Hello
I had surgery at the beginning of April and, for many reasons, have yet to start radiotherapy. The delay was caused not by infection or chemotherapy (which I’ve declined) but because I had to switch hospital following a shocking lumpectomy. Anyway, my dilemma is whether a mastectomy would now be the safest option. It’s a tough call to make, and I’m not looking for advice – just wanted to ‘speak’ to someone.
Incidentally, I’ve been told that radiotherapy will shrink my breast – I am 32D – by about a cup size. I’ve tried to find photos of what radiated breasts look like once they have settled down but have had no luck. If anyone reading this is one/two years down the line, I would really appreciated hearing what the long-term side effects of radiotherapy are. My breast care nurse has showed me lots of photos of mastectomies so I have some idea of what to expect if I went down that route, but none of radiation post the initial burn stage.
thank you
I can’t really answer your question as to whether you would be better with a MX now, would have thought that providing there are no cancer cells left there would be no additional benefit. I would ask the question of your surgeon, presumably you will be seeing him/her before radiotherapy.
I finished radiotherapy 1 year ago, I had 20 sessions from 14 May to 14 June last year. I had surgery beforehand in early April so approx. 6 weeks before.
I only suffered slight reddening by the end and my breast is still the same size as before. I was a 34F before surgery and radio and am still a 34F now. The radiated side is a little harder, not as quishy for want of a better word as the other side and it looks a tiny bit more lifted but only without a bra. My surgeon did offer to do a lift on the other side, but I decided not at the moment as firstly can’t be bothered with anymore surgery and I want to leave it a good couple of years in case anything else happens in terms of size etc.
I have been on holiday twice since radio and have sunbathed and worn a bikini on both occasions and no-one would know they were different. And certainly with a bra on you cannot tell one jot there is any difference.
Hope this helps you.
Sam
Hi Stoic65
I have put for your below the link to BCC’s publication for Radiotherapy, I hope you find this helpful. Also, if you would like to talk to someone in confidence about your concerns please do give the helpline team here a ring, they’ll be only too happy to discuss this with you. Calls to the helpline are free, 0808 800 6000 lines open Mon-Fri 9-5 and Sat 10-2
Take care,
Jo, Facilitator
Hi Stoic,
I had a WLE followed by radiation treatment in 2009. My breast did get sore during the rads which they then did over 6 weeks with a boost (think its is usually shorter now?)- when I say sore, I mean red- like sunburn and swollen and inflammed. My skin appeared to cope very well although I did develop an infection. I would say tha the ‘cosmetic’ effects of the radiotherapy went on for about 6 months - ie the swelling and tenderness. I was a 34B and the ‘shrinkage’ was a longer term thing, but really minimal and unnoticeble in clothing/bras/bikinis.
As you say, it is a personal decision and you have to weigh up alot of considerations. I would add the following from my experience in case it helps-
I went on to lose this very same breast in June of this year after a reconstruction failed- I went on to have bilateral mastecomies after my orginal cancer treatment because I susbequently learned I had a braca1 mutatioln. One of the reasons the reconstruction failed was because of the longer term impact of radiotherapy. Anyway, what I wanted to say is that losing my breast had a much bigger impact on me than I expected. I am small breasted and just did not really think it would effect me as much as it has.
Good luck with your decision!
Rattles x
Thank you so much for your replies. It is so hard trying to make such important decisions alone, decisions not so much for today, but for the future too. What treatment is most likely to keep this wretched disease away. My cancer is invasive lobular and I understand this comes with a slight increase in propensity to recur. Plus the tumour showed both lymphovascular invasion and perinueral invasion. Again, I’m just sounding off here. Much easier than emailing friends, since they have no idea what I’m talking about, or what it all means. It’s dizzying enough for us who are going through it. It’s a lonely journey.
Rattles, I sympathise with your comments regarding losing your breast. Like you, I have been caught by surprise by how I feel about my own body now. My lumpectomy was a bosh job – no skill in either the cutting of the sewing – and it upsets me each time I look at that, so goodness knows how I would feel following a mastectomy.
Wishing all of us well.