Has anyone not had a mastcetomy with Ivasive Lobular?

Annie, it's true that there is a 8-9% chance of local recurrence with lumpectomy/rads, but the distant recurrence rate (which is what ultimately kills patients) is the same for lump/rads as for mastectomy. So don't add the 9% on to the other numbers you were given for overall survival--the two statistics aren't related.

I'm not trying to question your surgical decision--I just want to make sure the info you were given by the docs is clear to you.

Kathy, was your biopsy positive for IDC until the surgical path, when they decided it was ILC?

I'm a little disconcerted by the stories of fasely negative MRIs. I may very well decide on bilat mast down the road, given the uncertainties with all of this, and would never talk someone out of that decision if that's right for them. I just get concerned when people think their surgical choice impacts their distant recurrence rate, b/c it doesn't.

Thanks for the clarification on the IDC/ILC, Kathy. Glad they took a second look at your nodes, too. Sounds like you got very good care. Good luck with the surgery--keep us posted on how you're doing.

I was given a choice for the mastering,if I choose this I would not need radiation treatments. Or I could go with breast conservation,which would be a lumpectomy w/removal of 3"sentinel lymph nodes" which I would had to have then follow up with radiation + hormone blockers. I choose the Breast Conservation. My surgery was Sept.3rd.2009m Ever thing went apparently well. I was happy to hear I had all negative nodes. I felt really good within a short time. I returned to my Doctor a week after surgery for my follow up and was very encouraged and my spirits we high.

WELL, WHAT A WAMMY I RECEIVED!!!!!

After careful dissection of the 3 nodes they in fact found another 3mm mass which was positive. So, I was rescheduled for another surgery Sept.17th for a complete "Axillary Dissection". This was so hard on me. I cried a lot. But, as difficult as it was I made it through. I'm a good bit more tender because of the incision is right under the arm. Very sensitive area!!! And the drain surely is no joy. I am dealing with it well though. And, even though my Doctor said they would prescribe + suggest I would need 6 weeks off of work, I returned to work 3 days later. I did OK. I have an office job and I'm pretty much alone, so dealing with the drain was not a problem either

NOW, I RECIEVED MORE NEWS!!!!!!!!

I had one more positive (6mm)node.

If I hadn't had any bad nodes, I would had to only do radiation, but because of the new findings, even if was just the one positive node, this will mean of course I do need Chemo therapy also.

I seen my hemotologist yesterday and he said more than likely I'll have the chemo first (about 3 weeks from now), I need to heal a bit more first. Then I'll have the radiation and I will still of course be doing the blockers for the hormones. Ny hemotoligist is meeting with the Radiology along with my surgeon before the exact type of meds are prescribed to me. I will have some choices, and I know at this point because my cancer is so very invasive, I will want just as an aggressive therapy. I'm too scared not to DO still feel blessed in that after my MRI, which showed another area of concern on my other breast, the right side I had a biopsy and Thank You Sweet Jesus it was negative I'm happy just to have one good working arm!!! Yet, because, I want to see my grandchildren grow. I want to be there when my granddaughter walks down that isle...................I WILL FIGHT!!!

I will be this, though the journey will be long and hard/////////My road to recovery!

sueimfl,

Good Luck to you!!!!!! I am soooo happy for you, not to have NODE involement.

May your Chemo go smoothe as can be expected.

(((((WARM-HUGS))))) Brenda