Yesterday I went to see the oncologist about whether to have radiotherapy following excision for DCIS. I was told rads would halve the risk of recurrence from 23% to 13% ish. I was told that there was no right choice only what would worry me more -the radiotherapy or further treatment. Since my recall from my mammogram last October I have had to make decisions-WLE or masectomy, another exision etc etc, Any advice on this decision welcomed.
If it was me, I would take whatever they offered - but that’s me! Halving the chance of recurrence is pretty positive. Again if there was just 1% in it, for me I would do it!
take care
xx
I had a similar dilemma when I had a WLE for DCIS. I did extensive research on whether rads are needed or not and basically, it depends on your age, the grade of the DCIS and whether clear margins have been achieved after WLE (clear margins are the biggest prognostic factor for DCIS) If you are over 50 with a low grade DCIS, then rads probably won’t make much difference and the side effects outweigh the benefits. However, if you are under 50, then at the moment, the research suggests that rads are beneficial.
I’m with Janey on this one I had WLE in November amd again in Dec to get clear margins, I have had 14 of 15 rad treatments (last one today) and admittedly after feeling very smug as I had very few side effects I am suffering now from very sore skin and emotions that are all over the place but I would still have had the treatment even after all of this.
x
Having made the decision not to go for the safer option of a masectomy my main concern is whether changes to the breast ie getting smaller and harder will make my already slightly odd breast too deformed. Other risks I think I can go with.