To have the op or try alternative

I'll be blunt - someone has got to say it:   You are throwing away your chances.  All of them of in the end.

You could have have had a lumpectomy, now it is mastectomy.  

My understanding is that most microcalcifications are indeed benign, BUT radiologists can tell if they look benign or suspicious.  Based on what you've said it sounds as if they think yours look suspicious.   A big area of suspicious microcalcifications in the same breast as invasive cancer means a much much higher chance that they are malignant.  

But you are refusing even to have them biopsied.  You've told the onc no because you've done your research.  Jeepers!

Clear nodes on US means nothing - US has lots of false negatives.  Sometimes suspicious nodes can be picked up on US in which case they are biopsed, but many cancerous nodes do not show up. This is why they do the sentinal node stuff

You may have had a very good prognosis initially.  For all I know, It may still be fairly good but you now need more invasive/aggressive treatment.  

But the longer you delay the worse your prognosis becomes and the treatment needed becomes more and more aggressive.  

Untreated cancer can spread both locally and distantly.  Untreated cancer is ultimately fatal but victims often survive for several years.  In the developing world, people who do not have access to modern treatments die needlessly from untreated cancer.

You may consider this to be your choice, but your life is not yours to throw away if you have friends and family.

I may be criticised for being so direct and not being more "supportive" of your "personal choice", but so be it.

PS  Steve Jobs also decided to delay surgery in order to try "alternative treatments".  He ended up having surgery too late and died regretting this decision and wanting others to learn from his mistake. 

http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2011/oct/21/steve-jobs-cancer-surgery-regret 

I am sorry but my family come first and I would never refuse treatment  , I too researched but I know my  Oncologist  and Breast cancer doctor are correct  , I know I have a lot to go through but I will still see my daughter grow up  , I was told not too research , but I only researched my treatment  , I have chemo ,surgery then radiation to get  , then reconstruction to get , what is getting me through ,even the days I am emotional ,are my family ,friends and new friends I have met here  . It is your decision  ,but please think about all the pros and cons  .xx

Hi I have just found this site this week and have been reading all the posts - I am so glad to have found this group. It is wonderful to know that women are supporting each other through our breast cancer journeys. I do empathise so much with the dilemma of what to do about treatment choices. No easy answers. I have  Grade 3  ER positive HER2 positive. I had a mastectomy of right breast last month and am due to start chemo and then Herceptin on 13th November followed by Rads and tamoxifen. I am recovering pretty well from the surgery, except can't sleep very well even with lots of pillows as I can't lie on my side - any tips? I have been struggling with accepting that I need all the followup treatments but am now convinced, partly because of reading all the comments from this group. Thanks to all. I'm not sure how to post comments, hope this works??

Hi, sleeping is not easy but if you were given or could get a small heart shaped pillow and use the point to just prop in under the small of your back to relieve the pressure and to tilt you sideways slightly it really does help.

Hope all goes well with your treatment 

Karri xx

Hey Barbaraberry glad you have found us. I'm a grade 3 aggressive HER2 positive too. But no mastectomy as my surgeon said because I have an ample bosom, he could wok with it so that I didn't need one.

Lol Nice being told by a doctor you got a nice rack when ya feeling like crap is good lol.

What is sleep?

I have not slept properly in 17mths. My doctor has prescribed me sleepers but they don't work, I have tried pillows and no pillows.

My hubby put pillows under the mattress on the side I sleep so it raised it slightly. Then put pillows behind my back so I didn't roll over to much then made a sausage out of a quilt and put it under the sdide I couldn't sleep on. I put my leg and arm over it like I was hugging it and tried to sleep like that. I did manage to get a few hours of sleep but I also have other illnesses that do prevent me from sleeping.

Give it a go hun

Keep up the fight ppl xxxx 

Thanks so much Karri, I will try a heart shaped pillow for sleeping. Hugs, Berry x

Thanks very much for your reply to my post.
What you say about one step at a time is such good advice. It is difficult to
keep it in mind sometimes especially when things feel overwhelming. Now that I
have accepted the need for chemo I am feeling afraid but also trying to get
mentally prepared for it. Yes please let's keep in touch as we go along. I wish
you all the very best for your first chemo on Thursday. I will be thinking of
you. Please let me know how you are doing. Berry x