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Breast cancer radiation after 70? What options have you considered?

Posted by beazerholt45 @beazerholt45, Nov 9, 2021

What options have you considered? No radiation - arimidex only? Is partial breast radiation an option.
ACS states women over 70 e certain breast ca characteristics may consider no radiation. Your experience in making a decision to skip radiation for anti-estrogen to only..

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lisman1408 | @lisman1408 | Nov 13, 2021
In reply to @joiful "I’m 79. Had bilateral lumpectomies in July; radiation in late September. My oncologist suggested he have..." + (show)
@joiful

I’m 79. Had bilateral lumpectomies in July; radiation in late September. My oncologist suggested he have the Onco test run. Excellent results. On Letrozole since 11/1. So far, so good.
Started counseling.
My PCP gave me a prescription for PT. Walking and exercising almost every day. Eating as healthily as I know - I have HYPOglycemia. My bone scan came back with more good news.
All-in-all, I feel lucky and grateful.

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I LOVE THIS POST!!! This gave me a terrific smile, and made my heart sing that you are doing so well!

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beazerholt45 | @beazerholt45 | Nov 14, 2021
In reply to @joiful "I’m 79. Had bilateral lumpectomies in July; radiation in late September. My oncologist suggested he have..." + (show)
@joiful

I’m 79. Had bilateral lumpectomies in July; radiation in late September. My oncologist suggested he have the Onco test run. Excellent results. On Letrozole since 11/1. So far, so good.
Started counseling.
My PCP gave me a prescription for PT. Walking and exercising almost every day. Eating as healthily as I know - I have HYPOglycemia. My bone scan came back with more good news.
All-in-all, I feel lucky and grateful.

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Great report! I’m interested in your experience w Radiation..what type, whole breast? For how long?, any negative effects?

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raebaby | @raebaby | Nov 14, 2021

I think i reported this somewhere but don't see it. I'm 80. I just finished radiation. I had a lumpectomy, chemo and then 30 sessions of radiation. I had some general discomfort from the radiation but it was mild and I had no fatigue. I had a tumor less than 2cm and 2 lymph nodes involved. If I ever had to, I would do the radiation again, but chemo made me so miserable I would skip it, except for Herceptin.

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1 reply
Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Nov 14, 2021
In reply to @raebaby "I think i reported this somewhere but don't see it. I'm 80. I just finished radiation...." + (show)
@raebaby

I think i reported this somewhere but don't see it. I'm 80. I just finished radiation. I had a lumpectomy, chemo and then 30 sessions of radiation. I had some general discomfort from the radiation but it was mild and I had no fatigue. I had a tumor less than 2cm and 2 lymph nodes involved. If I ever had to, I would do the radiation again, but chemo made me so miserable I would skip it, except for Herceptin.

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Raebaby, you can see all the posts you've made by going to your Profile. Simply click on your name @raebaby and then click "Comments".

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linda71 | @linda71 | Jan 20, 2023

I am 71, and stage 0 cancer free. My chances for reoccurrance are under 6%, and under 1% with radiation treatment. Is the treatment worth it in my situation or would the possible side effects possibly make it worse considering my age and the fact that radiation can cause other cancer ?

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1 reply
lared2009 | @lared2009 | Jan 21, 2023

You are certainly entitled to radiation at your age. I turned 70 taking radiation. There were older ladies there.
If you are worried about recurrence, you could do radiation then. You can’t do radiation twice on the same breast.
Next they are going to ask you to take an aromatose inhibitor if your tumor was estrogen-positive.
Look up overtreatment of stage 0 breast cancer.

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1 reply
marcia115 | @marcia115 | Jan 22, 2023
In reply to @lared2009 "You are certainly entitled to radiation at your age. I turned 70 taking radiation. There were..." + (show)
@lared2009

You are certainly entitled to radiation at your age. I turned 70 taking radiation. There were older ladies there.
If you are worried about recurrence, you could do radiation then. You can’t do radiation twice on the same breast.
Next they are going to ask you to take an aromatose inhibitor if your tumor was estrogen-positive.
Look up overtreatment of stage 0 breast cancer.

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I am 81 starting proton beam radiation---I had radiation in my left breast, but not proton, this
is my right breast stage 2 having it one week every day. what have you read about over-treating
estrogen-positive? are you going to take the pill for 5 years? I am not sure about that one, there are too
many side effects at my age.

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Mentor
Chris, Volunteer Mentor | @auntieoakley | Jan 22, 2023
In reply to @linda71 "I am 71, and stage 0 cancer free. My chances for reoccurrance are under 6%, and..." + (show)
@linda71

I am 71, and stage 0 cancer free. My chances for reoccurrance are under 6%, and under 1% with radiation treatment. Is the treatment worth it in my situation or would the possible side effects possibly make it worse considering my age and the fact that radiation can cause other cancer ?

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There are many, many people who get radiation in the 70’s. I would not fear this for you, as @raebaby and others have said, some into their 80’s.
You may or may not be recommended for endocrine therapy. This depends on your specific biopsy results, every person is different and every persons choices have to be a cost vs benefit decision for their own life. I would beg you not to make decisions on someone else’s experience. Not every breast cancer patient needs or benefits from hormone therapy, and not everyone who takes it has side effects.
Stage 0, definitely means you have more leeway in choices than a more advanced cancer. Did they find this on mammogram? How are you feeling about it?

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1 reply
linda71 | @linda71 | Jan 22, 2023
In reply to @auntieoakley "There are many, many people who get radiation in the 70’s. I would not fear this..." + (show)
@auntieoakley

There are many, many people who get radiation in the 70’s. I would not fear this for you, as @raebaby and others have said, some into their 80’s.
You may or may not be recommended for endocrine therapy. This depends on your specific biopsy results, every person is different and every persons choices have to be a cost vs benefit decision for their own life. I would beg you not to make decisions on someone else’s experience. Not every breast cancer patient needs or benefits from hormone therapy, and not everyone who takes it has side effects.
Stage 0, definitely means you have more leeway in choices than a more advanced cancer. Did they find this on mammogram? How are you feeling about it?

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Yes on a mammogram. I am more leaning toward no radiation as I am stage 0 cancer free non evasive. I am thinking that I should save the radiation if in the future I have another problem that I need more treatment for, It’s hard as there’s no real direction for this , everyone is evasive as I have to make a decision in such a short period of time, I am afraid to make the wrong one

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