Can I ask how many of you did both chemotherapy and radiation?

I did both. Chemo is for distant recurrence (somewhere else in the body), radiation is for local recurrence (in breast, chest wall, nodes close to breast). Neither of these treatments are recommended without a good reason. They both can leave lasting side effects. You should weigh the risks and benefits of both treatments with your doctor based on your health history.

many people do both.  As inks said chemotherapy is to prevent distant recurrence, radiation is to prevent local recurrence.  I did both as well as a mastectomy, but I know I did everything that was recommended and that I could to prevent cancer from coming back.  It helps me to sleep at night.

Nancy- I did Rads only- 33 to be exact. No real SEs except fatigue halfway through and a bit of burning. I had the Oncotype test done to determine treatment because I had a micromet in my SN and my ONC was ambivalent about treatment so she ordered the test. My score was 11- low - so no chemo -  just radiation. My ONC never considered my doing both - it was one or the other. I am Stage 2, Grade 1 IDC. 

There are short and long term SEs to both. I never considered not doing radiation because as others have said I too wanted to do whatever was necessary to prevent a recurrence, 

It's your call, just be sure you don't second guess yourself. Don't look back either. 

You may be one of the lucky ones who has minimal SEs. 

Good luck!

Diane 

Hi nancy-

Sorry that you've had trouble with chemo already. I just finished TAC 6/17/14 and I'm currently doing rads. I've completed 19 of 33 and so far rads has been much easier than chemo. I'm talking SE's....as far as long term issues there is always the chance that could be an issue.

From what I was told radiation was neccesary for me because I had node involvement. You should talk to your doctor obvsioiusly to be sure

Nancy, I did both because I wanted to throw everything at it...if I hadn't and got a recurrence, I would feel terrible.  Its still possible to have a recurrence but not because I didn't throw everything at it.  BTW, I have had no long term side effects.

I did chemo, surgery, BMX, and rads. I wanted to do any and everything I could to kill it. I didn't want to second guess myself, or play the what if game. Currently on Arimadex. 

So far no long term side effects, damage, or reoccurrence. I'm almost 2 years out. I don't think about it every day, and sleep well. 

It is scarey at the beginning. Just remember the light at the end of the tunnel ISNT a train!

Hi Nancy - I had MX on Right (am 42 yrs old) - had 1.1 cm tumor - upper outer quadrant but not too close to chest wall so that was good and DCIS in rt breast tissue too - I am 6 weeks out - have the expander pocket in and it is getting more tolerable as time goes by

I have too many skin reactions, sensitive, fragile, thin skin and circulation issues (rheynaud;s) - Radiation would have most likely burned me - I was leaning to MX anyways - rather get the dense - hard to monitor tissue out and more peace of mind..  yes I will have a fake breast but if had lumpectomy would have needed to get it worked on to match Left side anyways - it is such a personal decision however - you can make appointment with the Radiation Oncologist that works with your breast surgeon at the hospital you are being treated at - he/she can go over how you may do if you got 6 weeks radiation - and then you decide if want the full MX - that appointment in my own case was a turning point which sealed the deal - I left there - called my sister and said - it's official Mastectomy is my plan - that was just confirmed and now no need to fret over which surgery to do,,, 

and also you can ask your hospital's nurse navigator to put you in contact with local women who have gotten it so you can maybe meet some women - from what I have heard - many people tolerate Radiation fairly well however it is 5 days week - takes about 5 - 10 mins and it is a place you must go those 5 days week - and that can be emotionally draining - weigh the options - and fatigue mid way through - make your list questions and find out what you have questions about and then go from there, this board is great place to gather info (I just knew Radiation for a person who has very fragile, sensitive, over reacting skin and all and Rheynaud's, that I should check first before saying sign me up)

I have to deal with the reconstruction process and starting Tamoxifen (scared to) and my road will take another 6 months at least if not maybe even almost a year to heal and be done with surgeries...  but for me I prefer that vs lump/radiation and having that dense difficult to read type of breast tissue still in me...  everyone is different, each of us has our own beliefs and I wish you much success in making the decision that you feel would be right for you and hope that you will do very well with the choices you make,  be well,

Dear Nancy,

I had both chemotherapy and radiation.I am not going to tell you that it was a walk in the park for me.

I think it depends. Some people do well and some don't. But guess what, both groups get through it.

I became a different person after my cancer and I thank my cancer for this.

I know it won't make sense to you but go for it. Be strong and know that this shall pass too.

Life is worth going through chemo and radiation for it.You owe it to yourself,your family and friends,You will be just fine.

I had two separate cancers at the same time and it was tough.But I am happy and grateful because now I appreciate the real value of life.

I don't take anything for granted.

If there is anything and I mean anything that I can do for you, Please let me know, I have been a survivor for 9 years,

If I can share anything with you that would make you stronger, that is my reward.

I love to help you in any way I can.

Take Care and Be Strong!

Homa

I did both (plus 5  years of Arimidex). Chemo was very yucky, but I had no long term bad side effects from it. I found radiation to be much, much easier and had no long term bad side effects from it either. I figured one really hard year was worth it to have a better chance of living a long, long, cancer-free life in the future.....and that has worked out well for me so far (knocking on wood as I type!) As mentioned above, if you can force yourself to get in a little exercise during treatment, it may help you get through treatment a little easier & will, for sure, help you bounce back better once you are done.

jetgal23 - Your temperature went up to 110.5?  That's not 'low grade' - that's 'death grade' without major medical intervention and possibly even with the best of intervention.  Did you mean 101.5?.