I was very positive but am not scared and confused.

Hello Mari,

Welcome to our community. I'm glad you've found us.

There are many women here to connect with and gain support from. I understand how difficult -- and scary -- your situation is, and we'll do our best to help you through it. I'm sure you'll hear from others on our site soon, especially those who have valuable personal insight and advice to share with you. Hang in there.

Write again soon to keep us posted on how you're doing.

Best,

Maria

Mari, it's OK to be scared - this is a scary thing you're going through. But SO SO many of us have gone through it, each with our own personal challenges, things that frighten us deeply... and you know what? Time heals. It really does. Understand that the fear you feel now won't last; your spirit will kick in and you'll simply move on and keep moving.

As for perhaps not getting radiation - while they offer it as a matter of course to everyone, I think maybe it's the part that has the least effect on your chance of recurrence. Especially since you had a mastectomy. They'd be irradiating, what, your chest wall? It's different for women who have a lumpectomy, because they get their breast tissue irradiated; but for those of us with no more breast tissue, radiation is really a "just to make absolutely sure" treatment; the surgery and chemo did MUCH more to make you better than the radiation would. So if, after weighing the risks, you're unable to have it - OK, move on. Try to stay positive and believe that good things will happen to you.

One thing you might try, if you want to pursue radiation of some sort, is clinicaltrials.gov, a Web site where they list all the trials going on. Youmight take a look and see if anything pertains to your condition and possible treatment? Because then you might be able to be treated for free. Best of luck - I'm sending you my best wishes, Mari. Hang in there; you'll come out the other side of this. We're with you- PJH