HER2-no mastectomy-no chemo

I have no answer for you, just keeping this close to the top so someone will come along and perhaps give some advice. Have you had Herceptin ONLY, no lumpectomy either? Is it because they (the doctors) couldn't get clear margins that they are wanting to do the mastectomy?



Here's to finding the answers you seek, and continued good health.



Jennifer

Laura: Kudos to you for not having a mastectomy. I can't believe people who have bi lateral. I know in some they find cancer in the other breast, but I don't see the logic in doing it up front. I'm happy with my lumpectomy, if it comes back well then we'll see.

I agree it must have been great to see the herceptin work like that. I told my DH about your experience and he was amazed. You say the lump is gone, what if it's too small to show up on a scan. That's the only issue I think you've got. I guess they can monitor the area and if it starts to grow or show up, then you could have a lumpectomy.

Meanwhile - lucky you!!!

Sue

Went back to update my treatment line. For some reason, it''s not showing up, but I DID have a mastectomy, and that's why no chemo or rads for me. However, if I hadn't had the mastectomy, I believe I would have done the chemo just to get Herceptin. Each of us has to choose their path and be comfortable with it. The only regret I had was that it was skin sparing, thinking I would have reconstruction later. It's been nearly 4 years, and still haven't drifted to that direction of more surgery. So, now I have a little lump of flesh there, and I'm hoping that all cells are gone forever. If I had known at the time of the mastectomy that it was Her2+, then it would not of been a skin sparing proceedure.



Best of luck to you. May you continue to have good health.

You are right... just because you get a mastectomy does not mean you cannot get breast cancer again... in breast tissue or elsewhere.  I now wish I had not had surgery and rads and just took the wait and see approach... If you are interested you can check out the nature girls thread.....wishing you peace and health.  Tami

I had a lumpectomy with three positive nodes taken in '05, this was followed by chemo/rads/herceptin and hormone therapy.

While I do believe there are far too many unnecessary masts done, I do think as her2+ we need to do all we can to eradicate this disease first time around as her2 is very sneaky and is prone to spread.

Tricia 

Jenniferz - Can you tell me what skin sparing means? I have been on this site for almost a year now and still am not sure what that means.

I had chemo first. My tumor was 11x6 cm.  locally invasive.  I tolerated the TCH very well and immediately the tumor shrunk down to next to nothing.  I also had lymph node involvement at least 3 of them.  I had a uni mastectomy and now wonder if it was necessary also lymph node disection.  The lymph nodes had no active cancer and only a 1cm tumor remained.  I wonder if a lumpectomy would have been sufficient.  I hate the look of my chest wall and the rads made my skin much darker than before and still not back to normal.  I have dull pain most of the time now and never before.  I hope to have reconstruction done in the future.  I almost think they should have reevaluated the stiuation after the 6 rounds of chemo and maybe spared my breast.  I'll never know but it is something to think about if you are considering what to do.