DEAR DR. GOTT: I’m 88 years old and have developed a breast tumor. One doctor wants to do a mastectomy, but another who knows I have carotid-artery disease and is treating me for it advises not to have the surgery but to take Arimidex to try to shrink the tumor.

I value your answer because I read your articles constantly. I feel confused but am an active person who still drives, cooks, and takes care of myself. I’ll wait for a reply in the paper. Thank you.

DEAR READER: I completely understand where each physician is coming from and why you have received two conflicting recommendations. Let’s address the issue of your breast tumor first. Because your doctor (I am assuming an oncologist) wants to perform a mastectomy, he has apparently determined that you have a malignant tumor. [Read more...]