Decisions about Radiation.

Thanks as usual ladies.  I have decided to go ahead with the radiation.  There has been some new research released at the ASCo conference held in Chicago just a couple of weeks ago that looks like it might be practice changing for women in my situation with 1-3 positive nodes - particularly younger women.  It seem that there is a very strong trend showing that it not only helps prevent local recurrence but also survival.  I have spoken to a lot of people and specialists over the past week or so and feel comfortable and positive about the decision. "closing as many doors" as possible.  It won't impact my plastic surgery greatly and the surgery should also help reverse some of the radiation damage.  I will have to increase my fill in my expander which will be a little uncomfortable but may help with the shrinkage that will probably occur after the radiation.  The surgery can most likely be 6 months post radiation depending upon how I feel.

I had my 5th chemo yesterday - feeling a little crap today - achy already and still a little high on the dexamethasone.  I have to go back today to have a blood transfusion - seems I'm anaemic...  I had put the lasting fatigue down to the taxotere which I guess it is because it has made me anaemic.  Upside is my liver function is a little better (still down but better than last cycle).  I also have to have another biopsy on the skin of my breast (mastectomy side) I am growing a nice little lesion there - it appeared after my first chemo and we put it down to a skin reaction but it is still there and in the past week has started to change and grow.  It is close to my tumor location so I am a little anxious about it being some sort of local recurrence.  My surgeon is trying to fit a biopsy in today but I don't think it will fit around my transfusion so probably in the next day or two.  It could possibly be some benign fungal infection too.  

We also discussed PET scans with my onc yesterday and will go ahead with one after chemo finishes.  It is not covered by medicare for BC patients (I think you may be covered for advanced BC but not early BC) so out of pocket cost is $600. I will also get a bone density and the whole grease and oil as my onc put it at the same time.  

Tonya - I was told the tumor marker tests are not very effective in breast cancer - I don't think that they are a complete waste of time but I was told there are too many false results.  I am sure they will check your bloods though - always worthwhile at a yearly checkup.

So that's the update.  Better get ready to head in for my transfusion and another day on the onc ward! Yippee!

Have a great day ladies.

Amanda xx