Really Want to Forgo Rads

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RosieMjdtrt
RosieMjdtrt Member Posts: 30
edited June 2015 in Radiation Therapy - Before, During, and After

Although I am still waiting on my onco score, I am faced with having rads as part of my treatment. I originally wanted to go with the bmx but family thought I was being too aggressive. My original diagnosis was DCIS grade 3 but after my lx the pathologist found 8mm invasive tumor. I know my prognosis is excellent so I am not worried there, however, I know radiation really messes up your breast tissue which messes up chances of future reconstruction and also poses other long term issues.

My BS did a fantastic job and is really pushing the rads over bmx. Also, with the slight chance of having to add chemo to the mix, will radiation still be required? I am stage 1 grade 3 with DCIS grade 3 and at 45 know there is still plenty of time for a recurrence. I have no problem removing both breasts! Anyone else have similar thouhgts or concerns?

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  • Cowgirl13
    Cowgirl13 Member Posts: 1,936
    edited June 2015

    Rosie, what is the grade for your idc component?

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  • RosieMjdtrt
    RosieMjdtrt Member Posts: 30
    edited June 2015

    don't know why my stats don't show. Original diagnosis was dcis grade three. After lumpectomy changed to idc grade 3

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  • debiann
    debiann Member Posts: 1,200
    edited June 2015

    Radiation is to help prevent a local recurrence. Chemo, on the other hand, is to prevent a distant recurrence (metastasis) somewhere else in the body. Unfortunately, if radiation has been recommended, doing chemo does not change that, you just get to do both. The only way out of rads may be by having an MX, however if there are positive nodes or the tumor is close to the chest wall, rads may still be recommended.

    There are threads on here discussing this topic. Many women report that rads are easy, some report problems with skin or other long term side effects. There are quite a few women who choose to have an MX to avoid rads. Its a very personal decision, there is no "right" answer, no easy way out, no option that doesn't come with its own particular risks or side effects. It is important that in the end, you make the final decision, that you choose the option you can live with.

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  • RosieMjdtrt
    RosieMjdtrt Member Posts: 30
    edited June 2015

    Thanks debiann. I see you started with lex but later got mx. Was this due to margins, change in diagnosis, personal choice? Hope I'm not prying it's just that from the get go my gut decision was bmx and I have regreted changing to lx since my surgery.

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  • debiann
    debiann Member Posts: 1,200
    edited June 2015

    Rosie, I did do lx first because I couldn't make up my mind. I was leaning toward mx (I really didn't want rads ), but couldn't decide on what recon I wanted. My husband thought mx seemed aggressive and thought lx would be best. The breast surgeon recommended starting with an lx just to learn more about the tumor's pathology and node status and I could go back for an mx later if thats what I wanted.. She told me that it is the law that bc patients can at anytime ask for an mx and insurance must pay for it.

    I had one close margin from the lx, but the nodes were clear. Going into chemo I knew that I was facing another surgery, either another lx with rads or an mx with no rads. During chemo I researched my options and sought a second opinion with a PS. I decided on BMX with DIEP recon. By this time my husband was on board with the decision because chemo was hell and I wanted no more breasts and no radiation.

    I'm pleased with the results, but I do have a little additional scarring from the lx. On the other hand, I was never informed about DIEP recon from my first PS, so had I of done an MX first I'd probably be sitting here with implants and not near as happy with the results.

    Good luck to you.

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  • ruthbru
    ruthbru Member Posts: 57,235
    edited June 2015

    Just chiming in with a different view; I found radiation to be the very easiest part of the equation ( I had a lumpectomy & chemo). I didn't have any problems with any part of radiation then or latter. I just got a little red, like a sunburn from the inside out. The skin on the radiated breast looks absolutely normal and the shape is actually somewhat more full and perky looking than the other side. So, not everyone has a horrible time with, or horrible after effects from radiation.

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