Radiation decision
Hello everyone, I was diagnosed 5 months ago with stage 3 triple positive (er+, pr+, and Her2+). I was told I needed the full package deal - surgery, 6 months chemo, radiation, Herceptin for 1 year...
Forum Discussion
Welcome to BCNA, @micaela ... to the club you never thought you'd be joining! It is a terrific platform for information & support xx
Well done on getting thru your treatment so well - I hope you're bouncing back well after the chemo xx ...... Those puppies certainly weren't doing you any favours, so as they say - better out than in! Terrific that you've not been worried about the double mastectomy & staying flat ..... it is a choice that I would probably make too, if I had to - but my own treatment was lumpectomy, rads & tabs.
I was offered 'minimal' treatment as an option after my surgery (which meant no radiation) - but I really preferred having 'standard' treatment, knowing that I'd thrown as much at it as I could - as I am not sure if I could live with the 'what ifs' if i HAD had a recurrence ..... so in a funny way, the opposite situation to what you were in!
But your situation is certainly different as you've had most of the flesh removed with your bilateral mastectomy so I fully understand your initial concerns/decision. You chewed it over & have decided to go with the rads - and good on you xx Compared to the surgery & chemo you've already had - chances are, you'll sail thru the rads. I was amazed at how 'relative easy' it was, compared to what I THOUGHT it would be like. This bloody disease often mucks with our brain even MORE than our body! grrr
Re dissociation with the diagnosis ..... that would be a No from me .... having nursed my husband thru his first cancer diagnosis, surgery & chemo - I 'thought' I knew all about it ... but when I got MY diagnosis .... I was in shock & had all the other emotions as well! :(
Take care, when do you start your rads? Put your town/city in your profile - we may have other members nearby who can point you to other services in your area .... cheers xx
Well done on getting thru your treatment so well - I hope you're bouncing back well after the chemo xx ...... Those puppies certainly weren't doing you any favours, so as they say - better out than in! Terrific that you've not been worried about the double mastectomy & staying flat ..... it is a choice that I would probably make too, if I had to - but my own treatment was lumpectomy, rads & tabs.
I was offered 'minimal' treatment as an option after my surgery (which meant no radiation) - but I really preferred having 'standard' treatment, knowing that I'd thrown as much at it as I could - as I am not sure if I could live with the 'what ifs' if i HAD had a recurrence ..... so in a funny way, the opposite situation to what you were in!
But your situation is certainly different as you've had most of the flesh removed with your bilateral mastectomy so I fully understand your initial concerns/decision. You chewed it over & have decided to go with the rads - and good on you xx Compared to the surgery & chemo you've already had - chances are, you'll sail thru the rads. I was amazed at how 'relative easy' it was, compared to what I THOUGHT it would be like. This bloody disease often mucks with our brain even MORE than our body! grrr
Re dissociation with the diagnosis ..... that would be a No from me .... having nursed my husband thru his first cancer diagnosis, surgery & chemo - I 'thought' I knew all about it ... but when I got MY diagnosis .... I was in shock & had all the other emotions as well! :(
Take care, when do you start your rads? Put your town/city in your profile - we may have other members nearby who can point you to other services in your area .... cheers xx