Hepatitis C & Cancer treatment

[connclp]

I have recently been treated for Breast Cancer, just completing 36 treatments of radiation. the next step is Tamooxifene or Raloxifene (hormone inhibitors for 5 years).  Both these treatments can cause problems with your liver.  I have Hep C  type 1A diagnosed 5 yrs ago. Everything was not so bad  really, last year by viral load was 1 million per whatever, this spring prior to cancer treatment it was 2 million and my gastro doctor was concerned, but said to take care of my cancer treatment.  One of my oncologists suggested that I also start the hep C treatment since I would be on the preventative side with the breast cancer issue once my radiation was completed.  I went to my gastro Dr last week and discussed above and we agreed to wait to see what reactions I have  from the Raloxifene before starting the inferon treatment so we know which one is causng me problems.  Today I received my blood results back and the viral load is 21 million, I am upset and wonder what I am to do now. I think that the cancer (stage 0 ductual carsimona in situ) and radiation treatment has compramized by health in the last couple months. What do u suggest my next step should be?? - I am in my mid fifties  and really was  in good health before all this happened.

[connclp]

My lumptectomy did not produce clear margins so 2nd surgery was breast reduction of both breasts. I was big (5 lbs of tissue taken) and dr's felt that with the breast reduction and radiation of a smaller breast plus the hormone inhibitors as after treatment was the most agressive and practical treatment.  I did develop a infection (3 different bacteria - went to infectious diease dr too) from the breast reduction and was on antibiotics (augmentin) for a month prior to the radiation.  I am begining to think the increase in my viral load is attributed to that infection plus my immune system being taxed by the radiation and cancer.   I think I might have to speak to the infectious diease doctor again.  My radiation onconoloigst insists that the radiation had nothing to do with it.
They never considered the virus first, there main concern was to take care of the cancer first then worry about the next problem to address.

[Hepatitis Researcher]

Was not one of the offered options for this type of ductal carcinoma in situ a total mastectomy, with several reconstriuton options, , with no radiation required, and no after treatment required? Considering that your immune system needs to fight the virus, that might have been a wise consideration.