Optional radiation following mastectomy

Hi Sister, yes he said about 5% too, but I think that's based on research that lumps 1-3 nodes together as well as other factors are grouped so I think it might actually end up lower than that for me, although I don't know for sure that's right because I don't think they have done that research yet. I might be overthinking it :neutral: Thanks for sharing how you made your decision - it helps. x


Hi TonyaM, sorry to hear it's come back after all that. That really sucks. He did say scarring was a risk for me. I've also been told I wouldn't be able to have an insert for reconstruction if I wanted one for the same reasons as you. I haven't decided if I want reconstruction and have just started using my permanent prosthesis in the last week. It's not too bad but I can imagine that it has drawbacks as a permanent solution. It's hard to make all these decisions at times, so thanks so much for responding, and good luck with everything. x  

Hi TaraV, just from my experience(2 bouts of bc) if a specialist says it’s optional or it’s up to you,then it’s not absolutely necessary.I had a lumpectomy,full node clearance and 6wks radiation and the darn thing came back 7 yrs later in the same spot! So there are no guarantees and all the treatments come with side effects.I have scarring on the lung as a result of radiation and it also restricts my reconstruction choices should I want to go down that path.My skin is less elastic and can’t take an implant.I had my mastectomy in 2010 and I’m ok with it but I do get fed up with it sometimes.I think you need to consider whether you want recon down the track and also ask your radiation onc if your lung/thyroid/ribs  could be affected.It’s easier to decide when you have all the facts and stats.

Did you actually get a % of how much it would help?  That may put it into perspective for you.  I think mine (hard to remember now) was about 5% and that was enough to decide for me.

Thanks very much, Arpie. I appreciate your input.

I was talking to a friend recently who had had everything the first time her breast cancer appeared (well, surgery, chemo, radiation), and she got an ongoing condition from her radiation treatment (I forget what it was :/ ). I must admit that put me off, but I think it's also that I've been having treatment for 9 months now with still 5-10 years of HT to go (which I know can be ok but can also be rough), and I think I'm liking the opportunity to skip something. It's also the way it's been presented to me - kind of "the stats show it will help (a bit) but take it or leave it" - where everything else has been much more, "you really need this". And I'm just starting to feel more energetic since I'm nearly 4 weeks post surgery and 2 months post chemo - I wanna go up not down! :smile: 

Oh well - I'll think about it some more.

Thanks again and good luck with everything. xx

Hi @TaraV  - that's a bugger that the one lymph node was involved  ....... my husband had 50 lymph nodes tested with his cancer (Stomach Cancer) & he was given the choice of chemo or not. He leaned towards NOT ..... I leaned towards YES .... cos you only get the one shot at it, really & the involvement of one node is one too many.    :(     9 years down the track, he is still with me - when only 25% others with the same condition can say the same.

I had my surgery this time last year & my Rad Onc gave me the option of a trial that was not going for rads or go with 'the norm' (as mine was found early, was small & had good clearance & not in the nodes) ..... but I preferred to go for the whole 4 week rads package (minus chemo) so that I knew I'd given it my best shot!  I had the Rads in the public system, so at no cost - and I also had low-cost  Hospital accommodation as I had to travel to Port Macquarie for my Rads Treatment - and was very happy with that.

You really need to go with your gut feeling ..... do you know other ladies who'd had BC treatment who have had (or not) had Rads? .... Can you chat with them about the treatment choices?  At the end of the day, you need to be happy with your choice.  Only you can make that choice.

Having Rads usually isn't anywhere near as debilitating as chemo ..... but if it decreases your chances of recurrence .... you need to be able to be happy with your choices.

I chose NOT to do the trial that didn't include rads - and had them.  I am glad I did.

Take care, and all the best with your ongoing treatment xx