Need help in deciding if I can go through w/ radiation.
I have read about alot of side effects (long & short term)
I have DCIS
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baywatcher Joined: Nov 2008 Posts: 351 |
Jun 28, 2009 10:45 pm
baywatcher wrote:
Yes, it is harmful but it wouldn't kill cancer cells if it wasn't. |
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nja922 Joined: Jun 2009 Posts: 3 |
Jun 28, 2009 10:53 pm
nja922 wrote:
Hi baywatcher, I am concerned that it is not necessary for my diagnosis. I have read that DCIS are pre-cancerous & don't always become invasive. Am I just being silly? The radiation is really scaring me. |
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baywatcher Joined: Nov 2008 Posts: 351 |
Jun 28, 2009 11:15 pm
baywatcher wrote:
The radiation scared me too. That is one reason that I chose a mastectomy instead of a lumpectomy with rads. I live in Key West so I get a lot of sun and I had already had a mastectomy on my other side. When I had to option of the lumpectomy and rads, the doctors that I discussed my case with stated that without rads there was a 50% chance of the cancer coming back. I don't know if that is correct but it made my decision for me. You can decide not to do rads. You are allowed to just say no. The problem is that if the cancer came back, would you blame yourself for not having rads? I didn't have rads but many women say that they are very doable. I was scared because I am in a support group with other cancer patients, not all of them breast cancer. One had rads 20 years ago (older technology I'm sure) and recently has heart issues due to rads. One of the women had rads to the side of her face and now her jaw bone is disinegrating. Scary stuff! There are just no good solutions to cancer treatment. Wish I could help you but you have to decide this on your own. Lumpectomy with rads is definately protocol. |
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rgiuff Joined: Apr 2008 Posts: 303 |
Jun 29, 2009 10:56 am
rgiuff wrote:
NJA922, ask about the probability of getting future cancers if you have the radiation, and the probability without getting radiation, based on your particular case of only having DCIS. And it also depends on your age. I've read even about some cases where surgery was all that was recommended for DCIS. Have you had the surgery already, and if so, what did your pathology report show? RoseG
Dx 4/2008, IDC, <1cm, Stage I, Grade 1, 0/4 nodes, ER+/PR+, HER2- |
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pj12345 Joined: May 2009 Posts: 599 |
Jul 30, 2009 07:31 pm
pj12345 wrote:
Modern radiotherapy has fewer risks than therapy 15 or 20 years ago. Consult with a radiation oncologist who will be able to explain the new ways of targeting the tumor and exposing the heart and lungs to much less radiation. Good luck whatever course you take. Pam Dx 3/3/2009, IDC, 1cm, Stage I, Grade 2, 0/2 nodes, ER+/PR+, HER2- |
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MsBliss Joined: Mar 2009 Posts: 136 |
Aug 12, 2009 08:00 pm, edited Aug 12, 2009 08:01 PM
by MsBliss
MsBliss wrote:
This Post was deleted by MsBliss.
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