LEFT BREAST RADS. SE?

purple32

HI all,

I am wondering if any of you who have had radiation to the left breast had particular SEs related to the heart/lungs. Any shortness of breath or lung issues etc ?

I am especially interested in anyone who had such SEs  and had a PRE existing pulmonary issue ( as I have )

My RO says they will be giving me steroids several weeks after I finish.  is this common?

I appreciate all comments.

Many Thanks!

MarieKelly

I completely understand your concerns, but didn't have any radiation to the left breast because I refused it. Being a life-long smoker, my research told me that radiation to any portion of the lung field of someone with a smoking history can cause a significant risk of developing a future lung cancer - far above and beyond the already existing risk just from being a smoker. Since I had only just turned 49 (but already in natural menopause) at the time and my BC was only grade 1, my fear was that I would likely live long enough to have that risk become a reality.  In addition, I had serious concerns about left sided radiation because I have a damaged mitral valve with valve regurgitation and even the slightest chance that the radiation would hit the mitral valve might have been somewhat disasterous for me in the long run as well. The radiation oncologist didn't bother to mention either of these concerns when I met with him for a consult and even worse, blew off my concerns as if they were complete non-issues.  I said 'no thanks' and walked out of his office over 8 years ago and all is well so far. My surgeon got very wide, clear margins with my lumpectomy and also took out the biopsy track and I have no doubt that it's to his credit that I've done so well since I also refused any hormonal therapy.  I just got the results of my 8 year mammogram yesterday and all is still great - no recurrence and best of all, no residual tissue effect from any radiation. The breast looks exactly like the other one and even on the mammogram itself, you can't even tell there was ever any surgery done on it.

In light of your concerns about potential worsening of pre-existing lung disease, I'm telling you all this so that you'll know that refusal can be a reasonable treatment option in some circumstances, but not one that you're likely to be offered since radiation after lumpectomy for any kind of invasive BC is the current standard of care.  Best wishes to you.  

purple32

Thank you!

You're very brave (and lucky of course!) as I would like to make the same choices, but am afraid to.

I go to my appts. this WED.  I have copd / was a heavy ex smoker. I was dx 13 yrs ago.  Of course I havent smoked since ,  (that'll do it !)  but it is a real and progressive disease process. I am hoping not to be put on oxygen until sometime in my  70s if " all goes well'  <but its really a crap shoot>  not sometime 3 mos from now due to rads.

PLS explain what you mean by this:

"also took out the biopsy track"

????

Thank you

akmom

Hi purple32

I think MarieKelly is referring to surgical removal of tissues that would have been in contact with the instrument that removed the biopsy sample - the "track" along which the biopsied cells travelled on the way out. You may find the following thread helpful:

http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/111/topic/752083?page=2#idx_31

purple32

Hi akmom

Sorry I hadnyt seen this post.  Yes, I have PM'd Marie since and I now understand.  Unfortunately, I knew nothing about the track or seeding with my LX.  In any case, I did skip rads.