I was told no rads as my grade 3 tumour was treated by chemo and no nodes involved.
On a slightly optomistic note my mum in law was dx age 31 with highest grade cancer attatched to chest wall-she endured total very radical mastectomy and radium that left awful burns scars on her chest- she had my hubby 8 yrs later and lived to age 83yrs with no tamoxifen or lymphodeama and ate drank and smoked !!she was a great inspiration to me when l was diagnosed bless her.
sharonx
Thought I would join in on this one, a bit slow I know…
I had grade 3, stage 2 (3.5cm tumour) - initially planned for 6 x FEC chemo, WLE & rads. This changed during chemo, as I got rather ill and only managed 4 cycles - but my tumour shrank too much apparently and I had to have Mastectomy. I was then told that as all tissue was removed & no node involvement, that there was no need for rads!
I’m just glad I didn’t need rads or any more treatment than the Arimidex that I take now.
Luv Lynn x
I had grade 2 oestrogen receptive tumour 3 cm and had 3 x taxotere and 3 x epirubicin. Have just had op 2 weeks ago with sentinal node biopsy which was clear and I am still having Rads and Tamoxifen if this clears things up.
Luv Sherryll
Jumping in here a bit late, too.
I had a WLE and my breast care nurse said the rads is done just to ‘sterilise’ the remainder of the breat tissue.
If I had opted for the mastectomy I wouldn’t have been given rads.
I agree with the previous poster who said rads has its limitations as it is a local treatment. Systemic treatments - chemo, hormonals, etc - are the key weapons because they may prevent the development of secondaries.
I agree that some people like to take the belt and braces approach but if my oc said I didn’t need rads I wouldn’t do them. Quality of life issues are important.
Just my tuppence worth!
Lola
You can always have it later… Radiotherapy can only be performed once to any site.
If you are unlucky enough to have a recurrence in the same region, you will then be offered radiotherapy.
I had a mastectomy and tamoxifen only. I was clear for 6.5 years. When I had a recurrence in the scar, I was able to have radio and chemo which controlled it for another 4 years. I don’t wish I’d had chemo or radio at the time. I do wish it had been possible to safely continue to take tamoxifen as it obviously suppressed the disease.
If you have radiotherapy and a later recurrence in the same area, which sadly is possible, you cannot have radiotherapy again.
Wishing you excellent health and wellbeing as you recover your strength,
Jenny
Radiotherapy Hi ladies
My excision wound is very clean and healing nicely and bruising, swelling is also going down. Just wondered when my radiotherapy would start - is there usually a set time after op or does it all depend upon when they can fit me in?? I am expecting to have about 5 weeks worth according to consultant.
Thanks
Lorraine
No Chemo No Radiotherapy I had Mastectomy for lobular BC. I was really surprised when surgeon said it was clean away and I would only need Hormone Therapy. I had Grade 2 and no lymph involvement. I am now on Arimidex. Glad I got off so lightly.
Love Audrey xx
rads and treatment time Hi Lorraine,
can only give you my own experience. I had a WLE in Feb 2003, total axillary removal March 2003. Told I would have rads after WLE, but after my lymph nodes proved positive, needed chemo. quite a shock. as I never had a palpable lump in the first place - the tumour was seen on a normal 3 yrly mammo. Guess I started chemo (6 x FEC) in April 2003, complicated by having to withdraw from methotrexate chemo for Crohn’s in order to have the FEC chemo. Finished chemo late Aug 2003, but my Crohn’s needed to be addressed by inpatient treatment etc. Started rads mid October, 5 and a half weeks, and finished late November, so it was a long haul.
I was treated at a breast care centre of excellence, Derriford Hospital in Plymouth and there was never any question of delays in treatment - they always had dates for me for surgeries, chemo and rads, but my treatment was prolonged by Crohn’s. I have read that there are delays in getting rads in different areas of the country, but thankfully this was not a problem for me.
Hope you get sorted soon.
Love. Liz
No node involvement - had 20 rads Diagnosed May 05, grade 3 invasive ductal breast cancer, tumour 12mm no node involvement.
Treatment - WLE, node clearance, 6 X FEC and 20 Rads.
Don’t know if this info helps.
Adele