Deciding on treatment / need for

You will probably be given a choice ,if your final pathology doesn't change, to do chemo or not. You'll be given percentages for reoccurence & then be left to make your own decision. Some women really hate this. But for me, I would have doubted the MO if he told me I needed chemo or if he didn't. RADs was the same for me. Good luck with your upcoming surgery!

Hi.  I'm in the same place only I've already had my surgery.  Be sure to check that they perform all the tests you expect.  For me the Oncotype wasn't done until I asked.  If I had known then I wouldn't be here waiting another week or so for that number to help make my decision.  My oncologyst did just what coraleliz stated above.  Gave me percentages of recurrance and didn't really say yes or no to chemo.  For me the difference in recurrance was only better by 3% if I did chemo.  So, unless that Onco score is high I'm not doing it.  Tamoxefin is a given.  The waiting sucks.  The decisions suck.  But knowledge is power and is sounds like you have been doing your homework.  I feel for you having to deal with this.  I hope you find the answers you need to make your decision.

Check out online the NCCN 2011 Breast Cancer treatment guidelines.

Good luck.

SheChriple, I was diagnosed the very same day you were, with somewhat similar biomarkers: tumor 1.1 cm, ER+, PR+ and HER2-. I chose a lumpectomy, which was done 2 weeks ago yesterday. Like some others, I'm mad that no one told me about the OncotypeDX testing until I met with my MO for the first time last Tuesday. In fact, I learned about it on this forum. Now I have to wait 2 more weeks for that information. Since my tumor was a grade 3 and I had micromets in one lymph node, I imagine they'll recommend chemo for me, unless the Oncotype score is very, very low.

Like you, I'm a planner. I want a treatment plan NOW. I want to start treatment NOW. I want to get rid of this cancer ONCE AND FOR ALL. One thing I'm learning is that, ultimately, all the choices are ours. We and the doctors have lots of information, and they can make recommendations based on that data. But we're the ones who really decide how we're going to deal with this.  

"If the sentinal node has involvement, they will go to remove all nodes for testing."

SheChirple, please do some reading about this. The more nodes are removed, the greater the chance of lymphadema. There's significant evidence that removal of all nodes is no longer indicated, regardless of how many have been invaded, but that old-school doctors continue to do it because it's just "what they learned in medical school" a jillion years ago. 

Please see the following: 

http://www.internalmedicinenews.com/news/oncology-hematology/single-article/axillary-lymph-node-dissection-doesn-t-improve-breast-cancer-survival/0b39f2b224.html 

http://bioblog.biotunes.org/bioblog/2011/03/03/axillary-lymph-node-dissection-will-hopefully-soon-be-a-thing-of-the-past/ 

http://jama.ama-assn.org/content/305/6/569 

The main determining factors... are ALL ABOUT YOU ~  your age, your lifestyle, your practical considerations, possibly your health insurance coverage (or lack thereof), your pathology results, employment/income requirements, and anything else signficiantly impacting your day-to-day your life.  While your doctors, family, clergy, friends, and other good-hearted people are worth listening to provided your trust them, choices are your responsibility.  

A roller coaster of information & choices?  Absolutely!  Bottom line is this is your life.  My arms are around you with a hug.  Tuck the love of many people under your pillow each night.  CMG

Miles2Go -- I think I stole that line from someone else! My son recently told me that psychology professionals also use the term CTD -- "Circling the Drain." (Tongue in cheek, I hope!)