rads or no rads

hondagirl

Hello!  I am new to the site.  I recently had a bilateral mastectomy mid January in hopes to avoid radiation . I was told that I would not need it.  However, my surgery pathology came back with a less than 1mm margin of DCIS.  My breast surgeon insists they do not leave fat behind and that she had even cut down to the fascia.  She says there really isn't any where else for it to go.  She had even contacted the pathologist to discuss the possibility that there was an error in acquiring and evaluating the specimen which may have shown a false positive.  Unfortunately, she has to recommend seeking a radiation oncologist opinion given the margin.  I have spoken with numerious docs who are all on the fence with the expection of one who thinks I should have radiation given my age at 38.  However, I am diabetic and that throws a whole other set of issues into the mix.  Any one else have any similarities to the diagnosis.  I would be interested to hear what your docs recommendations were.  Thanks for sharing!

bdavis

I am confused... You had a Mx and a very small amt of DCIS was found... so why would you get radiation?? My oncologist told me that if one has aMX, they only get radiation if they have 3-4 nodes involved or a larger tumor... like more than 3-4cm.

NannaBaby

Do it if it was offered.  You might regret not doing it.  1mm is very close! It only takes 1 residual cell to reappear.

redsoxfan

Hi, hondagirl.

When I chose a lumpectomy, I knew at the least I would have radiation.  Like you, I had a close, not a positive, posterior margin.  The radiologist took this into consideration when planning my dose, angle, type, and number of treatments.

This might help you:  http://www.breastcancer.org/symptoms/path_report/ask_expert/question_09.jsp

From what you have shared, and at your age, radiation seems reasonable and appropriate. 

Good luck.

God bless us all.