Has anyone turned down radiation?

cathiweaver5

I want to turn down radiation. I'll have a double MX, done with chemo. Tumor removal showed pre cancer all around, but nothing in the nodes. I don't know how close to the chest wall the tumor was, but I do know it was right over the heart. What questions do I take to the RO in order to understand why I need radiation.

bdavis

Your tumor was 5cm, and for that reason they may want the radiation... but I would ask at least 2 RO what the standard is. I had BMX and could skip rads and had a micromet in node.

Tryingtofightitoff

Hi everyone,

I am a care giver to my mom and new here. She has ovc and breast cancer. We are done with her chemo and surgery. She was on carbo+docetaxyl and herceptin (she is her2 positive). Since they did breast conserving surgery we are asked to do radiation. I have been reading about IMRT which is most advanced and am wondering a)how relevant it is considering she does not have a tumor anymore and b)since we are anyways giving her herceptin then why do we need to give her radiation? post chemo her ultrasound shows NED and her pet ct before the surgery showed NED for the breast. I am so worried about her heart/lungs being affected/possibility of another cancer that I am really inclined to say NO to radiation. I just dont know as talking to doctors is only going to give me more grief if i agree with them or disagree with them. Has anyone regretted not taking radiation? Please ladies, your views and experiences will help me. I will ofcourse check out the responses to the other posts. I just want to know how people respond to my situation as I am really concerned about her and want to do my best for my mom.

bdavis

I too was concerned about heart and lung damage and had a lumpectomy.. I chose to have a mx instead of radiation, but had I not had the mx I would have for sure had radiation as it reduces ones risk of local recurrance by 45%... chemo does not affect local recurrance... it is for systemic recurrance... so my 2 cents, if she does not have further surgery, I recommend the rads.

Puccini

I had 32 rounds of radiation. I looked into opting out but I was told that because I am very young
I must do the radiation to lessen my chances of recurrance. I am 34. Radiation was so easy and
I am glad I did it. Again, it is a personal choice, I wouldnt opt out of it. I think every possible treatment is worth doing to reduce your chances of recurrance. 

purple32

I did

recurrence or new cancer now .... same breast. almost 8 yrs out NO ALs either JUST lumpectomy.

Skip at your own risk. I could NOT do the als at all- have now broken 6 bones with fill blown osteoporosis . NO regrets on skipping the als AT ALL>. The rads ? I dunno',

If you are healthy in all ways I would have done it but so personal a chopice.