2014 12:27AM
Stenokim
wrote:
Hi, all. I had 1 of 12 nodes positive, it was 3 mm. My MO said that was tiny, if it's under 3 it's not even considered cancerous. My KI 67 was a 3, which means slow growing. My oncotype was a 14, 1 percent benefit from chemo, so I did not do chemo. I had a mastectomy due to the size of my tumor versus the small size of my breast, no recon. Four ROs reviewed my case for rads...of course they split, 2 said get rads, two said no. I went with the no guys. The only reason they considered rads was the one positive node. My MO said I made the right decision on the rads. I am on tamoxifen with no side effects except for no period since I started it, which no complaining here. My one glitch was after I had made peace with my decisions and started the tamoxifen, two months out from surgery, my surgeon calls me out of the blue on a Friday afternoon to tell me I need to get chemo. That threw me for a loop and frankly pissed me off. My MO was out of town, they work together in the same office, and BS felt that due to my age at dx, 47, I should get chemo. I was able to talk with my MO again the next week, who assured me I wasn't a candidate for chemo, as chemo goes after fast growing cells and mine were slow growing. My MO said all BSs say everyone needs chemo. I even contacted the "ask a doctor" at Johns Hopkins, a free online service for breast cancer patients, and they told me to listen to MO, not BS. I was told I had an "old lady" cancer. I was also told not to take that personally. Ha. I had a lump for 28 years, was always told it was a fibrous cyst. Finally had a routine mammo, a little late, I know, at age 47, but that's how I found mine. Funny thing is, the only reason I went to doctor was I developed heartburn, which I had never had before, didn't know what it was, (possible heart attack), so thought I needed a 47,000 mile checkup. Ever since MX, I've not had heartburn again. I had it for two straight months before DX. Divine intervention, I believe. Had I not had the heartburn, it may have been years before I ever went to doctor. I was 41 at last check where doc said my lump was just a cyst, just as other three did since I found it at 18 yrs old. Cancer must have grown under or into the lump I had. I'm the only one in my family to ever have it. We do have a family friend that is going to be 99 yrs old in December, and she had BC with lymph node involvement. She fell down some stairs recently and didn't break a single bone. Her doc said it was the years of tamoxifen that strengthened her bones that prevented any breaks. I try to focus on those positive stories. 99 year old BC survivor! Good luck to all of you gals, and I'll say a prayer for you all. Kim
Dx
12/12/2013, IDC, Right, 2cm, Stage IIB, Grade 1, 1/12 nodes, ER+/PR+, HER2-
Surgery
12/17/2013 Lymph node removal: Right, Underarm/Axillary; Mastectomy: Right
Hormonal Therapy
1/29/2014