Chemotherapy Before Surgery

Honesty, I thought it was strange that the surgeon was calling the shots. After I was diagnosed, I was told that I might have to see an oncologist and possibly have chemo but only after the surgical biopsy revealed the extent of my disease. In my initial stages of fear, panic and conflict, I followed that trail, like a deer in headlights. I was scheduled to have surgery, a double mastectomy and double tram reconstruction; although I am a poor candidate for that procedure. I am relatively thin and very athletic. The plastic surgeon did not explain that my abdominal muscles would be part of the rerouting and that I would not be able to continue my active lifestyle. I would also drop from a 34A/B to ??. They don’t make bras for that…………………,but then, I guess I would not need one :o/ . Anyway, sore subject……. My mother, who lived in another state, broke her hip a few days prior to my scheduled surgery. Everything went on hold as I helped her and I also took it as a sign to have a plan B. I consulted with 2 highly recommended oncologists who essentially said the same thing, “The cancer in your breast is not going to kill you, it is the cells that get away that might.” SOLD! The core biopsy sample that was initially taken when I was diagnosed was submitted for oncotyping and the results showed that chemo was indicated. The beauty of having the chemo up front was that we would be able to actually see if it would work, by watching the tumor shrink, and if so, we knew it would be getting any cells that might have escaped, as opposed to hoping. This also gave me time to help my mother AND explore my surgical options. I had 4 rounds of Taxotere and Cytoxan followed by a nipple sparing mastectomy 4 weeks after my last blast. The original tumor, invasive ductal carcinoma, was 2.6 cm at the time of my diagnosis. When it was removed after chemo, it was a nonviable scar. It was GONE, totally disappeared :o) Fortunately, I did have a mastectomy because they found a totally different microscopic but invasive tumor when the tissue was biopsied, invasive lobular carcinoma. Fortunately, also, all of the 11 lymph nodes that were removed were clear :o). Having chemo up front was the best decision for me and according to my oncologist, the standard practice in Germany.