on the fence for radiation

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weimarblue
weimarblue Member Posts: 5
edited June 2014 in IDC (Invasive Ductal Carcinoma)

 I just completed chemo last week and I have had 2 consults regarding radiation. One yes, One No.  Now I need a tiebreaker.  Everyone around me (who is cancerfree), thinks I should do it.  I am looking at clinical trials,  am post-mastectomy with clean margins, will do hormone therapy and continue with herceptin. Wonder if it is truly worth it.  Was anyone else on the fence and what tipped you to one side or the other?

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  • O3132W
    O3132W Member Posts: 211
    edited January 2010

    weimarblue:  I suggest you research the 3 week radiation treatments then talk to your Rad Onc to see if he/she will consent to do the shortened radiation.  It has the reputation of results equal to long term "Standard of Care".  

    I had the 3 week and have no regrets.  Do your research and then make your decision. Good luck  Cathey from Indiana

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  • NatsFan
    NatsFan Member Posts: 3,745
    edited January 2010

    I declined rads, with no regrets.  But I'm not HER+ so I'm not sure how that factors into it. 

    I too got mixed opinions from 2 different rad oncs, so had to do tons of my own research.  For my case, both rad oncs said that rads would not change my survival rate, but would lower my risk of recurrance a bit.  Once any change in survival was off the table, it became a quality of life issue for me.  I did my research to come up with a risk-benefit analysis for me, and in the end declined rads.  The one rad onc I really liked said she was comfortable with my decision, but also said she'd have been comfortable had I opted for rads, since I was right on the edge of where the benefits and the risks were pretty equal.  I know there are others in my exact same position who came to the opposite conclusion and opted for rads, and that was the right decision for them.

    Do your research, talk to everyone you can, and maybe get an opinion from a thrid rad onc.  As Cathey says, get the best information you can, then make the decision that feels right for you.  Good luck!

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  • ruthbru
    ruthbru Member Posts: 57,235
    edited January 2010

    If you are grade 3 (which is what I was); that means you had an agressive, fast growing tumor. I WANTED them to zap the hell out of the area, because I wanted to make sure that I did everything I could to never have to go through this again. After chemo, radiation (for me, anyway) was a piece of cake. Good luck!

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  • GryffinSong
    GryffinSong Member Posts: 439
    edited January 2010

    I chose radiation in a similar situation. My radiation doc was on the fence. Because I had three positive nodes, I chose to be very agressive and went ahead with it. I tend to be very aggressive with this disease because I want to lessen my chance of a recurrance. Often the survival rates are the same (as some have already said) but recurrance means tests, treatments, and fear.

    Hugs to you, good luck making your decision, and for what its worth I didn't find rads NEARLY as difficult as chemo.

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