Just a poll...

I only had a lumpectomy.  My tumor size was 1.2 cm and I had one lymph node affected.  I felt that a mastectomy was kind of a big step for me.  It may come down to it at some point, but I believe herceptin is a great drug and am praying it works for me!

I had a lumpectomy, tumour was originally 2.5 cm. and I had a positive lymph node. I later had a bilateral mast. after a new tumour was found in the other breast (not HER2 +)

I had a lumpectomy - combination IDC and DCIS.  Total lump removed was about 5 cm.   The IDC portion was Her2+++.    I am getting ready to start a regimen of chemo followed by radiation and Herceptin.   But, in looking at the stats in my case, I am quite comfortable this regimen (including the lumpectomy) will bring down my recurrence rate to single digits, despite the "aggressive" IDC portion.    The only thing that could change this plan at this point is the genetic testing which comes back in a couple weeks for me.

Best of luck in your treatment !  

Jill  

I had a lumpectomy.  Tumor was 1.5 cms, node negative.  I had 4 AC, 4 Taxol and 21 rads.  I'm getting Herceptin till April '09.  Big shout out to Kate!!! 6 years and still doing great.  I love hearing stories like that.  Gives me a lot of hope for the future.

I had lumpectomy and mammosite radiation, with two surgeries to get clear margins - my IDC was small (.8 cm) but the DCIS was extensive - called IDC with EIC. 

The danger being HER2+++ is from systemic metastatic disease - not local recurrence.  I'm more concerned about the chemo doing its job -- and I'm wondering if it's not a better sequence in HER2+++ (like with inflammatory BC) to do chemo FIRST before surgery to minimize the jarring loose of those bad cells...food for thought and research.   

I also had a lumpectomy. My tumor was 1.6cm and the surgeon was able to get clear margins.  I will begin radiation on 10/22 with five weeks of radiation on entire breast and week and a half of 'boost' radiation treatments on tumor area.   As bluedasher says, everything I am reading states(and my surgeon stated as well)  that lumpectomy and radiation is as effective as mastectomy. 

Lumpectomy here....It all happened so fast, I really didn't have time to think about it.  I went from first baseline mammo to lumpectomy within one week.  In retrospect, I probably would have done a mast just because of my anxiety but so far, so good.

I had lumpectomy, surgeon said it was just as good and I had reconstruction and you can't tell I ever had surgery. I had 2.4cm. tumor with 2 nodes removed. I had IDC, her2, 3+++  ER,PR neg. my tumor was grade 3. I was dxed. March 04. I did A/C Tax. 32 rads. and 5, months later they approved Herceptin and I did 1 year of that.I am doing great. Mary

I had a lumpectomy for 2cm IDC.  Unfortunately, 8 months after completing A/C, Taxol, rads and hysterectomy I had a local recurrence and found mets at the same time.  After mets were stable, PET scan lit up four tumors in the same breast AGAIN.  Had bi-lat mast. Of course hindsight is 20/20....but I wish I had mast to begin with.  But I made the best decision I could with the information I had at the time.  That is all we can do!

Yup lumpectomy as well, Surgeon believes in keeping as much breast as possible. They had to double deep and I didn't get clean margins but wouldn't have with a mastecomy either.  Herceptin now after FEC D last year, second treatment and I'm having heart pain, eve took two anti anxiety pills to see if that was the cause it isn't, as long as I lay down it doesn't hurt sitting or staning hurts, my p nurses are coming tomorrow so I will let them fiquire it out.  Bye for now all must lay down.