Skin changes since January 27

That's a shame, Coolrunnings. It's wrong for healthcare providers to assume you're malingering just because you have mental health issues. I have bipolar disorder and I have had ER docs assume that I was drug-seeking (cuz, you know how well antidepressants go with opiods.)

The thing about cancer is that it's not just one disease. That's why we have so few cures. Different cancers act in different ways. Some are very aggressive, fast-growing, and require aggressive treatment. Others are more indolent, hanging around for years before making their presence known. Obviously, those cancers don't need the "bazooka treatment." That's why you'll see so many different treatment paths for breast cancer.

My breast cancer is not the same as someone else's, even if we have similar stats. My sister had breast cancer 6 years ago. She had a lumpectomy and radiation. She came through with flying colors. My experience was much different. I required chemo and bilateral mastectomy. My road to recovery was fraught with complications, but I'm all healed now. The only thing our treatment protocols have in common is that we take anti-hormonal medication to eliminate estrogen production.