Anyone from Chernobyl zone?

dragonsnake
dragonsnake Member Posts: 159
edited May 2016 in Just Diagnosed

I've been recently diagnosed with DCIS, awaiting a lumpectomy for more detailed diagnosis. I lived in the proximity of Chernobyl during the nuclear plant explosion and after that for 10 years  (Kiev, 100 km). I know that rads is the standard treatment after lumpectomy for DCIS, but I think It's dangerous for me to go through with them. Does anyone have any data on the clinical approach of BC patients previously exposed to low doses of radiation for years? My maternal side of the family has no history of any cancer, and only distant paternal relatives with endometrial (aunt) and bc (distant aunt). I  was on Paleo diet for the last 3 years thinking I did great things for my body, and here I am, with this  present for my 50 th birthday. 

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  • CJSharma
    CJSharma Member Posts: 464
    edited May 2016

    I don't have answers but I'm very interested in hearing what is said. I lived 15 miles from Three Mile Island in the US when it melted down, and have thyroid nodules and no family history of breast cancer. I, too, am worried about rads.

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  • dragonsnake
    dragonsnake Member Posts: 159
    edited May 2016

    Dear CJ,

     My mom was a part of the medical team involved in studies of the immediate damage after the Chernobyl disaster. A lot of radioactive isotopes were released at the time, some short-lived, some long-lived. As I understand, the most concerning were iodine that goes into the thyroid gland and cesium that competes with calcium in bones.  All  people exposed to fall-out  have issues with the thyroid gland. This is what I know from a doctor specializing in this matter. However, I'm not aware of any research on  usage of radiation treatment on the exposed people. I would normally ask my mom, but I cannot do it without raising a suspicion. She does not know about my diagnosis. She deliberately did not do any breast exam on herself after having the same pre-menopausal symptoms as I have now. The topic freaks her out, she just wants her peace of mind. Who am I to demand any involvement from her or to judge her decisions? Looking at her  I  almost regret having mammograms  and figuring out I have a problem. My mom is 77, no evidence of any breast problem now, still lives within 100 km from Chernobyl.

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  • CJSharma
    CJSharma Member Posts: 464
    edited May 2016

    Dragon - oh goodness, that must be hard. I want to know what's up so I can fight it, but I do get where your mom is coming from. And you're right, you can't make her do something she would rather not. Three Mile Island did not have the same radiation release, but there was quite a bit, and there is an increased incident of thyroid issues and cancers in the area of release. It seems counter-intuitive that if radiation is a possible cause for the cancer, that radiation would help prevent it from coming back. I have a degree in biology, so I have a basic understanding of all of this, but school was a while ago.

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  • dragonsnake
    dragonsnake Member Posts: 159
    edited May 2016

    Dear CJ,

    Sadly, radiation is just  a killer for cells, an indiscriminate killer that destroys both good and bad ones.  I wish they would improve imagine techniques to recognize between cancerous and non-cancerous cells in a living matter, and kill just the bad ones. But here we are, dreaming of trips to Mars, finding planets just like Earth,  and neglecting applied research. I was really surprised to find  out how little was done in the field of medical research and in  radiation technologies since the 90s, when all this information revolution happened.

    I will post another message on the radiation treatment board, maybe, somebody knows something.

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