I'm new here

[Ellie67]

Hi all

I have had a lumpectomy and when I saw oncologist he said there is no cancer left and he gave me option to have radiotherapy or not. Has anyone else been in this position?

And what was the outcome?

[Jennymary]

Hi I had lumpectomies 4 yrs ago, no chemo, but 3 weeks radiotherapy, all post cancer mammograms, including this years, have been clear, good luck x

[Berylynn]

I had lumpectomy and radiation treatment...it gave me 25 years before it returned, fickle as the disease was it wasnt a permanent cure but for others it can be. The treatment plans nobody likes signing up for. Good Luck, it might be best to sign up and get it over and done with, it was worth it for my 25 years.

[Debs1962]

I was offered lumpectomy with radiotherapy or mastectomy and no radiotherapy I opted for the later, as I didn't want to have radiotherapy and the side effects of that.

You will have to chat to your doctor to get the statistics from them as to what benefits it will give you etc in % terms, everyone is different you need to bear that in mind, no two people are the same, cancer lumps are different sizes different growth different scores for a few things.

Good luck Deb x

[MaryEB]

Hi, glad that you have had such a successful outcome & good luck for future.The decision process with all of these things, radiotherapy chemotherapy ( I had both) long term tablets etc. is asking what is the statistical risk (of a local re-occurance of the original cancer which is reduced in the case of radiotherapy) and how much will it be reduced by my having the treatment offered? You then need to balance this for your personal circumstances against the practicalities - cost / inconvenience effect on your life and possible side effects (short / long term) of in this case radiotherapy and how u feel about it and if they are worth it to you to hopefully avoid having a repeat of a lump occuring with all its issues. My decisions were to take all the treatments offered as felt throwing everything at it now was worth the effort to give me the best odds of a long and disease free life. Radiotherapy was in my experience a bit of a slog, I was driving myself daily, but otherwise very do-able, the staff were lovely, great at putting you at ease, and whilst I had some skin reaction, it was fine and short term. Good luck. X

[Debster2016 in reply to MaryEB]

Thank you Mary for your informative comparison, it's very helpful to me even now, post treatment x

[Nixh]

Hi Ellie,

Welcome to our club (the one none of us wanted to join!)

I was "offered" radiotherapy it was my choice. I had a mastectomy and chemo first so was a no brainer for me as wanted to throw everything at it. Is tough being told to choose as there are so many reasons to have or not.

You have to weigh up for yourself I think what is best for you. After finishing chemo I'd had enough and considered not having it but had a chat with my husband and consultant who didn't tell me to have it but made a good argument for having it which made sense to me..

Out of al the treatment I've had radiotherapy was the easiest to deal with. It's a bit tiring, and skin goes a bit pink like sunburn but If you look after your skin and use the creams they suggest you should be 👌🏻.

Good luck with your decision,

Nix x

[carolinenailsea]

Ellie

Fabulous to have such a postive outcome, I am so pleased for you. Being given choices can be tough. I had chemo, lumpectomy and radiotherapy this year. I wasnt really given a choice which made it easier. As the ladies say, the questions for the oncologist are about what impact radiotherapy has on the 'odds' of it coming back. Its also about how you feel about the risk of it coming back and of course there are the short term (mostly but not entirely) considerations about side effects. For me radiotherapy was a breeze but I know it really knocks some people for six. 3 weeks post radiotherapy I still have a blotchy boob and a sore nipple but they do not restrict my life in anyway. Best of luck with your journey. xx

[ks1966]

The odds of recurrence are 80% less with radiotherapy. That’s what our oncologist told us

[lizzyHZ]

Welcome...the postive side is that you have a choice..i had a lumpectomy last year as the surgeon said he was convinced that it could be done 'nicely' with no further reconstruction necessary and he was right if you didnt know i had had one there is visibly no difference than before just the small scar from the removal of the sentinel node . i had no choice with regards to radiotherapy i was informed i needed 16 sessions and whilst half way through my skin became quite burned and painful and i was very very tired i was still driving myself every day and the recovery was pretty quick..after some extra testing it was determined i didn't need chemo but i have been taking tamoxifen for a year and have few side effects ..i will need to take it for another couple of years then change to something else i have just had my first annual check up and i have been given the all clear microbiologically there are no cancer cells present ..as one other lady said it certainly reduces the chance that it returns...good luck it is a personal choice only you can make

[Surviver]

I had mine in 2013 I didn't get asked I was told I would be having Radiotherapy