confused, mastectomy, chemo and radiation

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nikola
nikola Member Posts: 466
edited June 2014 in Radiation Therapy - Before, During, and After

Hello,

I had bilateral mastectomy in May (cancer was in right breast), no node involvement, no vascular involvement. Margin on first cancer was >2 cm (cancer itself was 1.3 cm. Margin for second (1.1 cm in size) and third (0.2 cm) cancers were stated widely negative.

First, I thought I would only go with mastectomy and hormonal therapy. Then, they said You are young You should go for chemo. I agreed, having 4 rounds of TC chemo every three weeks. Now, I got a call from radiologist to come and see him re: radiation.

I am aware they consider me young and want to go agressive but when is too much?

Anybody went this route?

Thank You

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  • squidwitch42
    squidwitch42 Member Posts: 2,228
    edited August 2010

    Hi Nikola,

    I too had the question of radiation thrown at me after I had my tissue expanders placed.  I was of the impression that if the cancer was not in the nodes, we were moving ahead towards reconstruction after my bi-lateral mastectomy.  If it had been in the nodes, then we were going to do the mastectomy on the cancer side only, then chemo/rads and reconstruction later.

    Long story short, I now get to carry around my turtle shells for breasts for 18 months...and then we will do the exchange.

    The reason for the change in plans was I only had a 1 mm margin of non cancerous tissue on the chest wall.  Being triple negative, this too factored in my decision.

    I know these decision are so hard, and I was way upset to have to make it.  Ask a lot of questions, and follow your heart.

    Traci

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  • Chicago1018
    Chicago1018 Member Posts: 147
    edited August 2010

    Hi Nikola--

    I had a mastectomy, chemo, just finished radiation, and am about to start hormonal therapy.  My tumor was larger and more advanced than yours but I am also young (30 at my dx).

    I know a lot of people don't get a determination on chemo until they get their oncotype score.  I did chemo first but for many people the oncotype score can predict how likely they are to benefit from chemotherapy as well as how likely they are to experience a recurrance.

    I have also encountered a lot of people who had a mastectomy and didn't "need" radiaiton.  My rad onc left it up to me.  He said that although there isn't a ton of information about whether or not women who have a mastectomy "should" have radiation, research shows that they can decrease the chances of a recurrance by adding it.

    I hope this helps!  You may meet with the rad onc and find out you don't need rads at all.  I will say that although it wasn't fun going there every day, I got through it with minor discomfort.

    Good luck with your decision.

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  • nikola
    nikola Member Posts: 466
    edited August 2010

    Thanks ladies,

    I am from Canada and oncotype is not done here. I tried to get enrolled in TrialX so I could get oncotype done, but we were waiting for my Her2 results for almost 6 weeks and results came back 11 weeks after my surgery. To get into TrialX You have to be within 12 weeks from surgery. My onc thought I would benefit from chemo so I agreed.

    I had DIEP done same day of mastectomy as my PS thoght it would be no radiation.

    I am so tired of making those decisions, but I have 6 years od and would do anything to be around him for as much I could.

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  • squidwitch42
    squidwitch42 Member Posts: 2,228
    edited August 2010

    nikola,

    It just seems never ending doesn't it?  I remember the liklihood of recurrence to be greatly decreased with the radiation...and I was 42 at the time of diagnosis.  Still considered young ish :) but I had many days where I felt a kinship with anyone over the age of 90.

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