1. < Breast Cancer

Fear of radiation after lumpectomy

Posted by diane12 @diane12, Apr 19, 2018

I was seriously thinking of refusing radiation after lumpectomy because I had complete removal of tumor with wide negative margins. I was convinced that there would be no lung, rib, or heart radiation by using the prone(lying on stomach) with breast hanging down. They have been very careful with treatments & very accommodating so after 4 treatments I am feeling more secure by my decision to do this to ensure all cancer was caught.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Breast Cancer Support Group.

frogjumper | @frogjumper | Dec 1, 2023
In reply to @gina58 "Are you 65 or older? I’m 65" + (show)
@gina58

Are you 65 or older? I’m 65

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I'm 65 too 🙂

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frogjumper | @frogjumper | Dec 1, 2023
In reply to @maryanne7 "I am astonished that so many women on this board do not want to follow doctor's..." + (show)
@maryanne7

I am astonished that so many women on this board do not want to follow doctor's orders. Radiation for me was no big deal. You just have to show up and lie still. Good luck either way.

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I chose not to because the risks (my tumor bed was directly above my heart) were not worth the reward. I understand why people chose to do it but it really needs to be based on individuals tumors, age etc. It should not be a one size fits all treatment plan. Radiation is cumulative, and once you get it you can't get it again. I'd rather save that "ace in the hole" for another time.

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1 reply
maryanne7 | @maryanne7 | Dec 1, 2023
In reply to @frogjumper "I chose not to because the risks (my tumor bed was directly above my heart) were..." + (show)
@frogjumper

I chose not to because the risks (my tumor bed was directly above my heart) were not worth the reward. I understand why people chose to do it but it really needs to be based on individuals tumors, age etc. It should not be a one size fits all treatment plan. Radiation is cumulative, and once you get it you can't get it again. I'd rather save that "ace in the hole" for another time.

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Good point. Every patient is different. We can only share based on our own experiences. It seems that your decision is the right one for you. Good health!

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gina58 | @gina58 | Dec 2, 2023

Thanks all for sharing your truths. I was unaware that you can only do radiation once. My tumor was small 1cm slow growing on my chest wall near heart and lung. Why do so many women get cancer in the left breast?

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seathink | @seathink | Dec 2, 2023

I have asked my oncologist about the no radiation point, since we maxed me out on radiation a couple years ago at 38 years old to throw the kitchen sink at the aggressive TNBC I had.

She did say if we ever detected a little malignancy post-cancer on *another* part of the body, like my liver or leg bone or something we could use a very targeted radiation on that, in conjunction with other treatments.

That gave me a lot of hope and *definitely* encourages me to keep up with all the scans and bloodwork.

Hugs to all.

Incidentally I had BC on the right, but I think younger than most on the boards here. Interesting to ponder about.

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lifetraveler | @lifetraveler | Dec 2, 2023
In reply to @tapgirl "Wanting to give myself the benefit of extra protection, I opted for radiation. I wore a..." + (show)
@tapgirl

Wanting to give myself the benefit of extra protection, I opted for radiation. I wore a ComfortSling beneath my breast for as many hours of the day as I could manage. By the treatments’s end, I was quite tired, but the sling protected my skin from further damage – no open wounds, no pain of any kind. This was 8 years ago. I believe radiation was well worth it.

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Thanks for sharing your experience, but what is a ComfortSling? Where can we purchase it? Please advise. Thanks!

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tapgirl | @tapgirl | Dec 2, 2023

ComfortSlings are soft cushions on adjustable straps that fit comfortably under the breast.
Radiation can burn the skin, but the ComfortSlings allow air circulation which goes a long way toward protecting the skin. The cushions also prevent the harmful accumulation of perspiration and protect the skin from abrasive skin-to-skin contact and rubbing. They really are amazingly effective. http://www.comfortslingts.com

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Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Dec 4, 2023
In reply to @12hannah "I had lumpectomy then 15 radiation treatments then anti estrogen pills all since last Year November...." + (show)
@12hannah

I had lumpectomy then 15 radiation treatments then anti estrogen pills all since last Year November. Now in July I have chronic Myeloid Leukemia. I wonder if the radiation had anything to do with it? I am now taking Gleevec , a chemo pill with some side affects

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@12hannah, I'm sorry to hear of the double diagnosis. You may also wish to follow the discussions in the Blood Cancer Support Group here: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/blood-cancers-disorders/

In particular, I think you may wish to connect with others in this discussion:
- Does anyone have chronic myeloid leukemia (CML)?
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/does-anyone-have-cml/
Did your cancer team suggest that radiation may have increased your risk for CML? Are you on both anti-estrogen and Gleevec?

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shortie0650 | @shortie0650 | Dec 12, 2023
In reply to @shortie0650 "Thank you for the information. My mom died of breast cancer. She had a lumpectomy followed..." + (show)
@shortie0650

Thank you for the information. My mom died of breast cancer. She had a lumpectomy followed by a long course of radiation and 6 1/2 years of Tamoxifen. The side effects from these two treatments destroyed her quality of life and she got a recurrence despite following the full regime of treatments her Dr.'s prescribed. I know that if I refuse the treatments, my family will be super upset, but I don't think I'm willing to have my quality of life destroyed as my mom's was for the time I have left! 🙁 I have not yet seen the radiation oncologist or a regular oncologist - only the surgeon, so we'll see what's up after I meet with them. Has anyone out there ever tried the supplement Artemisinin (Sweet Wormwood)?? It is supposed to "dramatically kill breast cancer and leukemia cells while leaving normal breast cells and white blood cells unscathed. It has very few and mild side effects, but I can't find any testimonies of anyone who has actually taken it.

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So, I just had my second mammogram since my surgery in February of 2022 and it is clear. So far - so good! 🙂 I have been taking many supplements including the Artemisinin and Mistletoe injections that were prescribed by my naturopath and I have felt normal with no side effects for the whole time. Praying that it will continue, but so far I am happy with my decision.

Cheers,
Dona

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beachbabe | @beachbabe | Mar 5 7:51pm
In reply to @leebeth "I had to beg for a short course! And tell them I would just do it..." + (show)
@leebeth

I had to beg for a short course! And tell them I would just do it at home if it was 20 days. Haha.

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I am trying to decide whether to have radiation or skip it for my stage 1 HER+ BC. I was offered accelerated partial breast radiation which wouldn't be every other day for 5 days. If I don't do radiation and just take Anastrazole for 5 years my risk of recurrence over 10 years is 5.3%. With radiation and Anastrazole it is 1.6%. I'm 71 and had a lumpectomy 1.5cm tumor negative lymph node. Did you have any side effects? Fatigue or burns? Change in size or shape of the breast? I'm very worried about side effects and not sure if the benefits outweigh the risks given my low risk of recurrence. But also worried about not doing everything to reduce my risk.

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