Trying to decide if I will choose radiation & rx femara.

so23

I am 68 years old & I need lots of information please!   Jan. 15, 2013, I was diagnosed with Invasive Ductal Carcinoma, left breast, .6 cm lump (1/4"), estrogen +++ & progesterone++.  I had a lumpectomy & reconstructive surgery on Feb 4, 2013.  My final pathology report was called "a thing of beauty" - clear margins, no cancer in nodes or right breast.  I was hoping for no radiation, or possibly only 5 days.  The rad onc said the 5 day is not an option because I had reconstructive surgery.  The med onc wants me to go on Femara after radiation.  I do not want to do either...side effects, my age, fear, lots of reasons.   Due to the great pathology report + the breast cancer surgeon removing 2x more around the lump than would normally be taken with a .6 cm, (communication error re: if I was also having breast reduction in addition to reconstruction), another doc told me she did not think I needed to have radiation.   That doc is also recommending testosterone instead of the med Femara.  The MRI, etc. to plan the radiation is scheduled for March 19, with radiation scheduled for April 1.  I just read a study about how some older women may not need radiation after lumpectomy, however, it was specific to women 70 or older (I am 68).  Thoughts of yes or no haunt me every day & I want to hear from others.   Thank you, Sharon

    

CarolynVM

I am 65 and never considered that my age played a role in my treatment.  I have at least 20 years of life remaining and I suspect that you do also.  Would you actually make a decision based on the idea that those 20 years aren't worth fighting for?  I also had a great path report and theoretically I could have chosen to stop after the surgery.  I chose lumpectomy, am close to halfway through radiation and will start some type of hormone treatment when radiation is completed.  Radiation is no big deal although I don't enjoy it.  I would have preferred the five-day course also but it wouldn't work with the placement of my tumors.  I've got some tenderness and soreness but it's going all right.  I'm more concerned about the hormone treatments so I'll talk with my MO and we'll choose what sounds best to me.  If that isn't good for me, I'll try something else.  There are a lot of options out there.  Get more medical opinions and don't choose ANYTHING until you believe it's right for you.  Cancer is not an emergency and does not require instant choices.