Radiation after lumpectomy

@Anne65 Good on you to keep asking questions. I think after such a crappy time with chemo and two hospitalisations with neutropenia, a DVT and PE, I can't conceive of the rad being anywhere near as bad tho I am still anxious. I start on Wednesday and the plan is every day for 5 weeks then the rad onc will consider doing a boost across week 6.  I am envisaging that worst case scenario I may blister...so I know that's pretty optimistic given some of the stories I've heard.  I think the worst side effect I read was that it can actually cause cancer.  But the odds are small. I'm also 52. You have been fortunate not to have had your lymph nodes involved, which I had ... total axillary clearance ... 3/16 were cancerous and I am HER2 positive (grade 3) so on sub cut Herceptin till Sept.  My cancer was 2cm. I am guessing your cancer was Stage 1 as not involving nodes? I only found was told the Stage (2) towards the end of chemo and it was a shock as all along I had it in my head that I was not at a Stage ... that I had 'early cancer' and imagined this as stageless. But since then I have gotten over the label.  I'm no Dr, of course, but it sounds as though you are in a very positive position diagnosis wise.  Very glad it was caught so early on.  My start date for rad was moved fron 2/1 to 24/1 as I changed centres and all I want to do is get on with it!  I feel like I should be taking advantage of the free time but am just anxious 24/7.  I know when I start I will get back into a routine...then it's What Next?  Best of luck and do fill us in! xxx

Thanks @viking1. Yes, my mind is spinning. I have been reading a book today lent to me by my McGrath Breast Care nurse written by Professor John Boyages who is a rad onc which was very informative but shook me a bit when I read the side effects & treatment process. Nothing compared to chemo though!! I thought I would go ahead with the rad but now not so sure. Hopefully tomorrow will make it clear. I'll let you know! Glad that your gut feelings have worked out for you & your treatment. I agree with what you said about giving yourself the best shot at preventing recurrence & that has been my thought all along so thankyou for confirming that. Also, I guess you hear more of the bad stories than the good ones. I have had such good luck so far & I guess I'm afraid it may run out if I don't give rad a go!! I'll blast him with questions tomorrow & hopefully it will become clearer. Thanks for your post & your care. xxxx

I had 13mm tumour out by lumpectomy with clear margins snd one node with 1.1mm carcinoma snd another node with changing cells. I had radiation snd am taking hormone meds as cancer was 100% oestrogen & progesterone but didn’t have chemo. Radiation was ok. Hormone meds are ok. I’d do the same again if I had too. But I’m looking at the alternatives right now for my future. To keep the cancer at bay. Your gut knows. 

Radiotherapy is usually a mop up after surgery I gather to remove any tiny bits of cancer surgery may have missed.My tumour was 1.4 cm 2 nodes removed one with microstasis . Radiotherapy was a HAD to for me - 16 rounds but chemo not recommended as believed would not contribute much to reducing risk of recurrence 3 % - they have tools they can punch the data into and assess risk and I assume they have done the same for you. I didn’t find radiotherapy too difficult - a lot of travel as daily zapping , skin damage was manageable with creaming 3 times daily and more if I felt necessary , a bit of enveloping fatigue at the end for a few days..Re creaming you need to do it during treatment and for 3 months after - I used Dermaveen but the ladies on here swear by MooGoo and it does muck up clothes .UV was a problem as we went to Cairns 6 weeks after treatment and I wore a rashie plus avoided lengthy adventures in the sun. Radiotherapy can have longer term side effects - I have had an inverted nipple which scared me as is a sign of bc but had mammogram ultrasound and needle biopsy all clear - was side effect of radiotherapy for me but ALWAYS get checked.I also have had an infection needing lengthy antibiotics and chest pain also checked by ECG and clear. Radiotherapy can have bone impacts causing weakening and fractures.Its not quite been a walk in the park as side effects occurred months later and scared me.I also had LHS bc deep in my chest above the heart. I can’t answer for you however - the best I can do is tell you how it was for me and hopefully the information may alleviate some of your concerns.I also placed my faith in a wonderful oncologist and listened carefully to his guidance.I would ask your oncologist their advice and act on it. 

@Anne65 That's a hard one. I guess if it was me, I would ask the rad onc what they would do if in the same situation. My theory being that if we do all we can to prevent recurrence, we've given it our best shot.  Having said that, I am aware of side effects etc which can cause problems.  So I don't have my head in the sand.  It really is a hard call.  I am sure many people go with a gut feeling.  I refused two suggested 'treatments' based on a gut feeling and luckily I made the right call. One was refusing a PICC line for my last round of chemo...I didn't want an invasive procedure when I knew they could use ultrasound to find my veins.  Plus I only has one chemo left! Turned out they didn't need to use ultrasound ... a Dr 'good with veins' found mine.  The other was refusing Lipeg a second time.  It is supposed to help prevent neutropenia, which I had two bouts of and ended up in hospital. The second bout was three days after the Lipeg injection.  I just felt strongly that it was a side effect of Lipeg, as stated on the Lipeg literature brochure.  I didn't get neutropenia again thankfully. I also found out on this site that many ppl had a similar reaction. But the Drs said it wasn't possible. So, I just maintain it works for some and not others. We are all so different.  Good luck with your decision xx

