Hodgkins Disease and Lumpectomy

Options
debshipshape
debshipshape Member Posts: 14
edited June 2014 in High Risk for Breast Cancer

Hello,

 30 years ago, at age 26, I was treated for Stage IIIA Hodgkins Disease. I received radiation treatment to my breast making me high risk for developing Breast Cancer. After discovering calcifications a year ago and, being told for the third time to come back in 6 months, I insisted on a biopsy. I had a core needle biopsy 2 weeks ago and it came back positive for BC. It currently is diagnosed as grade 1. The breast MRI I had in August last year was negative. My surgeon believes it will be possible to do a lumpectomy and radiation even though I did not think radiation was possible for me. 

 I have considered a double mastectomy and it is still on the table. Currently, I am scheduled for a lumpectomy next week. At the very least it will give me more of a diagnosis to work from. I also need the OK of the radiation oncologist for radiation treatment to my breast in order to have the lumpectomy.

 I have read a lot on this board from Hodgkin's Disease survivors and the consensus seems to be Mastectomy. Has anyone gone the lumpectomy route and what happened?

My tumor has come back E + P + (weakly) and Her 2 -. 

 Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • ColdenMom
    ColdenMom Member Posts: 114
    edited March 2012

    Deb,

    I wrote to you on a different board as well. But I just noticed that you are weakly PR+, I am as well. I haven't found many with the weakly PR+....

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • mariwyl
    mariwyl Member Posts: 53
    edited March 2012

    I would like to know the answer to your question, too, Deb.  I was diagnosed last week with my first BC at age 60, 37.5 years after my diagnosis of Hodgkins Disease, stage IIIb. I received full mantle radiaion, and now face a possible repeat if I choose lumpectomy.  If not, and I choose mastectomy, I will have a double mastectomy, given both breasts were irradiated.  Problem is, additional radiaton is added risk for future myelodysplastic diseases and mastectomy is complicated by tissue healing issues from the Hodgkins radiation.  Aghhh....  Thanks!!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • debshipshape
    debshipshape Member Posts: 14
    edited March 2012

    Hi Mariwyl,

     I am scheduled to have a lumpectomy next Thursday. If the tumor is small enough and does not have ILC I qualify for brachytherapy (internal localized radiation). I know it is a risk to re-radiate but I wasn't willing to decide on a single or double Mastectomy just based on a core needle biopsy report. It may be the way I need to go this time or eventually but maybe not. Not every institution wants to go this route. But some are starting to look at the issue of re-radiation. There has been some success without too much if any damage. Of course, as we well know, radiation is the gift that keeps on giving so we don't know what the full deal is at this point.

     I will keep you posted on my path. Good luck. It is a hard road we are on but we have had 30 and 37.5 years so why not 30 years more for us!!

     Deb

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories