So if all it is is DCIS, is radiation really necessary?

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3monstmama
3monstmama Member Posts: 1,447
edited June 2014 in DCIS (Ductal Carcinoma In Situ)

Some one posted this article

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35046121/ns/health-more_health_news//

on the radiation forum.

Honestly, the radiation componant of the treatment plan has ALWAYS scared me to death. Its not just the part about the first surgeon who told me that I could never have radiation again, no matter what happened or what future type of cancer developed or the plastic surgeon telling me what he couldn't do with radiated tissue.  Radiation has always scared me---guess I read too much about the effects of the bomb at Hiroshima.

When it comes down to it, I don't want radiation.  But I don't want to die either.

So if all I have is DCIS and I take the tamoxifen, do I really need to do the radiation? 

ps---my surgery is scheduled for monday............

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  • Nipi
    Nipi Member Posts: 38
    edited January 2010

    I sure did not need to see this right now!! I am trying to make a decision on doing radiation.. WOW!!!!!   Scary Stuff....

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  • lassie11
    lassie11 Member Posts: 1,500
    edited January 2010

    Yes, you can have radiation again - just not in that very spot. I know because I did.

    But I turned down the offer of an X ray at the dentist's office today.

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  • Kitchenwitch
    Kitchenwitch Member Posts: 374
    edited January 2010

    I wondered when this was going to surface... I read this story sunday and found myself sobbing uncontrollably. Those poor, poor people. That said, I don't really have any choice about the radiation I'm going to have to have in the next few months. I want to do all I can to minimize recurrence of DCIS. And the hospital I'll be going to isn't one of the ones mentioned in the story. And... I like to think that the kind of rad I'll be having is less complex than the one the guy had for tongue cancer. (Tho I am aware that the woman who died had breast cancer...) 

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  • SJW1
    SJW1 Member Posts: 244
    edited January 2010

    Mama,

    If you have low grade DCIS and get good margins you might not need to have radiation. Because radiation usually cuts your recurrence risk roughly in half  it may not be of much benefit to you if your risk is only 4 percent to begin with (like mine was).

    You can calculate if radiation would be of benefit to you by using the Van Nuys Prognostic Index which was developed by Dr. Mel Silverstein and Dr. Michael Lagios. Dr. Lagios also has a web site and a breast consultation service. He is a world renown DCIS expert and pathologist. 

    Once you know your recurrence risk, it makes it easier to make a very personal decision that you can be comfortable with.

    I would be happy to tell you more of my story if you would like. Just send me a private message.

    Best wishes no matter what you decide,

    Sandie

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  • Beesie
    Beesie Member Posts: 12,240
    edited January 2010

    Here's another discussion thread on this exact topic.  The answers might be helpful.

    http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/68/topic/747164

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  • roseg
    roseg Member Posts: 3,133
    edited January 2010

    My mother had DCIS with a lumpectomy/radiation in the mid-1980s. She's fine today and has not had any more breast cancer/DCIS issues.

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  • Ezscriiibe
    Ezscriiibe Member Posts: 598
    edited January 2010

    I can appreciate what others have decided and done and how it's worked out for them, but this is really something I would only think of deciding after lengthy discussion with my own doctor about my particular case.

    For every medical procedure that exists there are a multitude of horror stories of when things go wrong. Take the simple act of prescribing medication. The horror stories of misread (due to doctor's handwriting or other such issues) or misunderstood instructions, due to mixup in the pharmacy, etc, and the end results can be hellacious and disasterous. I learned a great deal about deaths and damage done by medication mixups when I was working with a group that was trying to get a patent on a technology that would eliminate any hand written prescriptions. If one were to read all that goes wrong, it would make one crazy, indeed.

    So I have no doubt that there can be some pretty bad screwups in just about any and every medical procedure we do. I just prefer not to let those dictate how I live my life and focus instead on the successful procedures that can and do happen on a much higher percentage of the time! Delusional? Maybe, but less anxiety that way!

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