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Deciding on radiation or not

Breast Cancer | Last Active: Oct 31, 2023 | Replies (74)

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@wpglea

Your situation mirrors mine; cancer directly over the heart. Only full doses of radiation are recommended for me, and I have continually said, "No", which really antagonizes the surgeon. Without radiation, the surgeon will only preform a radical mastectomy, even though I have had two surgeries last year (1. lumpectomy+ and removal of lymph nodes; 2. tissue removal on the heart muscle to achieve clear margins). If I agree to seven weeks of radiation, he will "snip" the current tumors which appeared along the lymph node incision, and I will save what is left of my breast. I have been warned of a possible heart attack.

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Replies to "Your situation mirrors mine; cancer directly over the heart. Only full doses of radiation are recommended..."

This sounds distressing. Can the surgeon really refuse treatment unless you agree to the radiation? Has a radiation oncologist weighed in? I was treated separately--first surgery, then referral. But I never promised to do any particular course of radiation or even any at all. (Did end up with 15 treatments). Might you need a second opinion, or a surgeon who is more willing to work with you as a person?

I don’t understand tissue removal on the heart muscle. This sounds really scary. God bless you in your journey. I’m still trying to get a consult for proton therapy.