Conflicted on Radiation Recommendation

Persianrlr

Just received recommendation to have radiation and I'm conflicted and need stories/advice.

July 2019 DX with IDC in left breast, 3cm, against chest wall, triple negative. Started chemo AC+T (taxol) immediately (4 AC, 4 T). After 3rd AC, had US and tumor was a quarter of original size. Chemo was working!!

December 2019 I elected to have DMX. 3 sentinel nodes removed. All pathology in nodes and tissues negative. Surgeon couldn't find any reminisce of tumor. Had immediate reconstruction with silicone implants under chest wall. Was originally told if radiation was decided to be needed based of pathology during surgery, implants would not be placed. I woke up with implants, therefore, believed radiation not needed.

Surgeon and oncologist follow up appts agreed no radiation needed. The “tumor board" met and RO brought up my case, and now the board (which includes my surgeon and oncologist, as well as 5 others) is making recommendation for radiation.

Their new reasoning is my age (47) and because tumor location (chest wall). I've been researching the heck out of this and I'm on the fence. My chemo was very effective and I was told cPR. Radiation has numerous side effects I'd rather not have if I can avoid it. Especially considering my implant is already in. Yet, I don't want this to come back and be like, “hey dummy, if you had radiation, it wouldn't be back".

Open to all thoughts!

gb2115

I think because it was up against the chest wall it's hard for them to assume they got all the tumor cells off. So radiation would destroy anything left behind. Mine was close to the wall too, but I had lumpectomy so radiation was a given.

Edited because apparently I forgot how to spell.

JJOntario

I had implants (breast augmentation) 10 months prior to dx and did lumpectomy and rads. My implant does have some tightening but is still okay and Iam having some issues with rad side effects but ultimately you have to know that there is no perfect decision...only the one that is right for you.

redhead403

My plastic surgeon told me that there is always a degree of fibrosis after radiation. I went straight to implants and later found out that the margin (superior)  wasn't clear. I'm taking pentoxyphyline and Vitamin E to keep fibrosis at bay   If you decide to do radiation, check with  radiation oncologist about it. I was pissed when I found out that I needed radiation after Bilateral mastectomy 

Persianrlr

Thanks for the reply - if you don’t mind me asking, what side effects are you experiencing from the radiation

Persianrlr

Thanks for reply - have you had any issues with the radiation and your implants??

Beesy_The_Other_One

Persianrlr,

I agree with gb2115 above that it's the location of the tumor (along with your age, as you mention) that's driving their suggestion for radiation. I also had a pCR. Two weeks after the biopsy, an MRI showed the dang thing had grown from 1.5 cm to 7 cm and was invading my nipple. Radiation was required for me because of this explosive growth, but my RO told me that the real concern was the invasion into the nipple and potentially, the skin. I did not do reconstruction, but did every treatment and consider radiation the easiest part--and they considered me ready to start radiation three weeks after the BMX.

redhead403

not so far, I was told after surgery before radiation by my plastic surgeon, that I will need a revision. I am taking Pentoxyphilline and Vitamin E to decrease the chance for fibrosis and capsular contraction.

NJmom2boys

Hi,

I had implants before my cancer diagnosis. I had a lumpectomy and radiation. I was concerned about the effect on the implant, but had no choice but to do radiation. So...its about a year and a half since radiation and no problems at all with that implant. I did do calendula cream about 4 times a day during radiation. I kept doing the cream for well over a year.

For me I chose not to do the tamoxifen. The docs were able to give me my odds with and without radiation, and then with and without tamoxifen. That helped me make my decision to forgo the tamoxifen. I know every case is different and I wish you the best of luck. Ask lots of questions and feel comfortable with your decision.

NJ