support for foregoing radiation? - Page 2

Survivor2be · 11-25-2011, 11:16 PM

Just to share my story as well, which originally did NOT include radiation!!!
Triple neg, stage 2a at the time. I did chemo for 6 months first before I did my bilat mastectomy. The plan was to do the DIEP (which is take your belly fat and put t in your boobs). But I didn't have the time at work saved yet, so I just did the BMX and was gonna wait. However, I had 1/11 nodes positive, so now I have stage 2b triple neg. surgeon said I did not need radiation, radiation oncologist said new research out of Europe is showing promise to reduce recurrence and with your age and diagnosis, i think you should do it. So, since i didnt want to deal with cáncer again (funny story about that though!), so we planned for 28 days of radiation. I had to wait 10 weeks from original surgery so I could recover from the BMX and then axillary node dissection, then put tissue expanders and fill them. They did that for the cosmetic results. Radiation may cause the skin to loose stretch. I was a "D" before, so I didn't want to limit my reconstruction options. So I finally started radiation and it wasn't bad. Worked every day, no pain since BMX takes away sensation, no major redness cuz there is minimal skin-skin touching with an expander (not like real boob!). However, I grew a recurrence on radiation and then had to do another surgery and increase rads. I still tolerated everything well until the last boosts.

Currently, I've finished all treatment for the primary tumor except reconstruction. Plastic surgeon said to wait at least a year for radiated skin to heal. My skin looks really good, but I guess it still needs to age!!!!!

I know how frustrating it can be to wait!!!!get the TE for now and once ttreatment is over and when you're at the year mark, you'll have a great gift for yourself!!

norkdo · 11-26-2011, 08:36 AM

holy cats! "radiation causes skin to lose stretch". I never even thought of that nor did I think of the iimplication re: having a successful reconstruction afterwards. so is the better idea to have radiation AFTER reconstruction (with the suggestion of draining the saline out)?

Has anybody's oncologist given anyone a time frame inside which radiation needs to be done relative to diagnosis, etc? Is waiting a year for initial radiation too long?

norkdo · 11-26-2011, 08:44 AM

jillary I am so happy that you spent the time and energy to explain to me the details. god bless you for that. I am really taking in, from what you wrote, the idea of not delaying the radiation indefinitely. do you think that one year after my diagnosis is too long to wait? i am so excited about what you wrote, that i can get the radiation AFTER the reconstruction. also, i, too, do not want nipples. it probably makes kaput the idea of joining a gym ever again, cos i would be embarrassed to be seen in the changing room, but.....so convenient in other ways re surgery to recreate them etc...

Survivor2be · 11-26-2011, 09:43 AM

No, you should not wait a year. They want the radiation to occur quickly to "sterilize" the breast area. Get temporary expanders, do the radiation and a year after radiation, when the skin has healed, then you can do kick ass reconstruction with tummy tuck, nice boobs, nipples, etc. it will take time, but you will be alive and enjoying the results.

My doctor felt that the tumor was already growing immediately after the mastectomy and that's why I had a recurrence so quickly AND during treatment.

norkdo · 11-26-2011, 12:12 PM

ok. decided. thank you sooooo much. will get radiation in january then head towards reconstruction as soon as poss.

Anyone have advice on whether to get nipples installed?

chekmark · 11-29-2011, 05:37 AM

I had stomach issues before I was diagnosised so I was concerned when I started chemo that I would have even more problems. I take acidophyllis every day (3) for diverticulosis and I never had a single problem. No UTI's, nothing. My oncologist thinks that it very well could have helped. I will contnue on acidophyllis until I am told not to take it. It has helped my diverticulosis as well. Just a suggestion. I did not have radiation and will be having reconstruction next week. My plastic surgeon said the normal wait time afer radiation is usually 4 to 6 months depending on how the skin looks after rads. I, like you cannot wait to have my recon. Good luck to you. Stay well and god bless. Darlene

norkdo · 11-29-2011, 07:57 AM

today i buy acidophilius and am going to stick to it daily, thx darlene.
yesterday i met with surgeon. he suggests i do radiation asap. i will let my
radiation oncologist know today that i would like to start the week after
christmas. he had wanted me to start next week. (i love xmas prep)
Surgeon said i will probably get the reconstruction in june.
Good news yesterday: i finally have a family doctor. (hard to find one
in ottawa, canada, where i live...there is a big shortage for years now)
He prescribed me nexium for my heartburn and stomach issues. something
my oncologist never heard of, weirdly enough. i had first heard about it
on this site.

