Hi all. I have just had a wide local excision for low/intermediate grade DCIs and I’m waiting on pathology. At my check up today, the nurse said that there is a possibility the choice of whether to have radiotherapy or not could be down to me! This seems an impossible choice. I don’t like the sound of radiotherapy but obviously want to be safe. Anyone else had this decision and what did they do? Thanks
This is a tough one to lay on your shoulders. All I can say is that for me RT was an easy process to go through and I didn’t suffer any ill effects to my knowledge.
I think that as part of making your decision, your oncologist needs to be crystal clear about the risks of having the RT weighed up against the risks of not having it. Both decisions carry potential risks.
In your shoes I’d also want to know why the decision is being left to you to make. If they can’t call it, how can you be expected to? There is an argument for a second opinion here maybe?
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@daffodil30, Well done to you for getting this far with your treatment, decision are always extremely difficult I was not happy with the idea of radiotherapy, however it’s was suggested this tidy up anything that could be left behind.
This was infect the easiest part of my treatment, (15 rounds) apart from the travelling off course, this is a big decision and only you can make it.
Wishing you health and happiness going forward.
Hugs Tili 
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Thank you so much for your response. I may be getting ahead of myself anyway as it was only suggested by the nurse that this may be the case. It’s really reassuring that you didn’t have any ill effects. I think I’m just thinking the worst about what could happen with RT!
Thanks again!
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Thank you for your response. Glad to hear it was the easiest part of your treatment! I think I was getting ahead of myself as it was only suggested this may be the case. Talking to my family, they would all want me to have it ‘to make sure’ and I guess that’s the sensible option!
Thank you again!
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I had 5 days of RT and I found it to be a breeze. The radiographers are wonderful and the session is over before you know it. Most people including me say the worst part about it is the drive to and from appointments. xxx
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Thats great to know!
My hospital is luckily only 20 minutes away so hopefully it will all be a breeze! Many thanks again. It really is good to hear the positive stories rather than just reading worse case scenarios.
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Hi
I was also told that any ongoing treatment was my decision as I was deemed low risk
IDC stage 1a and grade 1
I have decided to have the RT as I am not sure I want to take Letrozole and would be worried about doing nothing . Just had my planning scan and start my 5 days after Easter
Consultant said that RT can only be done once so the risk of having it now is that a recurrence would mean mastectomy ( although hopefully the RT helps prevent recurrence )
Thank you so much for your reply. That’s useful to know too.
Good luck to you with your RT.