Radiation or Surgery first????

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mindy032703
mindy032703 Member Posts: 6
in Breast Cancer #1
I am about to finish up my Chemo....I am so confused, do I get radiation or my reconstruction first? Also, do I get saline or silicone? And when will my port come out? I am getting double masectomey. Please help.

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  • Rague
    Rague Member Posts: 3,653 Member
    #2
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    No one answer fits all!
    We are all different! And our cancers are different.

    For me - I had Chemo, then surgry, then more Chemo and then Rads. Am on Feramra for 5 years - am over a year on it now.

    Again - for me - reconstruction was not an option for a year. Will be looking into it this spring/summer.

    My port was put in Aug 25, 09 and is still there - yes i do get my flushes monthly. Being IBC - to me (and all my Drs) it only makes sense to keep it "Just in case" rather than have to have another put back in.

    Just how I feel - I'd rather be ready.

    Susan
  • mindy032703
    mindy032703 Member Posts: 6
    #3
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    Rague said:

    No one answer fits all!
    We are all different! And our cancers are different.

    For me - I had Chemo, then surgry, then more Chemo and then Rads. Am on Feramra for 5 years - am over a year on it now.

    Again - for me - reconstruction was not an option for a year. Will be looking into it this spring/summer.

    My port was put in Aug 25, 09 and is still there - yes i do get my flushes monthly. Being IBC - to me (and all my Drs) it only makes sense to keep it "Just in case" rather than have to have another put back in.

    Just how I feel - I'd rather be ready.

    Susan

    More Chemo?
    Why did you have to have more chemo after your surgery? What stage was yours? I was stage two, 3 cm. It has shrunk down to 1 cm. so far. I am estrogen negative and progestrogne positive so I can't be put on tamoxifin or any type of hormone. When do they plan on taking your port out?
  • Rague
    Rague Member Posts: 3,653 Member
    #4
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    mindy032703 said:

    More Chemo?
    Why did you have to have more chemo after your surgery? What stage was yours? I was stage two, 3 cm. It has shrunk down to 1 cm. so far. I am estrogen negative and progestrogne positive so I can't be put on tamoxifin or any type of hormone. When do they plan on taking your port out?

    All BC is not the same - I'm IBC
    The protocol depends on the type of BC we have, our overall health and many 'things'.

    Because I'm IBC, there was no chance of my surgeon doing surgery and 'getting it' before the first Chemo 'batch' which shrank it (to some degree) and got good margins. That was 4 A/C (every 2 weeks) and then 2 weeks later mod. rad. mast.. 3 weeks after surgery I started 12 weekly Taxol (they were nasty) followed by 25 rads the week after last Taxol. There are some other IBC-ers here who have done 2 different chemos before surgery. We are each different and our Dr's are different in how they want to treat us. (stage 3 - IBC is very seldom ever detected before stage 3 or 4)

    IBC is very aggressive and has by far the worst 5 yr. survival rate, so it has to be treated aggresively.

    Port out - we have no date set. I want to keep it so it is there and ready (doesn't bother me at all) IF I need it without having to have another one cut in. All of my Drs are fine with it staying in until I'm off of Femara which will be a little less than 4 yrs. I just go in monthly and have it flushed - no prob. Hubby (of 35 yrs) agrees - keep it.

    Susan
  • New Flower
    New Flower Member Posts: 4,294
    #5
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    Rague said:

    All BC is not the same - I'm IBC
    The protocol depends on the type of BC we have, our overall health and many 'things'.

    Because I'm IBC, there was no chance of my surgeon doing surgery and 'getting it' before the first Chemo 'batch' which shrank it (to some degree) and got good margins. That was 4 A/C (every 2 weeks) and then 2 weeks later mod. rad. mast.. 3 weeks after surgery I started 12 weekly Taxol (they were nasty) followed by 25 rads the week after last Taxol. There are some other IBC-ers here who have done 2 different chemos before surgery. We are each different and our Dr's are different in how they want to treat us. (stage 3 - IBC is very seldom ever detected before stage 3 or 4)

    IBC is very aggressive and has by far the worst 5 yr. survival rate, so it has to be treated aggresively.

