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08-06-2012, 05:15 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 31
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Is Radiation Needed?
I am currently taking TCH chemo for HER+. My tumor was 1 cm with no node involvement. I had a lumpectomy and the surgeon assured me that all the cancer was removed.
After reading a lot of articles apparently I didn't need to have chemo. Now I am wondering if I need radiation. Any advise would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Mary Jo
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08-06-2012, 06:15 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Port Hedland, Australia
Posts: 382
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Re: Is Radiation Needed?
Hi Mary Jo,
I needed to have radiation due to size of tumour and micromets in sentinal lymph node. I am under the impression that if nodal involvement of lymphatic invasion present than radiation is required to 'mop' up!
I''m afraid I don't have the answer to your question so maybe get a second opinion ar ask your rad onc directly and for the reaasoning behind the decision. It could be a 'send in the big guns' approach which is what we did with mine hopefully! You need to be comfortable with your treatment plan s ask ask ask.....
Good luck
Jenny
__________________
Diagnosed Nov '10 IDC whilst pregnant with 2nd child
Her 2 ++ ER/PR + but weak and patchy 50% + 5%
Left mastectomy Dec '10, 6cm tumour 1 of 2 lymph (micro mets)
Clear margins but lymphovasculer invasion
Stage 3a Grade 3
Fec 100 x 3 Jan '11 Taxotere X 3 and Herceptin X 1yr
Staging scans - CT brain & body and bone - May '11 - NED!!
Start Femara - in chemo induced menapause
25 Rads June '11
Dec '11 Menstruation resumed - zoladex inj monthly and Tamoxifen
Feb '12 Back on Femera and Zoladex
March '12 CT brain & body & bone scan all clear
Zometa x2/yearly
April '12 - Oopherectomy
Praying the Herceptin is as good as its hype!!
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08-09-2012, 08:02 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 31
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Re: Is Radiation Needed?
Hi,
Thanks for all the input it was very informative. I have read different opinions on Rad., but listening to everyone makes me retink my decision.
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08-09-2012, 09:48 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Cordoba, Mexico
Posts: 672
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Re: Is Radiation Needed?
What Becky mentions here is exactly the same my oncologist told me after my lumpectomy. Paty
__________________
Dx. June 30th, 2006 at age 43
Lumpectomy rt breast
2.2 cm tumor, 13 nodes all negative
ER-PR+,her2+++
6 FAC
32 Rads
Dx. Lung fibrosis due to radiation
Ended 1 year herceptin in March, 2008
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08-10-2012, 02:21 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Ireland
Posts: 3,463
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Re: Is Radiation Needed?
I also was told a lumpectomy always was followed by rads to zap any remaining cells around the surgery site.
__________________
Tricia
Dx July '05 IDC 1.9cm Triple positive 3/9 nodes positive
A/C X 4 ..Taxol/Herceptin x 12 wks then herceptin 1 yr
Rads x 36 ..oophorectomy August '06
Currently taking Arimidex..
June 2011 osteopenia/ zometa x1 yearly- stopped Zometa 2015 as Dexa show normal bone density.
Stopped Arimidex July 2014- Restarted Arimidex 2015 for a further two years on the advice of my Onc.
2014 Normal Dexa scan
2018 Mammo all clear, still NED!
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08-11-2012, 07:27 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 31
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Re: Is Radiation Needed?
Hi,
Looks like Rad for me. The battle rages on. My Onc. said I have a 90& survival rate. Makes me very hopeful. Has anyones Onc. give any info on the cure?
Thanks,
Mary Jo
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08-11-2012, 08:28 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: france
Posts: 1,648
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Re: Is Radiation Needed?
You are getting Herceptin, aren't you? That's really important even if for a short period only.
__________________
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08-06-2012, 07:06 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Stockton, NJ
Posts: 4,179
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Re: Is Radiation Needed?
Radiation is mandatory after lumpectomy. If you had had a masectomy with the small tumor and no nodes involved, you probably would not need radiation. However, lumpectomy with radiation equals the same non-recurrence rate as masectomy. You must have radiation.
__________________
Kind regards
Becky
Found lump via BSE
Diagnosed 8/04 at age 45
1.9cm tumor, ER+PR-, Her2 3+(rt side)
2 micromets to sentinel node
Stage 2A
left 3mm DCIS - low grade ER+PR+Her2 neg
lumpectomies 9/7/04
4DD AC followed by 4 DD taxol
Used Leukine instead of Neulasta
35 rads on right side only
4/05 started Tamoxifen
Started Herceptin 4 months after last Taxol due to
trial results and 2005 ASCO meeting & recommendations
Oophorectomy 8/05
Started Arimidex 9/05
Finished Herceptin (16 months) 9/06
Arimidex Only
Prolia every 6 months for osteopenia
NED 18 years!
Said Christopher Robin to Pooh: "You must remember this: You're braver than you believe and stronger than you seem and smarter than you think"
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08-06-2012, 10:07 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 463
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Re: Is Radiation Needed?
Mary Jo, without all the details, we probably cannot give you definite answers.
But I think that we need to clarify that there is a major difference between mastectomy and lumpectomy, as far as radiation therapy. Radiation is STANDARD after lumpectomy, for any invasive breast cancer (and some DCIS). After lumpectomy, the radiation recommendation has nothing to do with tumor size, LVI, nodal involvement, etc. It is standard of care, because lumpectomy without radiation has an unacceptable rate of local recurrence.
As for not doing chemo, I don't know what you've read, but I've never heard a recommendation not to do chemo/Herceptin for a 1cm HER2+ tumor. The quandary right now is what is the smallest HER2+ tumor that should get chemo and/or Herceptin -- but they are talking under 5mm (.5cm) in that discussion, I believe.
I would recommend a second (or third) opinion from a comprehensive cancer center anyway, but even more strongly for you, when I hear you voicing doubts about your treatment recommendations. You want to be sure you have all the information that you desire on the table, that you fully understand that information, and that you trust your provider(s) -- before you make your decision. Good luck with that, and keep us posted about your thought process and your plans.
Debbie Laxague
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