Chemo AND Radiation, Anybody Else?

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PhunkyM
PhunkyM Member Posts: 49
edited June 2014 in Managing Side Effects of Breast Cancer and Its Treatment

I had a bilateral mast on November 3rd, and the pathology report came back with less than stellar news.



It turns out that one of the tumors was aggressive, so the med oncologist is suggesting chemotherapy. The other tumor had a positive margin, so the radiology oncologist is saying radiation. Overall, the major reasoning for doing both has a lot to do with my age and the possibility of recurrence. I'm 35, and they are pointing to recurrence rates at 10 and 20 years--I will still be working and living then! After all of that, I will still have to finish reconstruction and Tamoxifen.



It has all been explained to me, and it seems logical, but I feel like they are throwing everytng treatment at me. Do I really need Tamoxifen if I've had chemo and rads? Yuck!



But my question is this: has anybody else done both chemo and rads? They are saying 4 TC chemo treatments 3 weeks apart (just enough to lose my hair) and 36 radiation visits.



Thanks!

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  • dlb823
    dlb823 Member Posts: 9,430
    edited November 2011

    PhunkyMonk, I did both chemo (TCx4) and rads after a unilateral mx.  It's really not that uncommon, and IMO, best to be aggressive for the most insurance against a possible recurrence, which could be much harder to treat.

    Have you had the Oncotype-DX test, to gauge your risk-benefit of chemo?  And do you know about the Penguin Cold Caps?  I didn't know about them back in 2008 when I did chemo, but since then quite a few women here on BCO have used them to successfully keep their hair.  Use the search feature to upper right to look for more info' on them.

    So sorry you're facing chemo & rads, but you'll get through it and hopefully be safer from a recurrence.  (((Hugs)))   Deanna    

    PS ~ I did opt out of an Aromatese Inhibitor or Tamoxifen because I just couldn't tolerate them, so one more reason I was really glad I'd done chemo.

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  • WIMusicMaker
    WIMusicMaker Member Posts: 78
    edited November 2011

    Hi PhunkyMonk,

    I was diagnosed in August and am currently undergoing chemo. I am slated to follow your exact same treatment. I started on T/C and needed to switch to A/C. I have two more to go and then I start rads hopefully sometime in January. I will follow up with Tamoxifen. I am 50 and have a grade 3 tumor.

    I know it is very overwhelming. It seems like such a long time to be in treatment but it is time to take care of yourself. Your oncologist has tools to help you and wants to throw everything at you because it is your best chance to be around in 20 years.  

    I have not had the easiest time with chemo, but many people call it doable which most days for me it really is too. Do ask for the oncotype test. The results may help you feel more comfortable about doing chemo. Ask your onc to explain how the tamoxifen works. Once this was explained to me, I felt like it will be extra insurance to stop reccurence.  

    Best wishes in your road ahead! You can do it!

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  • Gator65
    Gator65 Member Posts: 72
    edited November 2011

    Well, I am inew to this as well as well. Surgery on 10/18, I had a partial mast with oncoplasty with a breast redux on rt side for symmetry. I will begin chemo on Dec 1, 8  doses of AC followed by 4 doses of Taxol. Then rads for 6 weeks.  Fun, Fun!

    I had 2 tumors in my left breast and am triple negative so it is my understanding that this is standard for this particular type of cancer. I am 46 and I will do whatever it takes to kick this cancers ass.

    Take care! We will get through this!! 

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  • PhunkyM
    PhunkyM Member Posts: 49
    edited November 2011

    Thanks for the support, ladies. I just feel so overwhelmed with all of this!

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  • mdg
    mdg Member Posts: 3,571
    edited November 2011

    I did not have the rads but had TCx4.  I used cold caps to keep my hair through chemo.  It worked pretty well for me.  The TCx4 was not that bad.  I had clean margins after BMX so rads were not necessary.  I would throw everything at the BC and just do what you can.  Good luck!

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