Hodgkins Disease, Mantle Radiation and Breast Cancer

denbralou said:

Hodkins Disease
Has anyone here had been diagnosed with hodgkins disease in the past?

Yes I had Hodgkin's in 1987.
Yes I had Hodgkin's in 1987. I was stage IV and did a year of MOPP. No Radiation b/c I was far too advanced. Did you have it too?
Jennifer

denbralou said:

Hodkins Disease
Yes, I did have Hodgkins Disease in 1980 and was told that my breast cancer was probably caused by the radiation I received back then. Did you both receive radiation with your breast cancer diagnoses. I know they say they don't like to radiate the same area twice. Just researching because they are not sure if they want to do radiation until after my surgery which is scheduled for next month. Thanks much.

Hi
yes i was dx with HD in
Hi
yes i was dx with HD in October 1990.
Had chemo and mantle radiation (aged 17 at the time).

Just had prophylactic bilateral mestectomies on Feb 16th this year due to the high risk of BC caused by the mantle radiation. Luckily the tissue they took away came back negative for BC when it was tested.

However, mantle radiation can also put you at an increased risk of thyroid cancer, lung cancer and skin cancer. As chemo can also put you at increased risk of soft tissue sarcoma,lung cancer, leukemia in the first 5 yrs after chemo,......the list goes on.

Many of these things are beyond our control but to know your risks puts you in a position to do as much as you can to avoid getting sick again.

eg, skin cancer: use sunblock,cover up,dont use sunbeds etc
lung cancer: dont smoke, dont go in smoky atmospheres, dont expose yourself to inhaling chemicals and fumes....

unfortunatly,we cant do anything about some of the risks.

denbralou said:

Hodkins Disease
Yes, I did have Hodgkins Disease in 1980 and was told that my breast cancer was probably caused by the radiation I received back then. Did you both receive radiation with your breast cancer diagnoses. I know they say they don't like to radiate the same area twice. Just researching because they are not sure if they want to do radiation until after my surgery which is scheduled for next month. Thanks much.

BC treatment
I did not have any radiation treatments for the BC because of my previous rads for HD. I had a double mastectomy. The "good" breast had LCIS, so I'm glad I did a double. No chemo for BC because it would help by 2%. I started tamoxifen for 2 months but stopped because of gyno issues. My oncotype score is 8. My Long Term Effects docotor says I can put the BC chapter behind me. Hope he is right. In addition to the effects listed, we have a greater chance of having cardiac issues, which I have also. There is a great site for Long Term Effects from treatment on acor.org. Join the mailing lists for Long Term Survivors and Hodgkins Lymphoma. So many of us there with a wealth of information for people like you and me.
Also, all of my docs strongly urged against reconstruction because of the previous rads and to avoid another surgery. If you had bleomycin you also need to be aware of pulmonary issues with this drug and warn your anestheologist you had it.
Hope this helps. Regards,
Cathy

cathyp said:

Yes!
I was dx'd with Hodgkins Lymphoma in 1989 and treated w/mantle radiation. I had ABVD for a recurrence in 1994. I was dx'd w/IDC in 2008. This is just one of the many possible late effects from our treatment for Hodgkins Disease.

Cathy

No, but, if you have, I am
No, but, if you have, I am sending you luck and prayers! Very sorry


Hugs, Leeza