Urgent advice seeking: Surgery vs. Radiation Therapy

tina98

I have been diagnosed with stage 0 breast cancer and a surgery was done in June 2011. The pathologist found that the cells are moderately active (Grade 2). While I was getting ready to receive the radiation treatment, the mammagraph discovered a 1 mm linear calification. Biopsy was conducted with negative result from the surrounding tissues since the doctors could hit the exact spot even after 11 attempts.

 The surgeon told me that I can have another surgery to remove the 1 mm calcification but the radiotherapy has to be deferred for at least another 4 weeks.

 If I choose to the start the radiation treatment, the surgery can only be conducted at least 6 months after the whole treatment is over.

 Looking at the timeline, 3 months have already lapsed after the surgery.

 SHOULD I GET THE SURGERY FIRST OR START THE RADIATION THERAPY RIGHT A WAY?

 Will there be a problem delaying the radiotherapy for another month since the cells are Grade 2?

 I have to decide by tomorrow. I cannot take the stress anymore.

All advice will be appreciated.

Luah

tina98: Wish I could help, but the circumtances are unfamiliar to me. You might try PMing "beesie" - a resident expert on DCIS.

I'm wondering though, have you consulted with a radiation oncologist? Would radiation take care of the calcification?... and if not, would it make sense to have surgery then? Grade 2 is medium aggressive, but so far you have no invasive cancer, which is good. I think they like to do rads within a certain timeframe - 3 months seems long to me, but again a RO could advise.  

tina98

Thank you for your advice, Luah.

I have spoken with the oncologist and he suggested me to have the surgery first.

I also heard that the radiation surgery should be done within 3 months after the surgery but the oncologist told me that it's worth deferring the therapy and have the calcification removed first. This will put me to 5 months after the first surgery before the radiotherapy starts.

 I am thinking whether I should wait further because of something which may be normal (the calcification) and delay the radiotherapy on something which has already been confirmed to have medium aggressive cancer cells.