Briannadawn - My diagnosis was pretty similar massive 7cm tumor and many nodes involved (lobular with ductal aspects). What you have to understand is there are very many stages of treatments, surgery, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, radiation .... etc

You should really understand what your doctor suggests you to do and then make a choice of which you would want to consider, and maybe those that you would never consider. When a diagnosis is so fresh, it is difficult to even digest the thought of such an illness let alone how to manage it - totally normal.

I choose to have a mastectomy right away, and with my left boob went all of my lymphnodes, most of which were infected. At the end of surgery I was told that I am cancer free. Hey, not a bad thing considered a few weeks of discomfort and what will eventually net me a new set of boobs. For me the surgery was the easy part - was it cake? no, but I was up and about and happy to get that thing out of my body. The harder part is affronting the choices of the additional "insurance policy" therapies that have been suggested to me (and that I am following -- questioning all of them and reading ad nauseam on everything else or alternative I could be doing).

I haven't come across any wild success stories for Mexican clinics or German clinics or berries that hang off the highest branch in the Amazon.

Consider that many cancers are inoperable. With breast cancer, the only plus is that it is operable. Once you get it out of your body at least a large part, or maybe all of it is gone.

Just some ideas to reflect upon.

I hope you work through some of your doubts and are able to find a right solution for you.

I was in the same boat, and had the mastectomy and the lymph nodes out. I am still here almost 7 years later. They will not cure you in Mexico. That is about the only thing you can be sure of.

I do not have a "fat arm," in large part because I got PT after my surgery. There are many things you can do to reduce our risk of lymphedema. My immune system is fine too. You have loads of other lymph nodes in your body.

Edited to say..."sorry. wrong thread".

Moderators:

The page you linked for "Mastectomy versus Lumpectomy" is for those who are believed to be suitable candidates for lumpectomy as initial surgery. It doesn't really apply to the OP anymore, because she has already had a lumpectomy and sentinel node biopsy ("SNB"). In her surgeon's professional opinion, certain pathology results from her initial lumpectomy and SNB support a recommendation for more extensive local treatment (mastectomy), and more extensive regional axillary surgery (Axillary Lymph Node Dissection ("ALND")). This is sometimes called "conversion to mastectomy", when disease is more extensive than initially appreciated.

If a person in this situation is not sure about the medical necessity for the recommended mastectomy and ALND, they can seek a second opinion at an independent institution re whether mastectomy and ALND are indicated in her case.

BarredOwl

Hi! I am so sorry to hear of your diagnosis.

Here's what I will tell you about MY experience.

I was Stage 1 and fortunately, no lymph node involvement. But there was absolutely NO way I'd go with a full holistic route..I wanted the cancer out of me. I had TWO tumors in my right breast. After 2 months of a roller coaster ride, I decided to get a unilateral mastectomy with reconstruction. I am SO glad I did!!! You can't imagine how better I feel to have that cancer GONE.

Here's the thing, tho. I decided after my surgery NOT to take Tamoxifen. I am going the holistic route, post-surgery.

Before surgery, I completely changed my diet. I eliminated processed food. I started eating more fresh fruits and veggies and drinking a lot of water. I do think this made a big difference..I felt really great about 2 weeks after surgery--people couldn't believe how fast I recovered.

I have kept up this diet.

There are a few things I eat every day--flax seeds, broccoli sprouts, and kale or some cruciferous vegetable.

I make a lot of smoothies. I just made one today with fresh lime juice, spinach, kale, banana, tumeric, and coconut millk and yogurt. Because sometimes you get tired of eating greens and just need to put them in something that looks and tastes like a milkshake...

I also started a Livestrong program--free personal training and exercise and go 2 times a week for 2 hours. I'm also ramping up exercising on my own time.

I am determined to NOT take any drugs. I am fully confident I can avoid recurrence by going above and beyond in caring for myself. I know I was negligent in self care, and that partially led to my cancer.

With your diagnosis..I would for sure look into holistic remedies..diet..exercise..acupuncture..yoga, etc. BUT seriously..investigate all your options within the regular medical framework.

There are so many new treatments now, llike immunotherapy..these are scientifically PROVEN.

I've read horror stories about people who ran down to Mexico..I don't want to scare you, but the performance artist Karen Findlay decided to do this when she got breast cancer, and it did not end well. If alternative treatment was so great, I think we'd hear a lot more stories of people getting miracle cures, on the news.But there is no way, no how, I would've ever opted to NOT get my tumors removed!!

Find a good dr, someone you trust..don't rush into anything. It may take you some time to a) reconcile yourself to your diagnosis b) find a good medical support team and c) go through all the crazy emotions we all go through with it. Don't act until you are totally comfortable with your decision.

There are people on here who've had worse diagnoses than yours, and done very well. We are each unique, and no one can tell you that you can't survive and even thrive from this.

Please keep us posted.

For what it's worth, here's an interesting history of taxane chemo medication, which is plant-based:

How bark from the Pacific yew tree improved the treatment of breast cancer

The Pharmaceutical Journal

21 SEP 2011

By Jenny Bryan

Taxane history starts in 1962, when bark from the Pacific yew tree, Taxus brevifolia, was collected as part of the US National Cancer Institute (NCI) natural products screening programme. Samples showed cytotoxic effects and the active molecule was initially called taxol (later renamed paclitaxel). But taxol's structure was not reported until 1971¹ because it proved difficult to characterise, partly because the yield from yew bark was so low.

Subsequent research showed that taxanes worked in a completely different way from other cytotoxic drugs.

They were shown to "over-stabilise" the microtubules that form the structural scaffolding of cells, preventing them from breaking down and reorganising for normal mitosis, thus inhibiting multiplication of cancer cells.²

Adverse publicity about the large numbers of Pacific yews that were being cut down to produce paclitaxel — an estimated three mature trees to treat one cancer patient — led Bristol-Myers Squibb, which had licensed paclitaxel from the NCI, to look for other ways to produce the drug, and plant cell fermentation subsequently replaced the controversial harvesting of yew bark.

By using the needles of the more common European yew, Taxus baccata, to produce docetaxel, Rhône Poulenc Rorer (now Sanofi-Aventis) was able to avoid confrontation with environmental groups.

Briannadawn - I am sorry about your diagnosis. At diagnosis, life is absolutely terrifying and running away seems inviting. I know I wanted to, that is for sure!

My family tried all the alternative treatments for my dad who had Stage 4 pancreatic cancer. Nothing helped - he died. I was an internet cancer expert on alternative treatments from Mexico, Germany, coffee enemas, supplements, wheat grass, Essiac tea, you name it, I knew about it.

So when I was diagnosed with Stage 3 Breast Cancer Her 2 Positive in 2011, I was beyond terrified. I already knew the many alternative treatments didn't work for my dad..

I made up my mind at that point I was going to the best hospital I could go to within 200 miles of my home, and do everything I could to live. My mom was diagnosed less than 2 years later with Stage 1 breast cancer, followed by my sister one year later with Stage 3C breast cancer.

We did EVERYTHING our doctors said at an NCI Designated Cancer Center. We are all alive, thriving, and grateful everyday for life.

Ultimately, it is all your decision and your life. I just wanted to tell you my family's stories.

Sending my best...