Still Undecided about radiation

I didn't have any treatments other than lumpectomy for my 1.5cm IDC and am still hanging in there 3 yrs later. My RO kind of talked me out of radiation by printing up a bunch of studies about it not being as necessary for older women -- a controversial opinion --, and pointed out that I was at high risk for heart and lung damage. I figure that if I have a local recurrence, radiation is still an option for me. I'm not taking endocrine therapy either, because I have osteoporosis and couldn't tolerate tamoxifen -- I had some potentially dangerous side effects. I'm still happy with my decision and find that so far, for me, BC hasn't impacted me much at all, whereas heart or lung damage could have affected my quality of life for years. Ultimately, it is your decision, but be sure that you will be at peace with whatever you decide.

Hi Tammy,

We have no advice, but just wanted to say hi and welcome to Breastcancer.org! We're sorry for the reason you're here, but really glad you stumbled upon our amazing group of really knowledgeable, helpful, and supportive members. We're all here to help you through your treatment decisions and beyond!

Thank you for posting and please keep us posted on what you decide!

--The Mods

skeptic, a lot to consider. I had rads and am now on Tamoxifen. My tumor was very close to my chest wall on the rt side, so that made me lean to rads. For me, I had no severe SE's and hopefully, won't down the road. Now on Tamoxifen instead of al due to osteoporosis. I have been very fortunate with the few SE's I have had throughout my TX. I have no other health issues that I know of. I also have a family history. I have read that the recommendation for rads goes down as we get older. I was 58 at DX. We all have to do what we think is best for our situation. Sometimes it feels like over-kill. Best wishes.

Tammy1111, you and I have very similar stats. I, too, am reluctant and wary of going ahead with radiation. I will most likely go ahead with it but the idea of it seems so primitive and counter intuitive

I had partial breast radiation (left side) in a clinical trial and I only had 10 sessions. 2x a day for 5 days at higher doses. That was why I decided to do it when they said I qualified for the trial. Of course, they are still compiling data about whether it is as effective as whole breast rads...we shall see.

I found a link that discusses the merits of radiation after finding + lymph nodes, and having a mastectomy. I had 4 micromets which were removed through surgery. It all happened so fast, and I'm not sure it would be my choice again. This article discusses the conditions you should/ shouldn't need radiotherapy.

http://www.clinical-breast-cancer.com/current#/article/S1526-8209(15)00222-0/fulltext?mobileUi=1

Leslie13, hello! I was unable to open the link that you provided, re: radiation. Can you please check it? Thank you

thank you Leslie13!!

"The RO also prescribed a steroid for me to take 6 the first day and one less for 6 days.....which I'm not going to take."

Tammy, I don't really have any advice for you, but I am curious why you aren't going to take the steroid the RO prescribed. It sounds to me (based on experience with RA) that s/he intended a "burst" that you then get immediately weaned off of. Prednisone (the steroid I'm familiar with) can have almost "magical" effects on inflamation when used that way.

Since you would be on it for only the week before you restart rads, why not give it a try?

Wondering...

LisaAlissa

etc: spelling

I had implants before rads because I had to have rads after a recurrence so reconstruction had already been done. My breast felt pretty hot each day, and I'd use a thermometer on it (where you just aim at the skin, don't actually touch the skin)... it would be quite hotter than the other breast. I did burn pretty badly by the end, but I was on a very aggressive protocol and got 2 grays per day and had the bolus used every day. It all healed well though, and pretty quickly. I ran a half marathon 10 days after I finished. PS said that after about 3 months, the area would tighten a bit, and it has.

If your RO prescribed a steroid, I also would advise you to take it; it is to reduce inflammation reaction. If you are not going to take it, you at least need to tell him/her. It is ultimately up to you what you do, but you do need to work as a team with your providers and keep them informed about what you're doing or not doing, otherwise they will expect to see the inflammation down and it may not be. They just need to be informed so they can adjust plans accordingly. We always have to work as a team with our providers. That does not mean always blindly doing what they say, but it does mean keeping them informed about what we're comfortable doing or not doing. I know these are hard decisions. Best wishes with whatever you decide.

I too have debated what to do. I saw two radiation oncologists and they both felt a wait and see attitude would be a valid choice. In the first 5 years after my surgery my chance of a recurrence would be about 5% and would go to 8% to 10% in ten years. If I have 16 radiation treatments my chance of a recurrence would be reduced to negligible. My husband and kids encouraged me to do it. I went today for the planning session and first treatment. It was no box of chocolates! I had to remain still, in the same uncomfortable position for 20+ minutes. Both shoulders ached and one arm went completely numb. It was painful. Tomorrow I go back and they have assured me the treatment will take only a few minutes. I sure hope so and I hope I'm not so sore I can't get through it. I'm taking Aleve and would advise anyone to take some kind of medication prior to the planning session. I wish I had taken something before my appointment today.

I decided to do the radiation now because if the cancer returns in 5 or 10 years I'll be that much older and that much less able to handle the side effects. I am trying radiation but if the side effects are terrible, (which I doubt because I had pelvic radiation years with no skin problems and only brief fatigue) I will stop the treatment.

My tumor was on the R side, 10:00 position, 1.3 cm. My RO told me that with a Luminal A tumor, node-neg, at nearly 65 I was eligible for external-beam APBI for 16 sessions, rather than the whole-breast 33-session protocol. Sounded like a no-brainer. And it turned out to have been nowhere nearly as traumatic as what friends who’d had the 33-session protocol went through. No fatigue whatsoever. Redness, tanning, some swelling and hardening, but NO irritation, broken skin, blisters or pain. Yes, that breast has a bulge on the side but that’s more due to the seroma from the lumpectomy. The fibrosis is softening, the tanning over the scar is fading, and the redness is now faintly pink--my dermatologist has me using a steroid ointment. I did develop mild lymphedema in my right arm, but it was due as much to having 4 nodes removed and being mildly obese. (The SNB area from which the nodes were removed was NOT within the radiation field).

All in all, I’m glad I took that leap rather than rolling the dice by refusing radiation. I have no fear of lung damage, nor of sarcoma. (Heart damage was not even in the cards, as my tumor was in the R breast).