I was diagnosed at age 63 with Grade 2-ER & Pro+-HER negative. My one sister who is 2 yrs younger had same type of tumor found when she was 52 on Right breast. Mine was found in Left breast. She has been in remission after lumpectomy & radiation & Tamoxifen & Aromatase. I felt strongly that I wanted a bilateral mastectomy so I wouldn't have to have radiation or any further fears of more cancer. My surgeon at Mayo-Rochester Dr Ratz convinced me & my husband that the lumpectomy could be out patient & would require 6 weeks of recuperation, whereas the mastectomy could be 6 months to a year or more of recuperation & required 2-3 days of hospitalization. They found during lumpectomy I also had low grade DCIS so had wide margins but all neg & also 2 Sentinel nodes taken that were neg. After 15 radiation targeted to left breast only, I feel better than I have for years. I continue to take the Tamoxifen & will for 5 years. Only side affect I have had is inability to wear pieced earrings due to itching & burning. I am very happy that I changed my mind & hopefully my outcome will be similar to my little sister. We are the only one out of 5 girls & one boy to have breast cancer. I have & will continue with prayers & yearly mammograms & close watching every 6 months by Breast Clinic nurses.
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