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@mkb4435 I read an article cautioning surgeons not to say "we got it all." It is definitely great that margins were clear and lymph nodes were negative, and as you say, you have a really good shot at being cancer free so yay. It is also very possible that you will have some sort of treatment- so let us know.
@auntiephil it is nice to have a trusting attitude, but I got 4 opinions after the first oncologist told me I had HER2+ and would have chemo (from biopsy) and next one said I was HER2-. I was grade 2 or 3 depending on hospital lab and had a low Oncotype which was also confusing so my last opinion retested everything.
@mkb4435 with triple negative you won't have an Oncotype, which is only for ER+, and you won't have tamoxifen or aromatase inhibitors. Let us know if you don't have a treatment or, again, if you do, what it is! When do you see the oncologist?
Replies to "@mkb4435 I read an article cautioning surgeons not to say "we got it all." It is..."
I already met the oncologist - the same week I met the surgeon, as they decided on a recommendation of what to do first. They decided on the surgery first which was fine with me. I'm now recovering from that, as noted elsewhere. I am now scheduled to return to the oncologist in 2-3 weeks. I like her a lot. She is a fellow, having practiced as a pathologist first and now getting additional training to work as an oncologist. Thus she has a sharper knowledge of the pathology behind it all than the average doctor. I am low on most risk factors with the glaring exception of being triple negative.
If the team should recommend against doing chemo, I will seek out a second opinion. (I think they will, BTW, but you never know.) I really don't cherish the idea of having chemo at all but I have read that 40% of triple negative patients have recurrence in the first few years. Even more importantly, IMO, is that the recurrence might not make its appearance in a relatively harmless location like the other breast. It could be in my liver, my brain, my bones. This is the stuff that can kill you in addition to making you suffer a lot in the process. I would rather go through shorter term suffering now, if there's a chance it will protect me later. I know there's no guarantee about anything, including my lifespan, but I would hate to forego the treatment now and possibly finding myself in stage 4 next year, wondering why I didn't do it.
Thanks for caring. I'll keep you posted. It helps to have others who speak the language.
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I’m in Canada. From the mammogram to biopsy to surgery to radiation was within a months timespan. I’m so thankful. I knew the surgeon from previous experience and appointments, I should have probably mentioned that. All in all I am beyond grateful that my treatment was swift, the oncologists took plenty of time to explain everything to me and answer any questions. I just decided not to stress over it and rely on them. It’s the way I got through it, it worked for me. Perhaps not for everyone. I’m usually asking a million questions, and experiencing high anxiety, but for some reason, I just let it go this time.