Radiation VS Implants

karabesque

HI,

I have just been told that I need to have radiation. I have already had a bi-lateral mastectomy and 8 rounds of chemo. My plastic surgeon has told me that because of the elevation of where we live, he has a 50% success rate with implants. My reoccurance rate is 30% and radiation will decrease this rate by 2/3 or to 10%. Also, they want to take out the TEs I already have in and then, only if my skin is okay, in another year we can try the implants. I also have the option of fat grafting.

My problem is I am so done with all of the treatments and cancer itself and am leaning towards refusing the radiation and just getting the implants and live a clean, healthy, preventative lifestyle. My cancer was ER/PR positive and I know that the hormones can be controlled.

Has any one refused radiation and opted for a preventative lifestyle? If so, what are you doing and how is it going for you? I appreciate all feedback, on either side of the fence. I need guidance and some help deciding on this major choice.

Thanks in Advance!

KBeee

I had BMX in 2013, was node negative, ER/PR+ and had a pretty low recurrence rate (oncotype). I did 4 rounds of TC chemo then and took my Tamoxifen regularly. I eat a very healthy diet, and am a runner, and exercise daily. My chance of recurrence was very low. Here I am though. I had a local recurrence early this year. I had not one, but 2 tumors this time. I never had rads in 2013 because of BMX and node negative status. Controlling the hormones and living clean does not guarantee no recurrence. I just finished 16 rounds of chemo and 30 rounds of radiation. I can say that though most people have a pretty easy time of radiation, I was one of the unlucky ones; I won't sugar coat it. Chemo was easy for me, but radiation was hell the last week and the week after. Despite that, I am glad I did it and feel that had I had radiation 2 years ago, I would not have had to put my life on hold for the past 10 months. Dealing with cancer the first time is hard. Dealing with it the second time is exponentially harder, especially mentally. What helped me was knowing that I had treated it absolutely as aggressively as I could given my tumor characteristics. I do know that I could face a second cancer years later because of rads, and also face other issues, but I had to take care of the cancer I had now first and deal with the if/come if it ever comes.

It is not an easy decision and you have to make the decision that you feel is best for you. As long as you can live with your decision either way, then that's what's most important. I just want to caution that though a lot of people (including doctors) seem to think a local recurrence is not a big deal, it really is a very big deal...especially after a mastectomy. I know implants can be problem after rads for mastectomy. Perhaps the PS could consider a DIEP (I was not a candidate for that, but I had my implants in place back in 2013). Best of luck with whatever you decide.