Radiation or wait and see?????

[10944]

I recently had left breast surgery for two areas of DCIS stage 0, with high grade necrosis.  The margins were clear, but the areas that were removed were large.  It was a partial mastectomy.  I have large breasts and a history dating back to 1973 of fibrocystic breasts with 13 tumors removed.  The last surgery for the fibroademomas was in 1985.  This new area of concern was treated the same as my previous surgeries and I feel that since they had clear margins I must be cancer free.  My surgeon wants me to get radiation since the larger area was 3cm x 5cm and the smaller was microcalcifications an inch and a half away.  I had a consult with a radiation oncologyst and he said it was up to me whether I had radiation or not.  I am negative for estrogen or progesterone receptors and need to know what to do because of the conflicting advice.  I am 64 years old, Caucasian, without any family history of cancer.  I am in good health and would prefer to wait a few months before making a decision.  Do I have that option, or am I fooling myself? I am also concerned about the side effects especially heart problems since this is my left breast. I have always been very vigilant in getting my mamograms, sonograms and recently MRI and core biopsies for this recent episode.  Would it be prudent for me to wait until the spring ( April) and perhaps get another MRI befor going ahead with the radiation if you feel it is indicated?

[10944]

Thanks for the advice!!

10944

[gogogo89]

I agree with japdip.....My surgeon didn't give me an option not getting radiation after lumpectomy. She really didn't want to give me mastectomy for my one "little DCIS" but if I refused radiation, she would needed to force me mastectomy. Many studies and researches convinced me to go with radiation.

[japdip]

Waiting a few months isn't an option .... either you are going to accept the standard treatment for your particular condition or not. Radiation following excision of DCIS is the standard recommendation and clear margins have nothing to do with it .... if clear margins weren't obtained you would be having a re-excision. To refuse Radiation would in my opinion a very risky choice ... certainly one I would never make. You might consider a second opinion from another Oncologist since you seem conflicted by the different recommendations ...  Regards

[gogogo89]

I was diagnosed with one small area (3mm) of DCIS in my left breast in Sep and had lumpectomy in Oct. The margins were clear and my surgeon strongly recommended "lumpectomy followed by 6-week radiation therapy" instead of mastectomy. Since my diagnosis, so many people who never had breast cancer asked me why I needed to take radiation. Well, I was very sure from the beginning that I need to take it because I am the one who has breast cancer and must live with it. So, I will start radiation on two weeks. You are the one who need to deal and live with it, so you must feel comfortable on your decision.

[Karen377]

I would not wait for anything.  I completed radiation in March 2008 and it wasn't that bad.  Better to be safe than sorry.  I would definitely have radiation.