Radiation before surgery?

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lorieg
lorieg Member Posts: 802
edited June 2014 in Stage III Breast Cancer

Re-posting from the IBC forum b/c that forum is pretty inactive.  Thanks! 

I was diagnosed with IBC in August of 2009.  I have had 4 rounds of AC and 4 rounds of DD Taxol with Herceptin.  Althought the color improved my entire breast is still very firm.  I am going to have PE t+/- breast MRI next, but my oncologist thinks our best bet may be to do radiation to shrink the tumor (although he says it may be full of scar tissue) prior to surgery.  I also developed a minimal amount redness and pain again in the last two weeks which had previously resolved. 

Has anyone else had radiation prior to surgery for this reason and if so, what was the result? I am nervous about being off of chemo with the possibility of a huge amount of cancer in this breast. I think I may need more neoadjunctive chemo, but he says radiation is a better choice.  I am ER+ and will be starting tamoxifen in 2 weeks and changing to every 3 weeks Herceptin.

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  • lexislove
    lexislove Member Posts: 2,645
    edited December 2009

    Hi there.

    I have not heard of radiation before surgery. But my guess would be to shrink the tumor as much as possible so they can get clear margins. You already have done a lot of aggressive chemo, 8 rounds. I think most oncs would agree thats it. No need for chemo toxicity....

    what has the response been since doing the chemo? Pretty good or so so. I agree that a scan to see the measurements would be a good idea.

    I also can understand the fear of having cancer in you for any longer more. I went the neo adjuvant route and it freaked me out knowing it was still in my breast doing god knows what.

    I hope someone can give you some better answers.

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  • lorieg
    lorieg Member Posts: 802
    edited December 2009

    My response has not been great....improved color but no change in size or firmness.  I just am so scared to be doing radiation but no chemo for 5 weeks.  Thanks for your post!

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited December 2009

    I did pre-op chemorads.  It was a study at my hospital.  I did the full and regular daily rads for 5 weeks, along with weekly (8weeks) of taxotere.  I think it was 50mg/dose but not sure which is 1/4 of regular dose.  Then surgery, followed by 1 regular dose of taxotere and 3 FECs.  the study was to measure the impact of chemorads and see how high a dose of chemo can be given.

    Are you done all your chemo anyway?  What about starting on tamoxifen while on rads.  i think that may be an option I read about. 

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  • lorieg
    lorieg Member Posts: 802
    edited December 2009

    I was done with chemo with the exception of Herceptin, but I think I need more chemo to shrink this breast before surgery.  My onc was going to start tamoxifen in 2 weeks.  I am actually planning to call MDA in the am and see if I can be seen there for a second opinion.  Thanks!

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