Deciding on radiation or not

Do you have a link for the Cleveland Clinic NIH article, thanks?

I had a lumpectomy Left Breast with 6 mm tumor Invasive DCIS low grade. Ckecked w/my insurance to ck if Oncotype testing would be covered to find out if I needed chemo & my results were low % score for reoccurrence.
Did the same with the right Breast DCIS checked W/ins if Oncotype testing would be covered to test if I needed Radiation & my results were low % score for reoccurrence.
We have to be our own advocate in convincing our Dr’s & insurance plus most important is prayer & believing we will together Thrive With God’s Blessing!

I too am one of the fortunate ones. I completed about 6 wks ago radiation treatment. I used the mometasone and aquaphor cream (used saran wrap to protect some of my tops) twice daily and only had a darkening of the skin in the armpit area that has returned to normal skin color. I'm of the mindset I have three young (under 5) grandbabies I want to see at least graduate high school (I'm 70) so I'll do everything possible to increase the chances of that happening so once radiation was recommended and the reduction in recurrence percentage was presented - I went for it - gladly. I was also fortunate the technician was cheerful and the entire experience was painless (except the stretching discomfort of holding my arms above my head - after bilateral mastectomy). My last (I believe) step in this part of my journey will be deciding and getting approval for the maintenance medicine.

@frogjumper I know this been an anxious time for you deciding on this. I will tell you I had some side effects, bad sunburn, and fatigue from radiation. It was 18 years ago and radiation has come a long way, but those are the common side effects I hear from friends as well. I dealt with the sunburn with chilled 100% aloe Vera gel, no alcohol. I used every few hours, then aquaphor at night when I was home for the day.
I do not regret this, yes there is a possibility of other side effects down the road, but I never had to ask myself if I had done everything possible to stop this thing.
Are you still thinking about Proton beam therapy, or are you considering brachytherapy?

@frogjumper—I, too, am going back and forth about radiation. My diagnosis was low grade, stage 0 DCIS. I had a lumpectomy on 4/4; the lesion was 7mm, with 6mm clear margins all around and hormone positive.

On the advice of my medical oncologist, I am not doing the hormone blocker. The Sloan Kettering nomogram for my circumstances says 6% recurrence in 5 years and 9% in 10 years without radiation; reduced to 2% and 4% with radiation. I have a CAT scan on Friday to determine if I am a candidate for localized radiation vs whole breast. Radiation oncologist says my situation is “special” due to small size and large margins and I may be able to have a much abbreviated course. However, the lesion was over my heart. Proton therapy is not available here, nor is brachytherapy, but I was also told about the breath holding to help avoid the heart.

This is a difficult decision and it seems like I’m changing my mind daily. What makes it more difficult is that there is no clear or right answer. My PCP says the right path for me will become apparent and to go with my gut! Best wishes to you, @frogjumper.

Thank you frog jumper for your input. It sounds like we have a similar situation except for the pathology report. After speaking with my oncologist and radiology team again yesterday I am back to feeling calm and sure of my decision to have radiation with them. They are all such caring and compassionate people willing to comfort and assure . I am not going to take the medication and my doctor said she supports my decision because of my situation.
My twin granddaughters turn Sweet 16 tomorrow and it has been a such a joy in my life to watch them blossom into themselves. I understand your desire to be around for your grand babies. They bring so much happiness into our lives and that is the best medicine and distraction.
I’m truly grateful for having had a second opinion switching to a team of expert doctors and compassionate care. I’m trusting them and my decisions

Decisions are not to be made lightly in regards to radiation, Are you over 70? Consider skipping radiation in favor of observation and AI inhibitors-breast exam every 6 months and yearly mammogram.

Well, it looks like I'm in good company, in that we all have to make decisions that are not easy but come to our own conclusions eventually. I was diagnosed in January, had surgery in March. Teeny tiny tumor, they told me with 0 DCIS? Clear margins. The tumor had shrunk from 4mm to 2mm before surgery. Possibly due to some removal at biopsy. Clear Lymph Nodes. My daughter is a Reiki Master and has been giving me a 'healing' since my diagnosis. It's called Rohani. The problem with me is that I opted (against her wishes) for radiation as I only needed a couple of weeks and no booster. When I went to have the CT prep session, I was ok, but suddenly I had a panic attack, and the session was stopped. I felt such a fool! Then I tried the Pill (Arimidex) but had immediate side effects. It felt like I had taken several Valium, and knew I could not drive my car, because of that effect. I'm 79. Anyway, I had lots of Hot Flashes and decided to discontinue the Pill. I had read that within 24 hours of taking the Pill that your Estrogen level drops by 70%. I thought this was a bit extreme, assuming what I read was accurate? I also read in the Mayo Clinic Breast Cancer book that if you're over 70 with my diagnosis, it makes no difference in survival rates between women who have the various procedures done and women who do not. So, here I am - still having some Hot Flashes, even though I have stopped taking the pill some time back. Very odd? As I haven't had those Hot Flashes for years before now? I found some articles about foods that reduce Estrogen, so I'm trying that. Also, trying to figure out if going to Yoga classes might help, plus getting my lazy self out walking each morning. It's a trip! Plus, cutting my two glasses of wine with dinner down from two to one!! Good luck to all you ladies in your journey. Blessing to you all!

Thank you, it has been torturous! Today though I talked to my friend who had a rare blood cancer and we chatted about cancer therapy. And he said for me to not beat myself up because I could not make a decision because ultimately all of the 3 adjuvant therapies had very modest benefit, meaning were any of them worth the risk. It's one thing to know that benefit outweighs risk it's another thing when it's almost even or leaning more towards more risk than reward.
And some people view my actions as risky, because they believe you need to follow protocol. So when they question my decision du jour it freaks me out, then I go back to thinking lets rethink this.
This mind torture has been by far the most painful part of my breast cancer!

Sending you loving hugs. This decision making is not easy. I suggest taking all the facts for your situation and then take time to Stay quiet and listen. You will get the answers that are right for you and you only. Right or wrong ~your personal decision is right for you. Definitely my 30 yr meditation and yoga practice has been my saving grace for my body, mind and spirit.
Be strong in your decision and once you make it do not waver… that’s when I found my peace .
I had treatment #2 today and so far a little fatigue that sets in a few hours after . 🙏💕