Decision: radiation to breast only or include lymph nodes

Anonymous · August 2017

WinnerWinner · August 2017

I have completed neo-adjuvant chemotherapy with complete success per final pathology results. Because I chose a lumpectomy, I am to have radiation to my breast. However, my oncologist is undecided at this time as to whether he would recommend radiation to my lymph nodes. He said if he recommended lymph node radiation it would be because of my young age (38) and that I was node positive before chemotherapy. Of course he also wonders if lymph node radiation is overkill given that we know I converted to node negative. I do have the option to enter a trial where I will be randomized into one treatment or the other, but I don't know if I want to leave that decision up to the trial. If anyone had a similar decision to make how did you come to the conclusion you did? I'm leaning towards radiation of the breast and lymph node and since that would be me making the decision I would only receive 25 treatments versus the 33 under trial.

Castigame · August 2017

Hello,

My DX and treatment are quite diff from yours. 47, positive nodes, BMX w clear margins, chemo, clear scans followed by radiation w lymph nodes. I knew my treatment would be aggressive from day 1. Many people tell you kitchen sink or sinks should be thrown at this bleeping disease. Lymph nodes should be zapped if you ask me.

I am 20 out of 30 rad sessions done. In terms of difficulty, no node zapping does not make noticeable difference. Also, shorter # of trips to radiation is better because fatigue may make it it harder to drive to rad place. Don't mean to scare you but there is such thing called bolus which gets wrapped around side of your torso below the arm. If you get it, ask it to be cold instead of the usually warmed when they put it on you. after 9 tries of bolus, techs and I realized cold bolus is a lot better.

mimi

Decision: radiation to breast only or include lymph nodes

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