considering no radiation after 2nd lumpectomy?

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laraby
laraby Member Posts: 4
edited June 2014 in DCIS (Ductal Carcinoma In Situ)

Hi, I'm new to the forum but have been reading for days. I had my second lumpectomy 12/10. It turns out the core biopsy got all the >1 cm DCIS.  My 1st dx and lumpectomy was 2001, also DCIS .8 cm.  Both were high grade, clean margins, same breast but different areas. This one is ER+/PR+ with necrosis, 1st one not tested for receptors and no necrosis.

I did not have radiation first time with support from BS and considering no radiation this time. Am I nuts? Against radiation: having had 2 small DCIS, chances 3rd would be DCIS (?)

If I have radiation this time I would hate to have to have mastectomy next time just for DCIS. Of course reason to have rads is both were high grade. 

 Any words of advice?  thanks!!

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  • 3monstmama
    3monstmama Member Posts: 1,447
    edited December 2010

    Such a personal decision.  I was also very worried about radiation but came through it quite well and in the end it was not as bad as the thought of radiation.  The same thing happened with the tamoxifen---i was worried to death about it but have now been on it since August and have hardly any side effects.  You don't say if you are taking tamoxifen.

    What my oncologist and radiation oncologist told me when they advised me to do radiation was that given the grade of my DCIS, it wasn't a question of would it become invasive but a question of when would it become invasive.  So I did it.

    good luck with your decision.

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  • June2268
    June2268 Member Posts: 1,202
    edited December 2010

    I feel like your damned if you do and damned if you don't!  I thought that by doing radiation I would be at peace with my decision.  But lately I seem to be more sick than I ever have ( cold, lingering ) constant cough that lasted more than a month.  They did x-rays and found nothing but I am short of breath a lot (not these past few days).  So I guess I now seem to think is everything related to the treatment that I chose to have.  Bottom line, this is such a personal decision and you have to be at peace with what you choose and know there are going to be a lot of people who will give you their 10 cents worth and only you have yourself to answer to.  Good luck and keep us posted!  June

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  • Hindsfeet
    Hindsfeet Member Posts: 2,456
    edited December 2010

    larby, I was in your shoes two years ago today. It was then when I had my second lumpectomy of high grade dcis. Both times I chose surgery without rads or tamoxifen. There were times when I felt as if I should have done more, but now two years later, I feel great about my decision. Since I'm doing the watch and wait approach, I feel as if I am dx again most likely it will be another dcis. If there is a third time the breast is out. I will do the mx with reconstruction. If I had done rads then reconstruction would be difficult. If my second dx was stage 1, I would of had a mx. Tomorrow morning I have my annual mri and hope now at my two year anniversary it's good news :)

    Like the others said, it's a personal decision. It needs to be your decision...no one's elses.

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  • CTMOM1234
    CTMOM1234 Member Posts: 633
    edited December 2010

    This is such a personal decision, but I had never regretted having rads. It wasn't bad at all, and I feel that it's a great insurance policy. Your BS should be your best information source, I know mine was.

    Please do not believe that your recon. options are limited, certainly don't make that the reason for avioding rads, because the rads might be why you won't need further surgery. I met with a plastic surgeon before my lumpectomy and well before rads, because I wanted to be super prepared in case down the road I did need a mast., and there was no restriction (I discussed DIEP reconstruction post rads , which I was considering at the time).

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  • laraby
    laraby Member Posts: 4
    edited December 2010

     Thanks Barry for your input.  Let us know how your MRI results!

    I meet with oncologist Jan 7th. I'll let y'all know!

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  • valariew
    valariew Member Posts: 12
    edited December 2010

    Hi - I did fine with radiation and lumpectomies.  Thing is you don't know if you have hidden cancer cells the mammogram cant see.  The only side effect I am having is sore muscles from the radiation.

    Its a hard decision either way.  I think the radiation made me feel like any cancer cells got zapped...and feel more confident maybe it wont come back.  Sorta like someone having a mastectomy, the peace of mind.

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  • Leah_S
    Leah_S Member Posts: 8,458
    edited December 2010

    Laraby, you would be best off discussing pros & cons with your onc and rad onc, since they can give you answers that relate best to your particular situation.

    Keep in mind that since the second DCIS was in a different location in your breast it is likely that it wasn't a recurrence but a new primary. For that reason I would suggest that, whether or not you do rads, you seriously consider taking the tamoxifen.

    All the best.

    Leah

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