Radiation after TNBC Double Mastectomy?

PJC714
PJC714 Member Posts: 4
edited March 2017 in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

Hello everyone! I continue to be completely confused about whether I should consider radiation after a double mastectomy. I have been told that there is nothing left to radiate, but then I have seen studies showing that you can radiate after a mastectomy and that it may provide a better prognosis for those with TNBC. I am considered stage 1 but just barely (up to 2 cm), no lymph node involvement. Has this topic already been exhausted? If so, please direct me to the thread. 

On another note, I just completed DIEP reconstruction at the same time as the double mastectomy, and would be happy to share my experience with anyone who is considering it in the near future. Overall, it went very well and my biggest suggestion would be to talk with your doctors about how to manage pain medication during the first few days after surgery while in the hospital. At first I was asked to press a button every ten minutes which was fine, but once I fell asleep, I got behind the pain, and it took a good day to get back on track. The doctor could make it standard that you get the pain medications without having to press the button to avoid getting behind the pain. I think the pain in my abdomen was greater because of having a relatively firm stomach, although enough to create two small breasts, thankfully! 

Wishing you all the best of health -- physically and mentally -- as we move forward in this life-changing experience.

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Comments

  • placid44
    placid44 Member Posts: 497
    edited January 2014

    I had radiation after bilateral mastectomy for TNBC.  I was stage 2b with one positive lymph node.  They radiate not just the skin that is left and the very small amount of breast tissue, but also the lymph nodes.  So it can kill any stray cells in lymph nodes that you may not know are there.

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  • lmcclure4477
    lmcclure4477 Member Posts: 180
    edited January 2014

    I am triple negative and I was stage 1A. Tumor was 1.1 cm and no lymph nodes were involved. I had a double masectomy and chemo but was told I didn't qualify for radiation because I had clear margins and there was nothing left to radiate. I had a hard time accepting that but trusted my doctors advice. 

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  • jenjenl
    jenjenl Member Posts: 948
    edited January 2014

    I had a small tumor and 1 intramammary node positive and since I was BRCA1+ they suggested radiation.  It was up to me since I didn't really fit the guidelines.

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  • sweetpickle
    sweetpickle Member Posts: 749
    edited January 2014

    I was told hat I didn need rads because I wzs NED after chemo xo we just did the BMX with diep.

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  • OneFineDay
    OneFineDay Member Posts: 9
    edited February 2014

    I went through chemo, one breast, and one node tested positive for tnbc before chemo.  MRI following chemo looked good.  Jan 29elected to have bilateral mastectomy, no flap due to length of recovery time.  PS put in TE at time of mastectomy.  Biopsies results received this week from breast tissue and nodes removed during surgery.  All clear.  The next phase of treatment is radiation.  6 weeks, once a day, five days a week.  A clinical trial is underway at my hospital.  Candidates are breast cancer, no specific sub types, such as x3-.  50/50 will receive radiation/ will not receive radiation.  I'm trying to decide what to do.  Even with clear margins there is a slight risk of cells hiding in the chest muscle.  Chemo appears to have gotten everything. My oncology team, surgeon, oncologist, radiation oncologist have recommended me for the trial. I would love not to go through radiation,but fear I may regret this decision down the road. Anyone else facing this decision? I meet with my radiation oncologist next week and I am trying to put together some questions to help with the decision. 

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  • janetlane
    janetlane Member Posts: 5
    edited January 2017

    How are you doing now. I had double mastectomy. Clear lymph nodes, and told by surgeon that I did not need radiation because I no longer had cancer but my oncologist said I did. I just finished chemo and don't know what dr to follow.


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  • janetlane
    janetlane Member Posts: 5
    edited January 2017

    hello, same here, don't know whether to have radiation after mastectomy. clear nodes. please help.


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  • Hydrangia
    Hydrangia Member Posts: 3
    edited March 2017

    hello.. I am diagnosed triple neg, grade 3, stage 2, and I have a tentative surg date for bilateral mastectomy, it was my choice to go that route. Drs did say I could do lumpectomy.. but decided to try to be proactive. I hv met with plastic surg fr expander/implants which she highly recommends over diep flap, because of less time fr recovery and according to her less chance of future problems if flap didn't take. I really had my mind set on a diep flap and am still meeting with this surg who does them this Monday. My drs feel that because I hv to undergo chemo after that by doing flap ...my body wouldn't be in the best of shape to do the chemo...I am in perfect health except fr this damn cancer....I sooooo confused..I don't like idea of something foreign in my body and I know their can be issues also with implants if radiation gets added etc... I would rather go fr tougher recovery upfront than go through a year of getting pumped up to receive final implant...any input??

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