    Port out - we have no date set. I want to keep it so it is there and ready (doesn't bother me at all) IF I need it without having to have another one cut in. All of my Drs are fine with it staying in until I'm off of Femara which will be a little less than 4 yrs. I just go in monthly and have it flushed - no prob. Hubby (of 35 yrs) agrees - keep it.

    Susan

    talk to your doctors
    Welcome to the site. Radiation will impact your skin, so you have to wait after radiation for several months before you can do surgery. Radiated skin is more difficult to heal. Talk to your medical team.
    I had my surgery first followed by Chemo and radiation.
    Good luck. Let us know
    New Flower
  • Kylez
    Kylez Member Posts: 3,761 Member
    #6
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    mindy032703 said:

    More Chemo?
    Why did you have to have more chemo after your surgery? What stage was yours? I was stage two, 3 cm. It has shrunk down to 1 cm. so far. I am estrogen negative and progestrogne positive so I can't be put on tamoxifin or any type of hormone. When do they plan on taking your port out?

    I had my lumpectomy first
    I had my lumpectomy first and started rads about 6 weeks later, so, I had time to heal up. Sending you positive thoughts and good luck!


    Kylez
  • SylviaD
    SylviaD Member Posts: 17
    #7
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    I am having rad after chemo
    I had chemo for 16 rounds. Now I am doing radiation because the breast cancer spread to my brain. Surgery is not an option to me yet because I have too many spots. I have kept my port. I think it is so much better that using my veins. But everyone is different. Ask your doctor. Good luck and congrats on moving up from chemo.
  • Gabe N Abby Mom
    Gabe N Abby Mom Member Posts: 2,413
    #8
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    What a handsome young man
    What a handsome young man with you! Please talk with your docs to get these questions answered, as everyone's plan is tailored to fit them. Then once you know which is next, come back and ask for advice on that piece of your treatment. There are so many here that you'll be able to talk with someone who has 'been there, done that'.

    I started with chemo, then I had a double mastectomy Jan 14th, but will have to wait a year for reconstruction. (Like Susan I'm IBC.) So far, I am happy with the results. I'm currently doing the rads treatment.

    Please continue to come back with your questions, stories, jokes, frustrations, whatever. You'll find this is a wonderful group, very willing to share and help.

    Hugs,

    Linda
  • Ritzy
    Ritzy Member Posts: 4,381 Member
    #9
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    SylviaD said:

    I am having rad after chemo
    I had chemo for 16 rounds. Now I am doing radiation because the breast cancer spread to my brain. Surgery is not an option to me yet because I have too many spots. I have kept my port. I think it is so much better that using my veins. But everyone is different. Ask your doctor. Good luck and congrats on moving up from chemo.

    I want to welcome you Mindy
    I want to welcome you Mindy to this wonderful site! I didn't have a mastectomy, but, had a lumpectomy before my radiation treatments.

    And, let me say what a beautiful pic you have! Keep us updated on how you are!


    Sue :)
  • mindy032703
    mindy032703 Member Posts: 6
    #10
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    Gabe N Abby Mom said:

    What a handsome young man
    What a handsome young man with you! Please talk with your docs to get these questions answered, as everyone's plan is tailored to fit them. Then once you know which is next, come back and ask for advice on that piece of your treatment. There are so many here that you'll be able to talk with someone who has 'been there, done that'.

    I started with chemo, then I had a double mastectomy Jan 14th, but will have to wait a year for reconstruction. (Like Susan I'm IBC.) So far, I am happy with the results. I'm currently doing the rads treatment.

    Please continue to come back with your questions, stories, jokes, frustrations, whatever. You'll find this is a wonderful group, very willing to share and help.

    Hugs,

    Linda

    Thank You!!!
    Everyone is so sweet here! I am so glad I joined this site. I have so many more questions and comments. My dr. said my INR is to elevated so now I have to lower my coumadin. I just want to thank everyone for writing back. I get my 5th round on Thursday. I really hope the sancuso patch works, so tired of being nauseated!!

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