Anyone sorry they did radiation instead of mastectomy?

Has your doctor actually said you will need radiation in addition to the chemo?  Do you have an appointment with an RO scheduled?

Good luck whichever way it goes, Joan-Helena.

Carol

I have struggled with this for 3 months.  While I don't need chemo because of my low oncotype score, I am facing radiation or mastectomy.   

Radiation scares me so much, but then there can be complications from a mastectomy too (especially if you do reconstruction).  If you have a recurrence after the mastectomy, the radiation will be going straight into your chest wall.  Not good.

So, the RO said I had 3 months to decide for radiation.  My 3 months are up, and I am scheduled for a simulation tomorrow.  I'm going to see how I feel after the simulation.  If I can't do it, then I'm all set for a mastectomy at the end of February.

In my heart I know mastectomy is the probably the best, but the reality of another surgery... and the aftermath of the daily reminder of cancer and only having one breast is more than my little brain can handle.  So the question becomes...10-20 years of being a uni boob, or take the chance that it won't recur and live a fairly 'normal' life.

I've read and read and read about this.  It's all a crap shoot. Some people sail through rads, others .. not so much.  One thing that eases my mind is that you can still have a mastectomy after a recurrence...and I just read this again last night, the survival is the same no matter which choice you make.

What a tough decision I know...but I've been so stressed out these past few months trying to decide, that I've come to the conclusion that  anything is better than the stress I've been feeling these past few months!  Maybe I'll have a recurrence, but hopefully it won't be for many years...and I'll deal with it then.  

One last thing.. I have mild lymphedema from my axillary node surgery (the sentinel node dye didn't work).  I wish I knew which procedure would be the 'easiest' on my lymph system.  Again.. no one knows because everyone is different.  

Good luck.  I'm at a place where I feel that no matter which option I choose, it will be ok.  At least for awhile...and I need some peaceful 'awhile' time.

I am on radiation day 13 tomorrow and I have really struggled with anxiety about potential side effects early and much later.

My Rad Onc was ready to refer me to psychiatry he was so unable to cope with my questions and my requests to consider alternative dose schedules ( rationale suggestions I got from reading the medical literature and talking to other rad onc's) but I had the lumpectomy and I was 8 weeks post op with no other option it seemed to me without raising my risk of recurrence despite treatment by delaying a decision

I do believe that radiation will reduce my risk of recurrence. There was no guarantee if I had elected mastectomy that I would not need radiation as one of the margins was close to but not invading into skin laterally ( near axillary side of rt breast). Mastectomy with reconstructions involves cutting into the pectoral muscle at a minimum and placing a foreign object which may need to replaced in time and the process takes months.

Radiation damages healthy as well as tumor cells and tissues other than breast tissue and there is scatter radiation beyond the direct radiation field ( verified that by persisting asking RO questions which he reluctantly answered honestly after glossing over the details in the initial consult). Radiation side effects may be delayed years and then emerge. Yes, I am scared of the radiation I am getting.

But no matter the choice,it's a devil's bargain we are asked to make when we get this diagnosis because the treatments all have impacts on our quality of life and health in and if themselves. Everyone must make the choice they feel is better ( or less bad) for themselves. It's hard no doubt.

I am curious why those who started rads stopped it. And what did you do instead  and why?

One of my biggest regrets in the SNB.... I think it was un- necessary since treatment for me would have been the same and that procedure left me with numbness along the upper back half of my arm and is irritated by the radiation. Anyone else have that problem?

I totally agree.  I am 12 weeks out from my surgery and am starting rads next week.  I think.   I also have a mastectomy scheduled for Feb. 17th.   If I can get the courage to do the rads, then no surgery...but it's been such a difficult decision for me.  I am scared to death of radiation, but then I try to tell myself that thousands of women do it every year and they seem to be ok.  The survival stats seem to say we'll be ok too.  

I am worried that I have waited too long to do rads since they say 6-8 weeks is best, but hey it is what it is...and I have to move forward.  I was all set to do the mastectomy,  but once I set up the surgery, I was seriously sick to my stomach.  If it does recur, do I want rads to my chest wall? 

These last few months have been hell from the stress, and I can't really go on like this....so I am moving forward and will see if I can handle the rads.