[Jean]

My Dear Sweet Wonderful Becky, my sister my friend!

I understand 100% how you feel. I always question and review everything a dr. tells me. I feel your annoyance at the rad dr. He let you down...okay enough about him
let's move on....

First of all (knowing how detailed you are) like someone else I know...lol....

Let's consider the following:

DCIS itself isn't life-threatening/ now thats a feel positive side. We still must take it seriously.
It is the future development you are concerned about.
Studies show that women with small invasive bc have shown that radiation after lumpectomy can lower the risk of cancer coming back by 66%...okay...BUT this cannot be automatically applied to DCIS...

First of all that DCIS of yours was small, low grade, was removed and is gone,
you had great margins....another positive.
There are DCIS that remains dormat and never does anything. (hopefully) your DCIS was that kind, no matter anyway, your DCIS was removed.

There was a trial #10853 called the European Organization for research and treatment, this study had 1,010 women...who were followed up after 10 yrs. who had DCIS/half were treated with radiation after surgery/the other half was not.

After 10 yrs follow up 85% of the women treated with radiation therapy had no recurrence of DCIS compared to 75% of women who had no radiation after lumpectomy. The overall surival was THE SAME in both groups.

Okay...the study does show a higher % for those who did receive the radiation...but Becky it is not a MAJOR
marked difference. Besides you know how I feel about stats...so you have a slight difference ....

Second: You had aggressive treatment with chemo/and/herceptin...in the early stage we are going to see new data on those groups of women who are early stage and had that treatment.
Plus - you are taking a AI which is another arrow in your quiver to fight this disease.

You eat right, you exercise, you take your supplements,
you are doing everything you can do.

While it is not unusual for the surgeron to advise the rad dr. what he believes should be considered for treatment (I know my surgeon did send detailed notes over to the dr.) one would think the rad dr. puts his 2 cents on the treatment plan. If you are in need of seeing a rad dr. in the future, I would seek
another two and then decide who you believe to the better dr. for you of all three men.

The what if's and should haves will destroy us. You are 4 yrs. out now...you are doing great...and I am sure you will continue to do so. You will stay on top
of your breast care and if anything should arise....in that breast you are on top of it.

Please feel better and rest your mind...enjoy the holiday weekend.
I love you.
Jean