Any HER 2 ladies who had lumpectomy?

Hi.....I was Triple Positive and had a Lumpectomy

Tumor was 1.2 cm and no node involvement

I also did AC 4DD

Taxol 4DD

Herceptin 1 year

Radiation

FEMARA 5 years

It was almost 9 years ago.......

I was 9 months POST MENAPAUSAL

Since everybody's treatment is different whatever you choose I wish you the best

Sheila♥

Hi

Dx 2002 (before trastuzumab was approved for adjuvant use), so I had no trastuzumab.

Her2+++, ER+/PR+, 1.6 cm IDC, age 51, lumpectomy, SNB 0/1, CAFx6, IMRT rads, 1 3/4 years tamoxifen, 11 years out and no evidence of disease. On metformin because it is considered to deal with stem cells that chemo does not, and it helps with weight maintenance.

I too chose a lumpectomy. I had one positive node so radiation was a given, but both my oncologist and breast surgeon thought it was a good choice for me as my tumor was basically gone after neoadjuvant chemo. I also had no pain and healed very quickly. No regrets

From what I understand from my doctor is that they will  determine how much tissue must be taken to obtain clean margins. They must take some healthy tissue around any remaining cancerous cells or they have to go back and take more, but the main reason for neoadjuvent therapy is to shrink the tumor so that less has to be taken, or in some cases when the tumor is near the chest wall, keep from having to do a more radical mastectomy.

I think the surgeons are trained not to give an opinion on whether to go lumpectomy or mastectomy other than to tell you what the science is on the subject, which I understand tells them there is no difference in outcome between mastectomy and lumpectomy with radiation.  From what I understand, recurrences on the opposite breast carry the same risk as she would have had the first time as it is considered a new cancer, unless she was tested positive for BRCA.  What I'm gleaning from this process is that they are very careful to leave the choice of surgery to the patient out of respect for their decision, unless there is a medical reason to go one way or another.     Many patients choose bilateral MX because it makes them feel less vulnerable to recurrence or new cancer in the opposite breast, but they do not necessarily have scientific evidence to prove this is true.

I feel for you with the waiting for the MRI.  Mine showed an additional 4mm lesion on the completely opposite side of my breast, but this lesion does not show up on PET/PEM or mammogram, so I just went through a second MRI guided biopsy,  to find out if it is malignant. They were not sure if it would even show up on the second MRI because it could have been a hormonal thing, but it did, and I had this procedure on Friday and am now waiting on the results.  I hope they will still give me neoadjuvent chemo even if they think they have to do a mastectomy because of this other lesion.  I am scheduled to start my chemo on Tuesday.  I was diagnosed right before Thanksgiving and still haven't had any treatments, but I understand it is ok to wait.  It is good they are being so very careful.  Whatever your wife's decision is will be the right one because it is her decision, but please know that there are many people like my sister who have had great results with lumpectomy.

Nine+ years ago, I had a lumpectomy, followed by radiation, chemo (ACT), Herceptin & still on Arimidex.  My surgeon emphasized that the outcome was the same whether I had MX or lumpectomy, and possibly even a little better with the lumpectomy/radiation combo. Since I had cancer involvement in 5 lymph nodes, I think having radiation (that was automatic with lumpectomy) was an added benefit for me. Oh, and radiation was a breeze compared to surgery & chemo. The mass was 2.7cm., so not small.

And I'm still NED!!!! (no evidence of disease). 

Art123: sorry that the MRI came up with a surprise. Please know that if a masectomy is in your wife's future, it is doable. Many women on these boards and in the general population have had to have it done. I wish you and her nothing but the best.