Had surgery, Don't want radiation...

Hi Fabulousmisty4, I'm in a similar situation. I had a lumpectomy, grade 3, 1.75 cm. My doctor told me she could give me rads without having the organs in the field but then when I was about to get on the table for the simulation, she changed her tune and said that a little of my bones and lung would be in the picture. The research I've done suggests that when you have a high grade DCIS with comedo cells, that radiation is a benefit to reduce recurrence. There are side effects but I think you need to look at your individual situation. If my tumor had been low grade I wouldn't have really considered radiation, but higher grade tumors are more associated with invasive cancers. I'm so sorry about your mother. I lost my parents to cancer also and they suffered. It's an awful disease. I would research and continue to ask a lot of questions. Ultimately you will need to make a decision you are comfortable with. I imagine that your internal guide or instincts will really help. I'm also looking for ways to detox my body of radiation in the event I receive treatment. all the best to you.

I am contemplating not doing radiation or endocrine therapy after my lumpectomy that was DCIS, I am wanting to hear how you are today, as I see that post is older. Hoping that you are well!!!

This is a follow up from my 2012 post. I just received the results of my yearly 3-D mammogram. It is normal as it has been since my lumpectomy in May 2012. I feel I should knock on wood because we never know. But I had only the lumpectomy and no radiation. I had a small low grade DCIS on my left side and was pressured to go for the radiation. I am not advising this for everyone as everyone is different and I would have acted differently if it was invasive.

Shellz11 - When you say IDC, do you mean that you were diagnosed with invasive cancer? Because if that is the case, then your situation is very different than the ladies here in the DCIS forum, where the cancer cannot, by definition, spread, and is therefore treated differently in some ways. You might want to repost this in the IDC forum.

That said, I had 6 weeks of radiation in early 2013 - 5 weeks of regular and 1 week of what they call boosts (radiation directly to the tumor bed). For me, it wasn't bad at all. I had no skin problems at all during the regular treatments, and what felt like a mild sunburn during the boosts, which faded quickly. I did have some swelling in that breast which took a while to subside, as well as some fatigue, but nothing that kept me from my normal routines - I just went to bed a bit earlier. The one noticeable permanent change is that the pigment on my areola faded ... looks a bit weird but is basically harmless and seems to be a known, but rare, side effect. My cancer was on my left side, but they had me do it in the prone position to minimize heart/lung damage. They told me that my heart was not in the field and that there would be minimal lung damage - nothing I would notice but it might turn up on a chest x-ray someday.

Coming up on 5 years out I can easily say I would do it again if for nothing else than peace of mind.

I had dcis in 2015. Had surgery and 33 radaition treatments. It was not bad but I did get some burning of skin. Now as of now I have lymphedema I have to see physical therapy 2 times a week and I have radiation fribrosis I've wouldn't say don't do radiation but just remember in future years u can have issues. As IAM. Also expect maybe some pain for quite sometime in breast and nerve endings act up maybe you will b lucky and have nothing. Just expect u could. I would say do the treatment. Now I opted out of meds for 5 years

We agree, Phoenixwmn, it is an advantage to be informed, and advocate for yourself. You are a strong group