Radiotherapy or no radiotherapy for early breast cancer?

[stressy_messy]

Hi you can look up your predicted outcome on adjuvant online.It does say that you have to be a medical profesional to use it but I signed up a a few years ago and haven't had the internet police round yet lol.I have also put some information below about exercise from the cancer institute hope it helps.

What is the relationship between physical activity and breast cancer risk?

The relationship between physical activity and breast cancer incidence has been extensively studied, with over 60 studies published in North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. Most studies indicate that physically active women have a lower risk of developing breast cancer than inactive women; however, the amount of risk reduction achieved through physical activity varies widely (between 20 to 80 percent) (6, 7). Although most evidence suggests that physical activity reduces breast cancer risk in both premenopausal and postmenopausal women (6), high levels of moderate and vigorous physical activity during adolescence may be especially protective. Although a lifetime of regular, vigorous activity is thought to be of greatest benefit, women who increase their physical activity after menopause may also experience a reduced risk compared with inactive women. A number of studies also suggest that the effect of physical activity may be different across levels of BMI, with the greatest benefit seen in women in the normal weight range (generally a BMI under 25 kg/m-squared) in some studies. Existing evidence shows a decreasing risk of breast cancer as the frequency and duration of physical activity increase. Most studies suggest that 30 to 60 minutes per day of moderate- to high-intensity physical activity is associated with a reduction in breast cancer risk (4, 6).

Researchers have proposed several biological mechanisms to explain the relationship between physical activity and breast cancer development. Physical activity may prevent tumor development by lowering hormone levels, particularly in premenopausal women; lowering levels of insulin and insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I), improving the immune response; and assisting with weight maintenance to avoid a high body mass and excess body fat (7).

Melxx

[Guest user]

PS I have read about some studies that show that regular exercise can decrease the chances of recurrence in bc by as much as 50%

[Guest user]

many thanks to all of you for your responses, they really are very much appreciated and valued. I have asked my oncologist for statistics on survival rates according to treatments, but she has told me that the research simply is not there re: younger women (I'm 39) and my stage and grade of BC going without rads. That is, the adjuvant online print out she gave me, did not allow for radiotherapy to be taken out of the picture. I have a 97.7% survival prognosis in 10 years with rads)but have no idea how this is altered by my not having the rads. She was unable to tell me what my risk of recurrence is generally without rads. This means I feel I am not able to make a properly informed decision. also, I understand that although rads are effective at preventing recurrence, they do not impact on all over survival stats?? I find this tricky to understand. Currently I am swinging between choices. I am anxious about the long term effects of rads on the breast, as I understand it hardens the tissue permanently and so on and also does not put on weight in line with the rest of your body (I'm currently underweight and worried what will happen when i regain weight). I'm not worried about these issues in terms of vanity, but in terms opf psychological/emotional aspects. Thank you again for all your responses, sending love you all. maria

[Guest user]

Hi Ladies
Like some of you I also pop in to this site from time to time, mostly I have to say when an anniversary of my BC is around.
I was diagnosed in October 09 with DCIS had two operations and radiotherapy, would always recommend the radiotherapy why would you not have it if it gives you a better chance of survival??
The worse part is the daily drive to the hospital but even that in the end becomes almost comforting as you are being looked after.
I saw my surgeon for the first time today a year from my second op to get clear margins. Thank god after a 'very' thorough examination he pronounced everything fine, I just have to wait for the mammogram now which I'm terrified of having, but as the surgeon said at least we are keeping an eye on you!
Most of the time I don't think about the cancer, I promise that you do stop thinking about it morning noon and night eventually and you do start to enjoy life again (believe me a few months ago I wouldn't have believed it either) but you do and I don't worry about trivial things like I used to before BC.
Take care all of you, sending postive thoughts to all of you.
phillippa x

[stressy_messy]

Hi,I think you should talk to your oncologist and find out what the benefits are for you having rads and tamoxifen.Radiotherapy is ok for most I had no problems,just the journey was a bit of a pain everyday.The website link put up by gretchen could be helpful but to work alongside conventional medicine not as an alternative.I wouldn't go on the word of a herbalist(just my opinion).

Best wishes and good luck Mel xx

[Guest user]

Talk to your onc about the statistics.

Very good info on lifestyle changes you can make can be found on Chris Woolams website http://www.canceractive.com give fantastic advice and his books are brilliant too. My situation is very different to yours, but I tried to limit conventional medicine where possible and looked into alternatives.

[Guest user]

I know how you feel as I am in similiar position but grade 2 and wasn't happy about radiotherapy. I am a person who likes to know and so my oncologist talked to me and then gave me a printout of the statisics behind all possible treatments to take home and an appointment to discuss it with him after I had thought about it. Could you ask your oncologist to discuss it too? I found that mine was concerned that I made a decision that I was happy with (I did decide to go along with it) and also he said I could change my mind later either way if I wanted to. Good luck.

[Guest user]

Hi Maria

I did see a herbalist and was prescribed a cocktail of supplements - can't remember all it included but definitely had turmeric and spirulina. I took it for a couple of years, then stopped and mentally put it all behind me until 6 months ago.

