Only just beginning...decisions & choices!

I had a lumpectomy for a left-breast breast cancer that turned out to be a slow-growing type which had not spread to the lymph glands.  Next step advised by the surgeon was to have radiation.

 But it dawned on me, the radiation would reach my heart & I have a bio-tissue heart valve.   When I brought that up with the medical oncologist, she agreed with me... that a single mastectomy would have the same outcomes, but would avoid radiation.  Her advice was to go back & speak to the surgeon and also consult with the radiation oncologist.  The surgeon agreed that it was the best option for me to avoid the radiation.... because he said the left-breast radiation would reach the heart.  The radiation oncologist was brilliant, too, and backed that decision.  

So I then had the mastectomy & no radiation.  Went very well, no cancer was found in any of the tissue removed.  Then the medical oncologist put me on the estrogen-blocker, Femara, because the tumour was estrogen positive.  I've been on Femara a few months now & haven't had any side effects yet.  

I noticed that the Information Booklet given out at the Mater Private Hospital where I'm being treated actually says that that one reason women might choose mastectomy is to avoid radiation.  I think it's something to be talked over with the treatment team.  In my case, it was clear-cut.... not wise to have radiation on left breast with a bio-tissue heart valve underneath.   I hope all goes well with you & the decisions you make in collaboration with your doctors.  There's sure heaps of support from other women on this BCNA site.