I had chemo first by choice. I was diagnosed my daughter’s senior year of high school and I didn’t want to be sick for it. I wanted to get the hardest part over first. I also wanted time for my genetic testing to come back. That was negative thankfully. I was triple positive. I had AC for 4 rounds every 2 weeks then Taxol for 10 weeks every week. It was supposed to be 12 but I had a horrible rash from Taxol so they canceled my last 2 rounds. Herceptin/Perjeta was during Taxol as well every 3 weeks. March 30th, 2017 was my last chemo. I continued with Herceptin/Perjeta every 3 weeks until January 18, 2018. My bilateral mastectomy was May 5th with reconstruction started. Expanders for 3 months and implants were done this past October. After just my second round of chemo you could no longer physically feel my tumor. So as hard as chemo was I was glad I did it first because I got to see it working. At the time of my surgery there was no sign of any cancer so here’s hoping it stays gone. I did not have anything in my lymph nodes. Because of this and the fact I had a mastectomy over a lumpectomy I did not require radiation. I do not regret having chemo first. It was the right choice for me. After having my port for 14 months it finally comes out this Friday.

I did chemo first. I’m triple positive and had HPTC. I got results from my genetic testing during the chemo series which was all negative (happy surprise) The chemo shrank my tumor more than 50% so I was encouraged to have a lumpectomy instead of mastectomy. The lumpectomy was a very easy and now I’m starting radiation within a few days. It was great getting the chemo out of the way since it was the hardest part for me.

Hi Kris2017, great news on your MRI results!!! Here is a really short version of my treatment: I had chemo first also, then BMX. I had lymph node involvement. After surgery, the pathology showed NED (no evidence of disease). I did not have to have radiation, for which I was very grateful. Exchange surgery (silicone) 3 months later. Finished Herceptin minus one day of being exactly a year since 1st chemo. Topped, LOL, it all off with 3D Aerola Tattoos, which are awesome, BTW! I highly recommend them instead of the nipple surgery.

It is a long journey indeed. Keep that positive attitude and you will be finished before you know it!!

Hugs and Prayers,
Darlene

Thanks for response. I have completed the chemo rounds and herceptin has moved to 1 every 3 weeks. Talked with surgeon, next chat is with plastic surgeon next week. Then hopefully I'll know how exactly I'll want to proceed.

I did chemo first, lumpectomy and getting ready to start radiation in a week or two.
They say Stage 1 for me since chemo was first, they can only guess what stage.
My tumor was small. Caught it early. Since i do mamograms every year.
So chemo first to shrink it
Lumpectomy to take the rest of it, which it did shrink. So no big surgery for me.
Then radiation is last to kill any remaining cells in that area.
Are you getting a port ?