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Opting out of radiation or chemo
Breast Cancer | Last Active: Dec 31, 2023 | Replies (98)Comment receiving replies
Like rene1636, I had a lumpectomy (4/4/23). Low grade, noninvasive, stage 0 DCIS, 7mm with 6mm clear margins, no family history. I’m 65. Not taking hormone blockers. With the Sloan Kettering nomogram, my chances of recurrence are 6% in 5 years and 9% in 10 with lumpectomy alone. Radiation would reduce those already low numbers by 50%. I’m leaning toward saving my one opportunity for radiation in case of an invasive lesion in the same breast in the future. These are all difficult decision, I know.
Replies to "Like rene1636, I had a lumpectomy (4/4/23). Low grade, noninvasive, stage 0 DCIS, 7mm with 6mm..."
Why can you have radiation only once?
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Hi @katho3 -- In 2013, at 54, I had a double mastectomy since I have the BRCA2 mutation. (We later discovered I also have the CHEK2 mutation.) My cancer was stage 1, medium grade, DCIS, LVI, 7 mm, clear margins, HR/ER+ HER2-. Radiation and chemo were not recommended due to the mastectomy and stage 1. My surgeon told me 1-3% chance of recurrence. Then my oncologist (her partner) told me I had a 99.6% survival rate with a hormone blocker and 99.2% without so he recommended I didn't take it. Ultimately, I only did the surgery.
In 2020, I found a lump in my chest and pectoral muscle. It was now highly aggressive cancer. Removed by surgery, but I had a positive margin. 37 radiation treatments. Now on Kisqali and Letrozole for over 2 years and for as long as they keep working. I'm 64 now, the meds have side effects, but nothing to make me stop taking them.
My original surgeon acted shocked I didn't take a hormone blocker originally and said it would have reduced my risk of recurrence by 50%. I saw her the entire 7 years for follow-ups and she knew I wasn't taking one. CYA
Bottom line - my current oncologist completely disagrees with what I was told back in 2013 both about risk and meds. You may want to consider getting a second opinion for peace of mind. Also remember that you can always stop taking the hormone blocker if you can't tolerate the side effects. I hope this is helpful. Blessings to you!