Anyone in the "Grey zone" for radiation?

minatabo

Hello,


Has anyone been told my their doc they are in the "grey zone" for radiation?
I had a recent lumpectomy confirming bilateral breast DCIS and IDC. I plan to do a mastectomy after chemo (TC x4).

My breast surgeon told me that with mastectomy, i likely will NOT need radiation.However, my radiation doctor thinks I in the 'grey zone' and might need it even with mastectomy, chemo, and hormonal therapy. I'm so confused why!

So I found from the website a few info: These factors are associated with a high risk of recurrence after mastectomy. Radiation may be recommended if any of these factors are present:

The cancer is 5 centimeters or larger (I'm at 4.4cm).The cancer had invaded the lymph channels and blood vessels in the breast (I have "A rare lymphovascular embolus"....does rare mean positive?)The removed tissue has a positive margin of resection (i had "close" margin of 1mm, instead of the 2mm they wanted)One or more lymph nodes were involved(my nodes were negative)

If the rad doc thinks I need radiation, I'm scared to decline treatment. But at the same time, with radiation, i have to delay my flap reconstruction by 1-1.5 years (I just want to move on in life!!) . I'm not sure I would want the implants consdiering the exchange surgeries every 10 years and risk of infection

Has anyone been in siimliar situations? What were your decisions? Did you have to change your reconstruction plans/choice with radiation?

Thank you.

Minatabo

misslil

I was in the grey zone / unusual case category on my first BC incidence. The factors then were aggressive grade DCIS, several areas of it, and that my mastectomy to remove it all left a more than typical amount of breast tissue behind.

I opted to do radiation which went very smoothly. I had no recurrence within the years right after that situation, but 8 years out I had a BC diagnosis again last summer on the same side.

My grey zone now is that I still have a mastectomy lol. Additionally I had a lumpectomy on top of my mastectomy (weird) in the area of the remaining tissue. And even with that, do I still have 'excess' breast tissue left that could develop new problems? Possibly. Other unusual/aggravating factors - I had radiation previously to that area. I again have an aggressive type of tumor. I'm 'young-ish' age where they lean more aggressive to avert recurrence. Etc etc.

No decision yet on radiation, but I won't be surprised if that is the final recommendation taking into account that I tolerated it well the first round through. If they recommend it, I will do it as I don't want to be a three-time case for this if it can be avoided, especially after going through a difficult 4-month chemo regime before my surgery last month.

Best wishes with your decision and results.

7of9

Hello,

I was in the grey zone...didn't get rads and recurred 3 1/2 yrs later on Tamoxifin. Sorry to be a downer! I got rads last year, along with surgery, chemo and switching to Arimidex. Rads side effects are nothing to play with. My "foob" on the left / cancer side climbed up my chest and is now at least 1 1/2 inches higher than the other foob - when both I had done "perky" instead of "natural". I can't raise my arm over my head unless pulling from other side and I had 3 broken ribs (I just thought it was the chemo at the time and rads aches!) which healed but hurt like hell for 3 - 4 weeks last year. Still I am only 45 and have a 7 yr old. I wish I had done rads the first time.