Recent diagnosis HER2+ Lumpectomy or Mastectomy?

JeanneB

I was Diagnosed a week ago with Her2+ ER+ PR+ breast cancer.  Surgeon removed a 1.7c  lump and sent it for biopsy and came back cancer. Margins are clear.  She felt it needed to come out anyway so rather than needle biopsy she removed.  Next step is looking at lymphnodes this coming Monday Morn. 

My surgeon is very pro lumpectomy with chemo and herceptin.  She is negative on Masectomy and said the recurrance rate for my type of cancer is exactly the same regardless of getting a lumpectomy with the treatment above or if I get a full masectomy.  Does this make sense?  I forgot to ask her if the Masectomy requires the chemo and herceptin followup.  Does anyone know If I get a Masectomy will I need same follow up? 

If I don't need the chemo and herceptin it makes sense to me to get Masectomy just to get rid of the WHOLE problem quickly rather than go through a year of all the treatment. I am really confused and afraid.  I would like to make a choice soon.  Thanks much for your responses.  Jeanne

TonLee

Hi Jeanne,

Glad you found us, sorry you're here.

I am triple positive too. 

With a lumpectomy you have radiation.

With a MX you may or may not have radiation.  If there is cancer in your lymph nodes they may want you to do rads as well.  But if your nodes are clear you won't have Rads.

I had a MX hoping to avoid Rads, but had 4/4 lymphs involved (sentinel).  I refused axilla dissection of my nodes because I didn't want to increase the risk of lymphedema.

As far as I know, Herceptin is only given with chemo and if you are HER2+...you have to have it.  Her2+ is very aggressive.  I believe (and someone correct me if I am wrong) Her2+ is automatic chemo.