Do I need radiation?

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Rayna_666
Rayna_666 Member Posts: 24
edited November 2016 in Radiation Therapy - Before, During, and After

I wondered if anyone has had a similar situation and what they chose. I was diagnosed with triple negative IDC (stage 111c, grade 3, BRCA 1 positive). I showed a pathological complete response to chemo. However, since I had lymph node involvement before chemo, I am being recommended to have radiation therapy even though I had a bilateral mastectomy. I have done some research and I have found that there is a lot of controversy as to whether it is necessary in such a case. I can either refuse, get the treatment, or join a research study randomly assigning me radiation or no radiation to help determine the answer to this very question. I don't know what to do...

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  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited November 2016

    Hi Rayna_666 and welcome to Breastcancer.org!

    We are sorry you have to be here, but really glad you found us. We are sure you'll be getting some answers soon from our ever-helpful community, so hang in there!

    We hope to hear more from you soon!

    --The Mods

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  • Leslie2016
    Leslie2016 Member Posts: 316
    edited November 2016

    Hey Rayna. It sounds like they want to radiate the lymph nodes, just to be sure that there aren't any more cells? I'm glad your chemo was positive, but I'm guessing they want to target where they know there was cells before.

    I'm really not sure if it's "necessary" or not as I'm still early in this journey, but for me, I'd error on the side of doing it to make sure there's nothing left to start growing again. Hopefully someone better informed than me will show up soon.

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  • Kat1984
    Kat1984 Member Posts: 47
    edited November 2016

    hi rayna,

    I too was triple neg and had a complete response to chemo and mastectomy, but I was stage 2a, no lymph node involvement. I battled with this decision too. In my case my doctors recommended against radiation as I'd had a complete response and NO lymph nodes effected. If I had nodes involved initially they told me radiation was a no brainer. I'm not sure if they helps but I hope you find some people who are in a similar situation. My doctors told me whatever decision I made I had to make peace with it and move forward, I have finally done that now and opted against radiation. Best of luck x

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  • Rayna_666
    Rayna_666 Member Posts: 24
    edited November 2016

    Thank you for the quick replies. I am glad I found this place so I can talk to people who have been through or are going through what I am.

    Yes, they actually want to radiate the lymph nodes and chest wall to make sure there aren't any cancer cells that were missed. I kept hearing horror stories about it messing up reconstruction too. My plastic surgeon doesn't seem phased by it though. He said he deals with it all the time and he will make it look great. I suppose that should be the least of my worries but I like to be informed on all aspects of what I am getting myself into!

    I feel like I would obviously not want to skip it when I actually needed it and have to start back at square one later on. The thing that would be difficult is I live 85 miles away and I would have to go 5 days a week in part of December and all of January. Where I live we get a lot of snow and the winter weather can be unpredictable. But like I said, if I do need it, I better get there...

    Thank you again for your replies. If anyone else has had experience in a similar situation, all input is appreciated.

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  • Houston2016
    Houston2016 Member Posts: 317
    edited November 2016

    Hi Rayna, I am too battling the decision with rads because I read that it can hurt ur heart and lung. Given my cancer was on left breast it worries me more. My Dx was stage 2b, IDC, left breast grade 2, had one lymph node axillary positive during initial biopsied. I had chemo AC+ Taxol April-September, left MX in 10/5 but had a RE-excision in 10/24 so I'm almost done with recovery, but I researched about the criteria for radiation with mastectomy is when you had 5-6 cm tumor plus lymph node biopsied positive. So in my case I will definitely have rads on lymph nodes, the chest wall not sure cause my tumor was 3.3 cm. But it also depends on the grade of your tumor and types of cancer. Mine is er+pr+ and her- but I believe there is greater risk of recurrence with triple negative so If I were you I would definitely do rads whole breast. In my case the OC said maybe and RO said yes so I'm seeking second opinion. Anyone has any ideas or suggestions? Thanks.

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