well, here's the thing with breast cancer...it LOVES to spread. It loves to spread to your spine, your bones, your brain, your lungs, you name it. The reason they want to get the margins of the tumour (which in this case means to take off both breasts) is because if the cancer spreads, your life expectancy will be reduced greatly. Chemo is not enough to totally prevent the cancer from spreading if there is a lot of it leftover (I know the doctor told you that there are microscopic cancer cells left, but you have to remember that the entire problem of cancer starts with one tiny cell which can only be seen with a microscope!). So while chemo can't effectively clean up the whole breast tumour, it can kill the last few thousands of cells floating around if the cancer is removed surgically.
I have a feeling that the other doctor you will be talking to will say the exact same thing.
[This message has been edited by projapoti (edited 08-26-2003).]
| 
didnt get it all....now what???? 
Linear Mode