I wouldn't reply on alternative therapy, although it probably sounds as though that's what I was doing last time, but I really thought the risk of recurrence was so small it would never happen. Perhaps it wouldn't have if I hadn't been through two pregnancies with an ER/PR+ cancer. Doctors agree the cells may have stayed dormant if they hadn't been provoked, although it's entirely speculation on everybody's part.

One thing I would say about radiotherapy now is that when you look at side effects, they're based on equipment that's 10 years old. Things have moved on since then and apparently it's much more accurate now, although some hospitals have more up to date machinery than others. I'm going for it this time once chemotherapy is over, even though it's borderline because I've had mx and lymph clearance, and only 3 nodes positive where the recommendation is radiation after clearance for 4 or more nodes, but I did have extracapsular spread so it seems worth it, especially now i have two lovely daughters to live for.

Good luck, there isn't a right or wrong decision, it's all about weighing up the risks and being able to live with what you decide.

xxx Jane

[surfie]

Hi Mazonga,
I was diagnosed with a 6mm IDC ER+ with no node involvement in March this year. I decided that I wouldn't have Rads as statistically it didn't look as though it would make much difference. I went as far as getting the tattoos for rads before I decided, and I did talk to the oncologist about it. I wouldn't rely on a herbalist though.

I have dropped dairy, and I am trying to eat less meat but I have always eaten loads of fruit and veg.

Jane, it is good for me to hear you don't regret your decision as well.

[Guest user]

Hi, I was diagnosed in June with 6mm DCIS, had wire guided WLE and re-excision as mixed grade with no clear margins, ER & PR positive, so was no question I would go for the 15 rads strongly recommended, nothing to lose, everything to gain, no question of tamoxifen at moment but please do not rely solely on a herbalist - I didn't need to make any lifestyle changes, I am have good diet, good lifestyle, not overweight, don't drink or smoke, so it can happen to anyone of us. Cancer is not selective and we must all do everything we can to eradicate it from our bodies, the Consultants and Oncologists know what they are doing and we are lucky to have the benefit of their experience and have a wonderful NHS to help us all through this ordeal. Very glad had the rads and nowhere near as bad as I thought!

Keep us posted as to what you decide, our thoughts are with you, it's a lot to take in at a vulnerable time.
Lorraine xxx

[Guest user]

My circumstances are very similar to you.. except my WLE was Oct 22nd and tumour was Grade 2 (no lymph node involvement as in 0/3 setinel nodes removed and no vascular invasion ER/PR + (8/8) and Her2 neg). I was told chemo would do me more harm than good but that radiotherapy for 4 weeks was recommended as a precautionary measure to combat chance of local recurrence, which I started 4 days ago. I am also taking Tamoxifen, started nearly 4 weeks ago, again as a precautionary measure for reoccurrence.

Personally I wanted everything possible to stop re-occurence...to the point I have asked many pressing questions about not having the chemo "belt and braces" approach. Even now my thoughts are still dominated by the fear it may return

I agree with previous poster and no way would I trust a herbalist when dealing with Cancer. Similarly, I have been assured by both Consultant Breast Surgeon and Consultant Oncologist that there was nothing I could have done to prevent "getting" breast cancer so whilst I agree with healthy lifestyle options this is only in terms of keeping well enough to cope with what we have to endure having treatment for breast cancer.

Bettina

[CheshireCheese]

If it were me I would do the radiotherapy. It's very easy to do, not like chemo, and improves your chances to being equivalent to having a mastectomy. It's tedious and boring, but it's so much easier than the alternatives. I would not rely on the advice of a herbalist.

[Guest user]

Thanks Jane. I'm sorry to hear about your recurrence. I hope that things have settled down for you now. I was wondering if you tried any alternative or complemetary therapies, or whether or not you had tamoxifen? Many thanks for your response, it's good to hear you don't regret your earlier decision. Maria xxx

[Guest user]

Hi there

I was diagnosed with a 7mm IDC, no nodes, no vascular invasion, clear margins. I didn't have radiotherapy because the statistical benefits were so small. I didn't have chemotherapy either for the same reason, and that I wanted to have children.

5.5yrs on, I got a recurrence. I'm not saying it's anything to do with not having radiotherapy and actually, I don't think I would do anything differently if I had my time again. Just wanted to share my position with you. The recurrence was in my lymph nodes, although I'd had lymph sampling. No one can say how it got there or where it was hanging around, or if radiotherapy would have killed it off, or if maybe it was already in my nodes waiting to grow.

Best of luck with your decision; it's a tough one. xxx Jane

[Guest user]

Hi, this is my first posting. i was diagnosed with grade 1, stage 1, ER+, herc- IDC following wide local excision on Oct 20th. the tumour margins were clear, so far it hasnt spread to my lymphs and there was no vascular involvement. Thge plan is for me to have three weeks of radiotherapy (40g5 x a week) followed by 2-5 years tamoxifen. I was just wondering if there is anyone out there with a similar diagnosis who has gone without radiotherapy. the radiotherapy nurse been told that the radiotherapy may be overtreating me and I understand there is not much connection with longterm survival, just local recurrence. I am seeing a herbalist who works alongside orthodox consultants and she states I can do without it, although there is no guarantee it wont return. I have made many lifestyle changes, including stopping smoking and drinking, no dairy, more fruit and veg and supplements, exercise and de-stressing etc. One thing I have not done is connected with any women with similar diagnosis who have left off the radiotherapy. Any comments would be appreciated.