Rich66 · 11-29-2011, 02:46 PM

Mom has had a world of difference GI-wise since maxing out on florastor.

And there's this in my e-mail today:

Radiotherapy After Breast-Conserving Surgery Reduces Mortality/journals/journal_scans/Effect_of_Radiotherapy_After_Breast_Conserving_Sur gery_on_10_Year_Recurrence_and_15_Year_Breast_Canc er_Death.html/journals/journal_scans/Effect_of_Radiotherapy_After_Breast_Conserving_Sur gery_on_10_Year_Recurrence_and_15_Year_Breast_Canc er_Death.htmltcm:8-272965-64Effect of Radiotherapy After Breast-Conserving Surgery on 10-Year Recurrence and 15-Year Breast Cancer Death: Meta-Analysis of Individual Patient Data for 10, 801 Women in 17 Randomised TrialsEffect of Radiotherapy After Breast-Conserving Surgery on 10-Year Recurrence and 15-Year Breast Cancer Death: Meta-Analysis of Individual Patient Data for 10, 801 Women in 17 Randomised Trials20111128Effect of Radiotherapy After Breast-Conserving Surgery on 10-Year Recurrence and 15-Year Breast Cancer Death: Meta-Analysis of Individual Patient Data for 10, 801 Women in 17 Randomised TrialsRadiotherapy After Breast-Conserving Surgery Reduces MortalityS Darby, P McGale, C Correa, R Peto, et alS Darby, P McGale, C Correa, R Peto, et al201111122011 Nov 12LancetLancetBreastTreatmentThis large meta-analysis showed that radiotherapy after breast-conserving surgery not only substantially reduces the risk of recurrence but also moderately reduces the risk of death from breast cancer Background: After breast-conserving surgery, radiotherapy reduces recurrence and breast cancer death, but it may do so more for some groups of women than for others. We describe the absolute magnitude of these reductions according to various prognostic and other patient characteristics, and relate the absolute reduction in 15-year risk of breast cancer death to the absolute reduction in 10-year recurrence risk.Methods: We undertook a meta-analysis of individual patient data for 10,801 women in... Background: After breast-conserving surgery, radiotherapy reduces recurrence and breast cancer death, but it may do so more for some groups of women than for others. We describe the absolute magnitude of these reductions according to various prognostic and other patient characteristics, and relatJournal Scans20

LuckyLinda · 06-10-2012, 09:07 AM

So grateful for this post from JillaryJill. Glad to hear that radiation was "a breeze." Like you, I am a natural redhead and have pale, freckled skin. The radiologist told me that some of the people who have the lightest skin and seem most likely to burn surprise her by doing really well. I hope I'm on of those! I had a right-side only, skin-sparing mastectomy in Dec. with immediate reconstuction with an expander. At the time, both my plastic surgeon and I were under the impression that I would not require rads. I found out that I would need rads about a month into chemotherapy treatment (one positive node was as large as the primary tumor and had escaped the capsule). I was an A cup my entire life (except when I was breastfeeding). It didn't bother me or my husband. I just wore a great-looking padded bra. To allow for skin contraction, my plastic surgeon has over-expanded my right breast, which is now easily a C-cup (D???) and is as hard and round as a newborn baby's head. I thought I was going to have to put up with this all through radiation. I will be meeting with my radiologist and getting my CTscan on Wednesday and will be sure to ask about draining it down! I would be thrilled to have two breasts that are closer in size to each other! You have given me hope and encouragement. Four months after radiation for the implant surgery sounds w-o-n-d-e-r-f-u-l! I can do that! I have a wedding to attend in Italy on 1/01/13 and I will finish with Herceptin on 12/28/12. I'm looking forward to attending this wedding and celebrating the new year in style!

Westcoastgirl · 06-19-2012, 03:39 PM

I did 28 rads. Saline solution compresses (you boil it up the night before) was a god send. I used the lotion they wanted me to use and despite being Snow White I came through very well. Mostly it was like having a nasty sunburn. I was a tad obsessive re my skin care but it paid off. I waited a year before I did implants. I could have gone earlier but figured I should be well healed as I was going to go direct to implants without expanders. I would say the radiated side is very acceptable and the other side is lovely. I did not try to go as big as I was before breast cancer and the ps thought that helped my body accept the implants. Good luck! Carolyn