Post Lumpectomy Radiation Treatment

renee6832

had small lump removed in right breast 2 weeks ago ... was given a clean bill of health .... now am asked to undergo a 3 1/2 week,  267 cenrigray per treatment daily therapy ... Is this common, and what side effects should I expect? Seek second opinion, or is this common followup after being diagnosed as cancer-free?

SallyS70

renee, did your surgeon talk with you about radiation?  My surgeon explained to me why she would expect me to do radiation if she did a lumpectomy.  Every breast cancer is different, so treatments are different.  I am just suggesting that your surgeon may be able to give you the reason for radiation in your case.  My radiation oncologist also gave me a lot of information during my initial consultation with him.  Making decisions can be difficult and confusing, so I wish you good information and piece of mind.

Manu14

If you have IDC (invasive ductal carcinoma) it's pretty much standard care to be recommended some type of radiation following lumpectomy. While the surgeon and pathology reports may not have detected any other cancer cells following surgery, it's impossible to say that one stray undetectable cell might not exist in your breast; and that is often the rationale for recommending radiation. The grade of your cancer plays into decision-making also.

If your cancer was "in situ"  meaning it hadn't escaped from the milk duct glands, the physicians may also recommend radiation but it isn't always considered as automatically as if it were an invasive cancer. It sounds like you need to have a more ion-depth discussion with your physicians.