| I am sure you have heard the old saying "Life is a | | | | addressed my next dilemma. Did I opt for the |
| Gamble". Well as of late that saying has new meaning | | | | hormone therapy which lasts 5 yrs? |
| to me. I have had to make many decisions recently | | | | First of all I discovered the hormone therapy does |
| were I had to weigh risks and place some wages on | | | | not work for everyone and I would need to be |
| what I felt was the right breast cancer treatment | | | | tested to see if it could be effective. I looked at my |
| for me. My first big decision, do I have genetic | | | | odds of recurrence without the treatment (5-10%) |
| testing (my sister had breast cancer, might my | | | | compared with treatment (10-20%), costs, having to |
| daughter be at risk?) Lumpectomy or mastectomy? | | | | take another med everyday for 5 yrs AND the likely |
| Next big decision was do I do radiation treatment; | | | | increase in the hot flashes I was already burning up |
| well it didn't seem absolutely necessary since the | | | | with. I decided against it. To me I considered myself |
| cancer was well contained, in its early stages and had | | | | a very low risk for re-occurance so the net benefit |
| clear margins when removed. For my peace of mind I | | | | would be minimal. |
| said yes to radiation just in case there were some | | | | I also have told myself I will eat better, work out |
| rebel cells lurking in my breast. Now to decide the | | | | more, and basically make all the healthy changes I |
| type of radiation therapy, I choose mammosite | | | | can make. I don't smoke and drink in moderation. I |
| therapy. Yes, I would choose it again even after | | | | am quite convinced if I keep incorporating healthy |
| receiving an article I received from a friend sent. In | | | | habits, hopeful words and helpful people in my life I |
| October The New York Times ran a series of articles | | | | have a better chance of living a longer, healthier life. |
| discussing misleading FDA approvals of treatment | | | | Remember, get as much good information as you |
| therapies and specifically cited Mammosite. | | | | can about the choices you need to make, and weigh |
| An email came today from Sandra, a woman who | | | | the odds. Look at yourself and your lifestyle |
| happened not only to have my name but also be my | | | | realistically, change what you can, and stack the deck |
| age, and was recently diagnosed with DCIS. She | | | | in your favor for the outcome you want. |