HELP with INFO

Hello ladies,

I am happy to have found this community of friendly, committed, strong, thoughtful and knowledgeable women, even despite my diagnosis, which brought me here.

My name is Karine, I am 55, diagnosed with BC a month ago. I had lumpectomy on 22.09.2016, just 13 days ago. Histology test showed an invasive ductal c-r Grade II-III. Cito examination of my dissected lymph nodes (they removed all, since there is no blue dye method here in my country) said that 2 of them were affected, while the other 11 showed signs of hyperplasia. My IHC report will be ready in a few days, yet my doctor already suggested me chemotherapy, which exactly they will know after the receptor status test.

I am not a US residence but I will get my US visa in a few days. My son is doing his PhD in Seattle, but he too is not a citizen. I was planning to visit the US before the diagnosis and now after it I am determined to get my treatment in the US, however I need to have a better idea of what to expect before I make a decision to leave my homeland and find myself in a place where I have never been before... with no insurance and little knowledge.

I do have SOME money, and as I have already had a surgery I will only need adjuvant chemotherapy and possibly radiation treatments. I am very much at a loss and I badly need your ideas and thoughts about the procedures, costs and options of treatment in the US. I know many of you have lots of experience and have gone through lots of procedures, associated with your treatment, so I would appreciate if you share your experiences and tell me what to expect from treatment in the US.

I need this info first of all to weigh my chances of actually getting treatment (affordability) and whether or not I should leave my homeland with very poor resources of cancer treatment, yet a place where I have a home and loved ones.

Thank you in advance, hope to hear your ideas,

Cheers,

Karine