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Radiation - Decided No
Randi,
I had a .9mm tumor ER/PR - , Her2+, no node involvement, grade III. I had a bilateral mastectomy followed by AC and then Taxol. Radiation was a BIG decision for me. I had clear margins but I had DCIS within 1 mm of the margins. THe docs would not decide for me - said it was my decision.
I went to Hopkins for a 2nd opinion. The rad onc said it was a close call. I said "what if I was your sister, mother, or daughter?" She said she would tell me no but that she did not want to see me back with a recurrence. She consulted 3 other rad oncs at Hopkins and they also said they would lean towards not doing it.
So... I spent a month deciding. I finally sat down with my onc, she said she thought that since I had AC and was going on Herceptin - which can both damage the heart...... radiation - even to the opposite side of the heart can scatter to the heart.
So I decided no - and I wonder about it, but at the time I, and my onc felt good about it. I was very aggressive in everything I did.
Good luck in your decision.
Olivia
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