Radiation vs Chemo

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Polyana
Polyana Member Posts: 200
edited June 2014 in Radiation Therapy - Before, During, and After

Hi all,

I have similar posts under chemo treatment. I just want to know is it possible to choose between chemo and radiation treatment when diagnosed with cancer, before the surgery? In oher words I do have a mass that is 2.4 cm in size. But the doctor say I need to start chemo before, to shrink the tumor, then surgery, then radiation. I just want to know are there any options for me as a patient, or I leave it to the doctor in safe hands.

To me I prefer radiation than chemo, but not sure if this is appropriate. Can you help me about the questions I need to ask my oncologist.

By the way, I am seeing a surgical oncologist, do I need any other specialization in my team (apart from the chemo doctor and the pathologist).

Would it have been appropriate that I do the surgery 1st then the treatment (chemo, radiation)

I am sooooo afraid and worried and would appreciate your guidance.

Thanks

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Comments

  • hrf
    hrf Member Posts: 3,225
    edited July 2010

    You need a breast surgeon, you need a medical oncologist and you need a radiation oncologist - all are specialists in their own field and each one takes a turn leading the treatment plan. Both times I had bc, I had surgery followed by chemo and followed by rads. (I know now some people do chemo before surgery but not sure which situations require that)...there was never a choice for me of chemo OR rads .. it was both. Every case is different and some women can avoid one of them. If you are unsure of your doctor's plan, it is wise to get a second opinion or even a third opinion.

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  • Luah
    Luah Member Posts: 1,541
    edited July 2010

    Polyana:  The options do get confusing, but it's important to realize that surgery, radiation and chemo all have different purposes, and it depends on the type, stage and grade of your cancer as to what your doctors may recommend.

    Surgery is done to remove the immediate threat - the tumour and surrounding tissue and/or nodes that may be involved.  Sometimes chemo is done beforehand to shrink the tumour size so a lumpectomy can be done with a good cosmetic results, or to see how your cancer is responding to the chemo regimen, for example. 

    Radiation is a localized treatment that is used to reduce the risk of recurrence in the breast and/or nodes.  It is almost always done with a lumpectomy and occasionally with mastectomy depending on your node status, location/type of tumour etc.

    Chemotherapy and hormonal therapy are systemic treatments designed to control the possible spread of disease to other parts of your body.  The extent of its benefit will really depend on your tumour pathology and prognostic factors: size of tumour, grade, spread to nodes, hormonal receptivity, your age -- for example. Some of this you won't know for sure until after surgery.

    Elsewhere on this site, there is a good guide of questions to ask your surgeon.  It may be useful for you to consult with a medical oncologist at the outset too.  Ask lots of questions, take someone with you or record/write down the answers -- it's helpful when you have decisions to make. Some women like to leave the treatment decisions all to their doctors, some like to take a more active role.  Throughout this journey, there are lots of options and, sometimes, difficult decisions to make. 

    Good luck, and come back here often, as you are likely to find at least one other woman who has been in your shoes.

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  • LoveCranes
    LoveCranes Member Posts: 39
    edited July 2010

    For me, I didn't see an oncologist until after the surgery.  Mine was 2cm with a satellite cell, so the total size was 3.5cm.  I personally didn't want chemo and didn't want to 'see if it would shrink' and just opted for the surgery (lump) to remove.   However, on the other hand my friend who was also dx w/bc, did the chemo then surgery but she did mention to me it depends on the subtype of bc you have to determine if it would work.

     Luckily, I didn't have any lymph nodes involved, had clear margins and was only recommended radiation.  My surgeon only recommended rads, but said to met with an oncologist for a 2nd opinion for chemo.   I finally decided to do the OncoType DX test to find out my score and percentage to tell me if I really needed chemo.  My results were low, so only radiation and hormone therapy.

    I was extremely happy with my breast surgeon and his results, but like the others said each person is different.  If you don't feel comfortable, seek a second opinion. 

     Good luck.

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