Radiation needed??

Same here.

In addition to chemo (8 infusions over 16 weeks), I had radiation therapy.  My goal was to tackle my bc aggressively, and so I did whatever my onc recommended.  I thought the radiation therapy was much easier than the chemo.

To shrink the tumors which were putting pressure on the surrounding nerves and hopefully slow growth and improve my quality of life.  The areas radiated were hips, pevis, and tailbone (it was the tailbone and pelvis that were done 2x).  This past Sept. October it was right knee from mid calf to 2 inches above knee.  Then, mid thigh to right hip. Then, my thoracic spine and top 2 lumbar spine.  

It really helped thé pain, although, now lymphadema in my right leg.  Overall, quality of life improved.  The thoracic spine area was the one area I questioned.  Learned that numbness in legs was most likely from tumors on spine, and if they continued to grow, I could become parylized from the waist down!  Once learning that, there was no question!  She said that I cant have any more to any of these areas, but if cancer goes to organs, I could still have more.

Treatments have béen aggressive from the start.  It has been 3 1/2 years with mets, 2 1/2 yrs w/weekly chemo, biophosphates,anti_estrogens, herceptin, etc. If you are really questioning the neccesity, get à 2nd opinion.

I trust my onco, yet when hé said hé has done all he can and it is time for hospice.  I went for a 2nd opinion to try and get in a trial at a large cancer center.  Didnt qualify for any trials, but he felt there were a few more options.  I have nothing to lose, and or.gave me.hope.

If you are unsure, always ask as many questions as you need to feel good about your decision to either go forward with thé drs recommandation.  If you are still not sure, get a second opinion.  Bottom line, it is your life. You know your body better than anyone.  If something doesnt feel right, than always ask until you are sure!

I wish you thé best.

Carol

TraciInLA said:

If you were my sister or best friend...

Sue,

I am not a medical professional in any way...but, if you were my sister or best friend, I would be urging you to go through with the radiation that's being recommended, because you had positive lymph nodes.

Following bilateral lumpectomies in 2009, I did 4 rounds of chemo (Taxotere/Cytoxan), then 33 radiation treatments.  Even though I burned really badly in the last couple of weeks, I still feel that radiation was light years easier for me than chemo.  

Chemo affected every part of my body -- digestively speaking, you name it, I had the side effects, usually all at the same time, and sometimes really debilitating.  

Radiation, however, with the exception of the fatigue, generally only affects the area being radiated.  So yes, I was tired, and yes, I had to deal with burns in the last couple of weeks, but I was always able to eat normally, taste everything, and no longer had to live in the bathroom.

That's just my experience, and of course everyone is different -- but for me, radiation was an (ALMOST!) welcome change from chemo.

Traci

I'll add one more thought on this issue, Sue, because I so understand your frustration at not having definitive, black-and-white information on treatments.  So is the cancer gone, or isn't it?  It's SO frustrating that medical science hasn't advanced to where our doctors can truly, 100% answer that question.  

When I was making these decisions for myself -- whether or not to do chemo, radiation, Tamoxifen -- what kept going through my mind is how I would feel if, 5 years later, 10 years later, I had a recurrence, and had not done everything I could.  I know I'd be kicking myself:  What if I'd done chemo?  What if I'd done radiation?

Of course, I know that I may still get a recurrence somewhere down the line.  But, for me, it was very, very important to know that I'd done everything I could do.

Just my feelings, thought I'd share them.

Traci

For me, radiation was literally a piece of cake after chemo.  I had a rough time with chemo, but just a mild sunburn with radiation.  But we are all so very different.

I can't advise you but I can tell you that my little sister decided radiation was overkill after chemo and hormone therapy (an she had no nodes involved).  She had a local recurrence 5 years later and then had to have radiation and is on hormone therapy indefinitely.

As someone with Stage 4, I am here to preach that cancer is the enemy.  The treatments can be brutal (there are few that I haven't endured), but never lose sight of your enemy because cancer is even more brutal and incredibly sneaky.  And I am speaking as a 27 year survivor.  Keep fighting!!!!