Stage four surgery

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Misosmommy
Misosmommy Member Posts: 4
edited September 2016 in Stage IV/Metastatic Breast Cancer ONLY

Hi everyone!

Well it seems my previously stage four idc is now ibc.Grr.. I'm being offered a mastectomy at this point since I hadn't had one previously. The other choice is tdm1. I'm having the hardest time deciding. Quite frankly I think both my options suck! I'm tired of cancer!! Anyway I was wondering if anyone had any opinions

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  • Cafelovr
    Cafelovr Member Posts: 1,534
    edited September 2016

    Without knowing your profile, it's hard to tell. Did your oncologist give you any hope of a normal quality of life? I had several surgeries...BMX, hysterectomy, gallbladder removal, two ports, reconstruction. I am 7 years out and life is just as normal as can be except for Herceptin every 3 weeks and yearly scans! I'm tired of cancer too, but this is our new life. Enjoy it and find the beauty in things!

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  • Misosmommy
    Misosmommy Member Posts: 4
    edited September 2016

    my medical oncologist is hopeful but unsure. I meet with the surgeon today to review risk/ benefits.ive met with 2 mo and 2 breast surgeon.I've had my ovaries removed. I've been on Tykerb,xeloda herceptin Perjeta xgeva Faslodex. Diagnosed at stage four due to misdiagnosis.

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  • Cafelovr
    Cafelovr Member Posts: 1,534
    edited September 2016

    I was diagnosed at Stage IV also. I had a clear mammogram in December 2008 and became Stage IV in October 2009. I survive on hope and prayer, as well as a little denial. That was the first thing I wanted, was a mastectomy. There was no argument or pause. I had chemo to shrink the tumor, radiation to zap the remaining tumor, and then surgery. I did have to fight to have my ovaries out because I was only 5% ER+, but after a scan of the uterus, which showed scaring from the Tamoxifen, I had a complete hysterectomy. I figure the more they take out, the less cancer has a way of settling in! :)

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  • Lena_Margaret
    Lena_Margaret Member Posts: 25
    edited September 2016

    Misosmommy, I have a way that I try to make decisions that might help, if choices are offered: #1 - Do you feel strongly about a certain decision (negatively or positively) #2 - Can you live with your choices if things don't work out the way you'd hoped they would? #3 -Does your family/support system have certain opinions?

    Sometimes, I just feel strongly about something. Rather than join a trial 5 years ago, my GP prescribed Metformin off label for me. It obviously did not work the way I had hoped, but I am happy about my decision.

    I seem to make a lot of my decisions these days based on "what would I want my kids and grandkids to do if this were them and not me?". I use this idea because I have passed on my BRCA I deleterious mutation. At least 2 of my kids are positive for it. So, I feel it VERY important to try to be good example to them during my cancer experiences.

    And, I don't always consider the last one, but sometimes, if I am stuck, I make a decision to let them have a voice. I don't always do this, but it helps if I am stuck.

    Blessings!

    **One last thing: I try to check study results. I am not up to finding it, but I recently read that offering a stage IV patient a surgical option can help with overall survival rates. Of course, we aren't statistics, we are individuals. But, sometimes statistics can help with decision making as well.

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