Radiation with implant

warrior6
warrior6 Member Posts: 18
edited November 2016 in Radiation Therapy - Before, During, and After

Just had a mastectomy and 1 stage reconstruction. It was not anticipated that I would need radiation. They did not get clean margins and now recommending radiation to the axilla area. Any input

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  • 2016CancerDX
    2016CancerDX Member Posts: 6
    edited November 2016

    I had 33 radiation treatments with implant. Finished August 25th and still dealing with a lot of swelling and firm, somewhat hurtful breast. My radiation oncologist said it could take two years before the worst is over.


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  • warrior6
    warrior6 Member Posts: 18
    edited November 2016

    that is why I did not do lumpectomy....I did not want whole breast radiation. So I did mastecomy with immediate reconstruction, which my Plastic Surgeon was able to do in 1 surgery. I now though have to do Radiation to the axilla due to the margin.

    I am a Stage 1, 1.3 cm, 0 nodes

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  • muska
    muska Member Posts: 1,195
    edited November 2016
    I had radiation after implant reconstruction. This was 2.5 years ago and the results are very good. There is only a slight difference in appearance that can only be noticed when naked. No other complaints.
    You shouldn't expect a perfect outcome but you can expect a very good one. Let me know if you have any specific questions..
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  • 2016CancerDX
    2016CancerDX Member Posts: 6
    edited November 2016

    I don't believe you would be asked to do radiation treatments if it wasn't the best medical advice they can give you. I can understand not wanting to go there and especially after going through the mastectomy. I know my treatments weren't at the highest level each dose because of my implant and that is why I had more than the normal amount. I think I would be asking what the benefits are to doing it and hopefully that will help you get to a better point. I see improvement daily - even if it is minimal there is some each day. SO trust what you doctors are saying is on your best interest - and if you don;t feel that way - then get another opinion from another provider. Good luck to you and let me know if you have other questions.

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  • Mariangel43
    Mariangel43 Member Posts: 136
    edited November 2016

    warrior6, I can see your concern. I have had my share of trouble with the chemo and mx things. I had a mastectomy with wide clean margins. My Oncotype score was 26, intermediate or limbic region, and said that my percentage of survival added was 12%. In relation to radiotherapy, the percentage was 4%. Since the percentage of gain was so low, I started to look for alternatives and found that partial breast irradiation (40 Gy, 16 rt sessions) was a good one. None of the ROs did this because they followed standard protocols (28-35 tx of 1.8 Gy). So I decided not to have RT. I talked to my MO and he decided to have me in constant watch.

    I know doctors have "good" intentions, at least I hope they do. However, I cannot accept every decision they make for me as if they were the word of God. They sometimes make judgment errors. In the case of RT, I am taking anastrozole for the next five years. My CA 15-3 has lowered from 33 (high) to 16 (normal) and I am still working to make the number smaller. I also in antioxidant therapy. I had one node with invasion of cancer cells and it was taken out. Because I have a high risk for lymphedema, I told I didn't want RT to my axilla (no negotiation with that).

    If you don't feel comfortable with the RO decision, look for another. The problem here are the not so clean margins. Better check out with your MO. You both find other alternatives for your treatment. And recognizing the importance of the medical profession, I will also have to add that they live from the services they provide to us. The economical benefit form 33 txs is not the same as 28 or 16. So protocols have an adaptive reason, specially in the economical level. To close the comment, I have to add that the guidelines for post-mastectomy patients have changed. Read and ask. Good night

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  • warrior6
    warrior6 Member Posts: 18
    edited November 2016

    Dear Cancer D,

    Thank you so much for your reply. So your implants were prior to Breast Cancer diagnosis?? then you opted for lumpectomy and so on with Radiation, but at lower doses. Did you have have issues with the implant after Radiation?


    Again, I went for mastectomy to avoid radiation and the PS was able to do 1 stage reconstruction. The issue was that my tumor (1.3 cm) plastered into my axilla and a fibrous web from the tumor surrounded 8 nodes. They exised the whole area...all nodes negative. But the cancer was found to the inked edge, so they are recommending radiation to my axilla, still awaiting onco typing to rule out (I hope) chemo...so hoping for less than a 25.


    Just did not bank on the surprise of my axilla area...


    thank you for the conversation


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  • warrior6
    warrior6 Member Posts: 18
    edited November 2016

    Dear Mariangel,

    Really see the you really evaluated all to make decisions that you are comfortable with...

    I am waiting for my onco type...and my MO has said if it is greater than 25...3 months of chemo. greater than 31..6 months..both followed by Radiation to my axilla due to the unclean margin

    i do believe I need the Radiation (although totally dreading), but also hoping that my score will be below 25 so no Chemo

    The Radiation dosing is my concern.....my armpit..just can't imagine many sessions.

    I'm just at the start of this all...all a total surprise from the start..and then the darn margins...ugh

    Thank you so much you are an inspiration to keep me ASKING...


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