HELP...I need some advice from you lovely ladies! I haven't posted for a while as I was between treatments. For those that don't know, I had a lumpectomy on 21 Dec. with no nodes removed. The surgery was very successful, with a 8.5mm cancer removed with clear margins. The surgeon said on my post-op appt that she thought i wouldn't even have to have radio but the medical team would discuss my case & come to a conclusion. Well, outcome was having me at 50/50 needing radio which brings me to now when I am meeting with a radiation oncologist tomorrow to discuss my 50/50! I HATE making decisions but I am sure he will tell me the pros & cons & then leave it to me to decide whether I want it or not. I reckon I have been extremely lucky so far with the "best cancer" removed successfully with a lumpectomy so now I need some word of advice before my meeting tomorrow on whether to risk not having it or playing it safe. i am 52 y.o. & the cancer was high nuclear grade & my mum dies of ovarian cancer when she was 46 y.o. Any words of advice would be great. I am not going to hold any of you accountable but just interested to hear the thoughts of you wonderful ladies that have been through it all. Thanks! xx

@viking1 I’m obviously not ready to die yet. When my brain tumour was diagnosed I started RE-reading “you can heal your life” by Louise Hay. I’d read it many times before when hospitalised with mental illness after ECT at 17 after my Mum died. Each time I’d reread the book I developed a deeper understanding of the lessons the book was teaching me. So knowing the tumour was growing I decided to use the back section of her book where she lists diseases/illnesses and where or how they came to us and then an affirmation for us to use to undo the disease.  I made little cards with the affirmations on them and placed them on the fridge, mirror, in my purse etc. then I made a tape in my voice thanking the tumour for coming to teach me something new. If you read the book you’ll see each section starts with “In the world where I live all is perfect whole and complete” and I continued with several sections of her book and did a visualisation of the cerebral fluid, being thicker than baby oil with a rainbow effect like oil on water, coming up into my brain and breaking down the tumour and washing it away. I played this 30/45minute tape every night as I went to sleep. I was scared stiff the tumour would leave me unable to walk, speak and/or ???  First found tumour in Aug 99 - many tests, specislists, chemo meds to shrink & finally surgery to remove March 2000.  When I came out of sugary I got visits from theatre staff & notes saying it was like magic in the operating theatre that day. The “energy” was noticeable by the staff and one even said it was like there were angels in there. 
Fortunately im able to disassociate so when im
facing surgery I leave my body till after. I’ve kearn d a lot from my medical history. Doctors make mistakes. It’s tour body, AFL questions snd where possible ALWAYS get a second opinion. With my brain tumour my first neurologist surgeon made a wrong diagnosis so I got two more. The first was peeling my skin from hairline snd going in behind my eyes. Dr Charlie TEO agreed with the Brisbane surgeon who went up through my nose to remove. Lesson trust your gut & get 2nd opinion. 
The other thing I’ve done is read as much about “it” (the op/disease) as possible.  Be informed. Ask questions. 
I use guided meditations a lot snd relaxation and practice mindfulness at times. 
When im overwhelmed and none of this Is working I talk to someone, drink wine and/or hide in bed and go to sleep to get away from my racing thoughts. 
I’m hoping you’ll get something from this. 
Msg me if you’d like more info on guided meditations or anything. I’ve spent 50yrs tried yoga, doing therapy of one kind or another and have been volunteering with Lifeline as a telephone counsellor, an advisory council member with Qld Voice, Gold Coast Medicare Local now Gold Coast Primary Health Network and Days for Girls so my life is fulfilled by giving back - it makes me feel much more warm & fuzzy than any paid employment I’ve ever had. 
I’ve been seeing a psychiatrist for years and on antidepressants & now a mood stabiliser and that’s kept me ‘?sane?  I’ve done heaps of therapy and tried yoga, tai chi, Pilates, walking, dancing, feldenkrais, massages, aromatherapy, - try anything - everything. Sewing, knitting, crochet, gardening, swimming. Whatever works for you. And sometimes do nothing if that’s what is best for you at that time. 
Hopethat wasn’t overload.

@viking1, lol. I'm 43 and my heart attack was February 2016 long before chemo. It was 7 months after my mum died and I think it was from all the stress of looking after her and then all the grief that followed. I'm sure you'll be fine as you are on blood thinners ,but jeez it takes it till all this treatment. I'm utterly exhausted with fatigue and aching joints from chemo. Due to start on Letrozole in 3 weeks time. Had enough of all the drugs gone into us and wish I didn't have to take any more. Get that dust pan ready lol, by the end of it all you might need it.
xo

@sandramj If anyone has been down a rocky road, I think you are one of the top contenders! You deserve a medal for all you have been through.  Basically, I had no health probs from 16 - appendix - to 26 - anxiety and depression, still being managed. Then 52 and a lousy little 2cm lumpectomy. I think you would have a lot to teach us about resilience...do you have any tips, say your top 5, if you are okay to share, for getting through this? You have gone through so much, it would help me to know what drives you or what you do when faced with another challenge. My resilience has been pretty weak, and after two bouts of neutropenia I was a total cry baby and the side effect wall hit me in the face. A week off chemo helped. But I am amazed at how you have put up with so much and keeping on going. Thank you xxx

@LMK74 Jesus what a bugger! Just a cannula causing a prob! I am due my CT scan for rad next week eeek! I think I will get my GP to look at my arm from last cannula that was put in 'the wrong place', the crook of my elbow, where they do bloods. The Dr said the nurse shouldn't have put it there for my neutropenia hospital stay due to dense underlying veins etc? I now feel like there is something left behind (the cannula burst open after abut 4 days). I sometimes need to place my arm as if I am waiting bloods to be taken so it isn't painful when in another position. I guess if it is a clot, I am already on the Fragmen but your story has me wary! Did you have the heart attack from chemo? I am on Docetaxel now - one more to go and chemo over ... or me over!!! BUT on my 2nd shot of Herception - 15 to go. I know this is bad for the heart. I was thinking you are in your 30s? That is a lot of strain on your poor body.  I wonder after my treatment is finished they will need a dustpan and brush to sweep me up. Bloody side effects!!!