@enaska1

Hi Joanna, yes, you should do genetic testing before the lumpectomy. I was scheduled for a lumpectomy originally. My breast surgeon ordered genetic testing but felt confident it was going to come back negative. The results were seriously delayed and the surgeon was ready to move ahead anyway. I asked her to please follow-up on the results as there is no reason to order testing if you don't wait for results. We found out I have the BRCA2 mutation the day before my lumpectomy and she was stunned. The lumpectomy and IORT were cancelled as I now opted for a double mastectomy hoping I'd never deal with another lump. It was stage 1. It's worth testing so you can make the most informed decision. I also found out 5 years later that I also have the CHEK2 mutation, but they didn't check for that originally.

If you have radiation therapy, seek out state-of-the-art equipment. I had 37 radiation treatments when my cancer came back in my chest wall and pectoral muscle (right side) 7 years later. I was worried about my lungs, but they said the new equipment is so precise, it keeps the radiation from going too deep and wouldn't hit my lungs. That was almost 3 years ago and it didn't impact my lungs. My skin broke down after about 20-25 treatments, but healed up just fine. No residual effects from radiation.

Best of luck to you in all this. It's a tough process, but you'll feel better once a treatment plan is in place and you can just get to it. For the weeks leading up to the final plan, I felt like Bill Murray in Groundhog Day, just living the same day over and over again -- consult, testing, waiting, consult, testing, waiting, etc. It was exhausting. I was so happy when surgery day finally arrived and I knew I was on the road toward better health and could get back to a normal life soon. Prayers for you. Things will get better. 🙂