Beginning 25 sessions of radiation treatments after Masectomy

SelenaM

Hi everyone just new to this blog hoping someone out there can give me some advice. Diagnosed with Invasive Ductal Carcinoma T3N0M0. Tumor was large 6 cm. Oncologist and Radiologist are recommending radiation treatment. I am very scared because my breast cancer is on my left breast. They say that there will definitely be scarring to the lung and could be scaring to the heart. My onco test came back with a 7% recurrence rate over 10 years. I also had a mastectomy with clear margins and no lymph node involvement. Does anyone have a similar diagnosis and if so how was radiation? I know radiation would be best but the side effects are terrible.

ChiSandy

Selena, did your MO and RO explain why, with clean margins and no positive nodes, you still need radiation even after mastectomy? Was it that the tumor was deep and close to the chest wall? If you don’t get a clear and credible answer, politely tell them you intend to seek a second opinion.

IMHO, never agree to a treatment unless and until you are given a credible reason for it in plain language you understand. Your team works for you, and you are their boss—not vice versa. They have no authority over you. They may indeed know what’s best, but they’d better be able to explain why.

Kicks

Did the Rads Dr mention using a 'bolus'? (Think that's the term my Dr used.). It was sort a squarish pad that was 'krinkly with holes in it that limited the depth of penetration. It was layed on the mast. area but was removed for neck, underarm and back areas.

My mast. was right so rads were on right side. There have been no issues with lung or other damage/scars internally. I do have some 'good' skin scars from the burning that happened after end of rads though. But as said it's healed and nothing to be concerned about.

I do agree that make sure that you insist on your DR explaining what is suggested for TX in words YOU UNDERSTAND! Keep asking until YOU understand - even if the DR gets perturbed for having to explain it in 'simplier'/understandable word - not Doctor orientated words/phrases.

SelenaM

Thank you so much for responding. My RO and MO did say they recommend radiation because of the size of the tumour and because it was close to my chest wall. However, when I went in to meet with my RO again (because I was confused) he said that I would have to decide what I would like to live with possible cancer recurrence or the possible side effects of radiation? He also said to go with my gut feeling. What is that? I couldn't believe he said that. (My gut tells me not to) He said it's just an added insurance, whether I wanted it or not. My medical oncologist told me that radiation would be a walk in the park. I will definitely make another appointment and try to make the best decision for me. Some people say you have to trust your doctor because they deal with this everyday jhowever sometimes I feel like we are just categorized in groups and given treatments we don't need.

SelenaM

Thank you for your information regarding the pad with the holes. I will definitely ask them. So radiation wasn't that bad for you. So glad to hear that. I will definitely be persistant and set up another appointment with my RO. Keep you posted.

minatabo

Hey SelenaM,

My diagnosis and situation is similar to yours. Double mastectomy clear margins, T2N0M0, no nodes, Grade 2, but one thing different is they found a rare LVI.
I was put in the grey zone whether I need rads or not - and too, the radiation oncologist left it up to me to decide (I really think its to cover their behind, so they can say they've offered and explained everything to the patient but the patient decide to .....)

Anyhows. I decided on rads. Primarily because of age, large size tumor, and (this stupid) LVI.
I too am terrified of the side effects - but I thought I'll give this monster my all and hopefully done everything to get rid of it.

A question for everyone - since my nodes were negative, she only suggested chest wall radiation (no axilla). But for the LVI, she said i could do the supraclavicular area if I wanted, but not necessary. (See again, leaving it up to me !!!) But she also stated there's a low risk of esophageal cancer, lymphadema, and/or brachial plexus damge . Has anyone done rads to supraclavicular area because of LVI, not because of positive nodes?