How vulnerable am I not having radiation therapy

Pat Scott · New User Joined: 06 Mar 2005 Posts: 2 Location: california

Hi, my name is pat. I'm sixty.I was diagnosed the end of may last year,2004.I had a hysterectomy in 1988.It was ductal carcinoma.ES was positive.Stage was 3A my tumor was 9cm.I had a radical mastectomy followed by Chemo, cytoxin and taxoteer.
My question is what could happen with out radiation.My surgeon and my oncology Dr.s insisted I have it, but The radiation Dr. after a CT scan said I was not a cantidate.He fears for my skin, I have Lupus, and my heart. He said the way my rib cage is shaped the radiation would hit my heart.
Confused

So where does this leave me? I see my oncologist in three weeks and he is putting me on tamoxifin (spelling). Am I likely to have a recurance.

Waiting for a reply
Pat[/quote]
_________________
Hi, my name is pat and I have been dealing with breast cancer for almost a year. I've had a radical mastectomy and chemo but I'm told not a cantidate for radiation because of my Lupus and the shape of my rib cage.

sgishelly

Pat,

Sorry that you are having such problems. I don't think I can be of any help. I am due to begin radiation in April. I cannot remember the exact figures but the radiation oncologist gave me a percentage cahance of recurrance both with and without radiation. There was enough of a difference to make me not question whether to have radiation. If I were you, I would get an opinion from another radiation oncologist. It would always cause me to wonder if I didn't.

Good luck!!
_________________
Shelly
Dx Nov 1, 2004 at 40 y/o
Right MRM, Left Simple Mast. - 12/9/04
Stage 2A IDC -
Primary tumor 1cm
3+ / 14 nodes, ER/PR+, HER2-
34 rads - finished 5/25
chemo - AC and Taxol FINISHED 7/6/05
beginning reconstruction 2/06
brain mets 4/06 - now stage 4

Cindy · Senior User Joined: 01 Dec 2004 Posts: 156

Hi Pat. Ask you rad onc if brachytherapy is possible. This is where they insert the radiation directly into the breast or area, over a 5 day period. I hope everything works itself out. Sending blessings.
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Where is the cure???
www.truefacesofbreastcancer.org
www.diepbreastreconstruction.org
www.bcsisters.org/forum
www.mybreastcancerstore.com

Minnlady13

Hi Pat. I hope Dr. Lu sees your post and responds some time this week. He should be able to give you some good advice. My onc. told me that the radiation would reduce chance of recurrance by 2 percent in my case. I suspect each person is different. I did do the radiation treatments. Good luck in your decision, Lauri
_________________
Diagnosed 4/11/1996
Lumpectomy, 6 mm tumor
Neg. nodes
ER/PR+
33 rads
Tamoxifen, 5 yrs.
NED

BFagan2067 · Experienced user Joined: 07 Oct 2004 Posts: 54

Pat sorry to hear about your dilemma. I too was dx at a stage IIIA, in 1998. I had A/C, Taxol, rads, tomoxifen and arimidex. I also have an autoimmune disease, crohns disease. So I am aware of the challenges that dealing with a combination of issues. It was never suggested to me that I not have radiation, however they did blame the serious radiation burning that I had on my crohns, which they told me after the fact that is sometimes one of the side effects of radiation with an autoimmune disease (Skin Reaction). The burns did heal but they were pretty serious at the time. Now based on what your rad oncologist says in regard to radiation with your lupus. I suggest that you get a second opinion. However based on your rib cage configuration and your lupus I am sure that any decision that you will have to make is not an easy one. You have done alot so far. I should also tell you that I had an allergic skin reaction to the tomoxifen, which took them a while to figure out the cause of the reaction. I then switched to arimidex and had no problems. Just finished the 5 years on the arimidex. My best to you, hang in there and let us know what you decide to do.
Hugs!
Barbara

Pat Scott · New User Joined: 06 Mar 2005 Posts: 2 Location: california

Thanks Barbara for your reply. My Dr. was also worried about me getting serious burning abd the soars not healing. A simple sunburn caused an awful flare up of the lupus abd moved into my parotid glans and started my sjogrens syndrome. my skin is very sensitive and I know the Rad Dr. had my welfare in mind, he had also consulted his colegues(sp) and my Rheumatologist before he made the decision not to Radiate me. I just wonder how suseptible I am to more cancer without the radiation. Is this a death certificate or what? I don't mind not having it, but where does it leave me?
I really appreciate your reply, it validates what my Dr. had told me.
Thanks
Pat
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Hi, my name is pat and I have been dealing with breast cancer for almost a year. I've had a radical mastectomy and chemo but I'm told not a cantidate for radiation because of my Lupus and the shape of my rib cage.

hhmv73a · Experienced user Joined: 16 Jan 2005 Posts: 95

Dear Pat,

Sorry to hear that you had this disease and is frustrated about whether or not you can have RT. Usually for patients with locally advanced breast cancer, radiation is indicated after surgery and chemotherapy. It is proven that adjuvant RT can reduce local recurrence and improve 5 year survival for patients according two large scale clinical trials. However, because of the side effects related to radiation, patients with connective tissue disorder should not receive RT, or should receive the treatment with extreme caution.

I think you radiation oncologists has assessed your situation and decided to recommend no RT to you according to your specific information. I think you should talk to him/her again if you have concern.

If external radiation is not recommended, usually we won't suggest brachytherapy either because the intensity is higher.

Regards,

Dr. Jay Lu

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