lumpectomy (Radiation or Not?)

Seester

Recovering from lumpectomy July 2 on left breast.

ILC (invasive lobular carcinoma) 1.1 cm Good margins 2 lymph nodes Clear. Stage 1 Grade 2. Age 58.

Estrogen receptors.

Made it through all that. Do i really need radiation? How about just homone treatment. Scared of the long & or short term side effects to heart, lungs & bones. And i have read hormone treatment can cause bone thinning as well. Scared a bit. What to do????? Maybe nothing??????

What do you all think?

corky60

The standard treatment after a lumpectomy is radiation. I had IDC with a lesion so small that no malignancy was detected according to the post-op pathology report. It must have been removed with the stereotactic biopsy. I still had rads and will start Aromasin next month. I was told that there was a 40 per cent chance of recurrence in the same breast without rads. Breast cancer is sneaky, it can bypass the lymph nodes and enter the blood. Now that you're a member of this club that no one wants to join there is lots to learn. I am still learning and that's a good thing. Read more on this site, everyone is super helpful!

Seester

Bypass the lymph nodes?? Huh?

How would it enter blood stream?

corky60

My understanding is that since the tumor has an excellent blood supply, some cancer cells can leave the tumor and enter the blood. Sorry, not a very elegant description. Good luck with your research and don't forget to discuss your concerns with your doctor.

ali68

Hi Hun, I'm a year out from chemo, Lumpectomy, rads and Tamoxifen.

Have you just had Lumpectomy? No chemo. If it was me I would have the rads if you haven't had chemo only because you have grade 2 which is on the fence.



Good luck, rads won't be as bad for you as you have clear nodes.

Seester

Have had no chemo, considering only Rads & post menopause hormones. Afraid of long term side effects of each.

Does chemo lessen chance of cancer returning ? Shouldn't i have chemo even though i have clear nodes because it can spread through blood stream?

ali68

Hun, to be honest I was a very late stage and grade and needed everything to get clear of cancer. Don't be afraid of rads it's not that bad and it catches any stray cells.

What did your doctors tell you?

Seester

I am happy everything went well for you. I have an appt. with oncologist on July 23. So far I think Rads only.

I guess i don't have much choice, I have to do something. Thanks for being there all the way from the UK.

Seester

Thank you soooo much to learn.

corky60

Hi Seester, there is a whole section on ILC. It seems like the different subcategories of BC are different than each other. Hang in there, we are here for you!

Seester

Has any early stagers tried taking the natural approach after a  lumpectomy and declined Rads & Chemo.

CTMOM1234

Hi Seester - No, absolutely never considered bypassing rads. Breast surgeon laid it out pretty neatly with two options: lumpectomy + rads or mastectomy and I knew I preferred, and was glad to have the option to choose, the former. And that was when I thought it was pure grade 2 dcis. Once the lump. final pathology report stated that a trace (<2 mm) amount of grade 2 idc was detected, I appreciated the added "insurance policy" of zapping out even 1 trace bc cell that might still exist. The lab was quite thorough to find that idc and I think about how sometimes these small things can be missed.

Onc. didn't prescribe chemo (her cutoff was 1 cm of idc) and I declined tamoxifen.

honeybair

Seester,I would definitely have the radiation.  I had DCIS 11 years ago, stage 0 and then had radiation.  From what I understand, radiation today is much more advanced and each session is of shorter duration.  There are no guarantees with having BC never return.  I declined tamoxifen and today wonder if my recurrent cancer is due to my decision at the time.

Wishing you all the best.

dobby

Seester - my mother just had her biopsy.  Results soon but she will do either lumpectomy or mastectomy - I can let you know what we are told after we get the results.  The surgeon who did the biopsy says if she chooses lumpectomy then radiation will go with it.  Will probably consult with a radiation oncologist before deciding; she has similar concerns to yours.  She is afraid of the chemo and the radiation, especially at her age.

Is it possible you can get short course radiation in your case?  Her lump is also about 1cm from what we are told but we will know more, of course, after the results come back.

Seester

I had great margins after surgery, with new diet and exercise, and getting check ups i decided to go this route. If the bc crops it ugly head up again at least i still have options. They can only radiate your breast once. After radiation there no choice but to loose my breast.

I was told i had A 15% chance it would come back. I would like to look at it as a 85% chance that it won't. Looking at the glass half full not half empty. I gathered all the facts and did my research and i feel really good about my decision. Doctors can't make you have radiation. Here is to a new changed lifestyle and diet.