BMX and radiation

I had a BMX in April for bilat BC & radiation is an option for me. The only reason is my positive nodes. By having the BMX, (on one side I could have gone lumpectomy), I was hoping to avoid radiation. Not sure how your "margins" factor in.

Hi - I had a BMX, my MO and BS said no radiation.  In reading my pathology report one of my margins was 1.5mm, i was concerned this wasn't enough of a clear margin.  Some centers say 1mm is 'clear' and others want 2mm.  I referred myself to a radiation oncologist and she said she is more comfortable with 3mm margins, and since I had multifocal disease and my young age (44) she recommended rads.  (my nodes were negative).  I just finished 6 weeks of radiation with no fatigue and very minimal skin effects.  Maybe because I didn't have reconstruction it was easier? not sure.  Really the hardest part was finding time to get the treatments (I was lucky, I know some have terrible skin reactions)

Yes, you do need to finish your fills before you start rads.  My ps had to 'sign off' that I was ready to start rads.  I didn't want to be 'big' so I only had about 3 fills with 50cc's each.  The rad treatments were really not that big of a deal.  It's very quick.  Heck, there were times I had to take my 4 kids with me!  The people were very nice and made it as pleasant as possible.  I had been given "at least 35% chance of reoccurence without rads and around 4% with".  You can do it!

julianna51- sorry ...we were at the beach!  I had no immediate problems with radiation.  I did end up needing PT because of muscle cording issues.  They seemed to peak about 3 months after radiation.  My rads side is def more 'firm' than my other side.  My skin did great!  I ended up being allergic to the glue in the stickers and have faint scars from that.  I exercised through my entire 6 weeks of treatment and I think that helped a lot.  All in all it really wasn't horrible.  My kids were young and I hated leaving them everyday.  I think the emotional toll when all was said and done was worse than the physical.  Don't be afraid to ask for PT!

I think 1mm is Ok...it's when it's under 1mm that they rec rads.  I could be wrong on this.  What does your surgeon say?  Have you met with a rad onc?

mom3band1g: I didn't ask him what was the "ok" margins, at the time he told me, it caught me off gaurd and I couldn't think of any questions.  I have since made a list.  

JAT and mom3band1g: I didn't meet with a radiation oncologist yet, I think I'm afraid to, and he has already discussed it with the board of docs, and they feel it isn't necessary for radiation, but the margins are in the chest wall against the muscle, so I just don't know.

Hi there,

I had a BMX and radiation.  My tumor was very close to my chest wall.  Buy emu oil.  I used that and did great the whole time - just turned a bit pink, but no burning.