Sorry, I must have given the wrong impression. I did have breast cancer (36 years old) and had a Radical Mastectory. The lymph nodes were removed at this time. I also had a simple mastectory two years later. Prophylactic surgery, not cancer, but no radiation or chemo, or follow-up medication. The major difference was there were no out of hospital biopsies, or mamograms, or MRI"s. These had not been discovered or in use for breast cancer. If a lump were discovered of unknown origin, you were hospitalized taken to surgery, the lump removed and sent immediately to the lab, and if it were positive for cancer, breast was removed right then and there. If the lump were found to be negative, the incision was sewn-up and the patient was sent home that day. There was no typing, staging, etc. In some ways it was easier, but definitely not better for the patient. Y ou did not know if it were stage 3 or 4, you just assumed it was gone and you were cured. But, unfortunately, there was no treatment for a tumor after surgery. Thank goodness, today there are so many options for women, and the life expectancy is getting close to 100% without all the disfigurement of the past.
Gina5009