Is radiation given not only after lumpectomy, but after mastectomy as well?

[Guest guest]

It is or was my understanding that if a woman choses lumpectomy, then

most likely a radiation course is required. When a woman choses a

mastectomy (especially double mastectomy), then she can " get away "

without radiation, but often with chemo.

Yet, I see some of the women write that they had double mastectomy,

which was followed up by radiaton and chemo.

I've chosen to mastectomy on the cancerous breast and also on the

healthy breast just to avoid radiation and have a better chance with

reconstructive surgery. I hope there are no surprises with this

potential radiation.

Can someone please clarify it for me?

[Guest guest]

>Hi Mrs. Katz: Sometimes radiation is necessary after a mastectomy if there were

lots of

positive nodes or if an aggressive tumor was attached close to the chest wall,

or if there

are enlarged mediastinal nodes (in the mid-portion of the chest wall). There are

probably

other situations that also call for post-mastectomy radiation (in elderly

patients who can't

tolerate chemo, etc.). But usually with early BC a mastectomy can allow a

patient to avoid

the radiation. Hope this helps your understanding. Best wishes, Anne V.

> It is or was my understanding that if a woman choses lumpectomy, then

> most likely a radiation course is required. When a woman choses a

> mastectomy (especially double mastectomy), then she can " get away "

> without radiation, but often with chemo.

> Yet, I see some of the women write that they had double mastectomy,

> which was followed up by radiaton and chemo.

>

>

> I've chosen to mastectomy on the cancerous breast and also on the

> healthy breast just to avoid radiation and have a better chance with

> reconstructive surgery. I hope there are no surprises with this

> potential radiation.

>

> Can someone please clarify it for me?

>

[Guest guest]

Thank you for your reply. I guess I'll get all the answers on the day of my

surgery, which is 1/10/07. I went from being in shock that I'll lose my breasts

to now realizing that it's about so much more...

Anne unicycle012000@...> wrote:

>Hi Mrs. Katz: Sometimes radiation is necessary after a mastectomy if there were

lots of

positive nodes or if an aggressive tumor was attached close to the chest wall,

or if there

are enlarged mediastinal nodes (in the mid-portion of the chest wall). There are

probably

other situations that also call for post-mastectomy radiation (in elderly

patients who can't

tolerate chemo, etc.). But usually with early BC a mastectomy can allow a

patient to avoid

the radiation. Hope this helps your understanding. Best wishes, Anne V.

> It is or was my understanding that if a woman choses lumpectomy, then

> most likely a radiation course is required. When a woman choses a

> mastectomy (especially double mastectomy), then she can " get away "

> without radiation, but often with chemo.

> Yet, I see some of the women write that they had double mastectomy,

> which was followed up by radiaton and chemo.

>

>

> I've chosen to mastectomy on the cancerous breast and also on the

> healthy breast just to avoid radiation and have a better chance with

> reconstructive surgery. I hope there are no surprises with this

> potential radiation.

>

> Can someone please clarify it for me?

>

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Thank you for your reply. I guess I'll get all the answers on the day of my

surgery, which is 1/10/07. I went from being in shock that I'll lose my breasts

to now realizing that it's about so much more...

Anne unicycle012000@...> wrote:

>Hi Mrs. Katz: Sometimes radiation is necessary after a mastectomy if there were

lots of

positive nodes or if an aggressive tumor was attached close to the chest wall,

or if there

are enlarged mediastinal nodes (in the mid-portion of the chest wall). There are

probably

other situations that also call for post-mastectomy radiation (in elderly

patients who can't

tolerate chemo, etc.). But usually with early BC a mastectomy can allow a

patient to avoid

the radiation. Hope this helps your understanding. Best wishes, Anne V.

> It is or was my understanding that if a woman choses lumpectomy, then

> most likely a radiation course is required. When a woman choses a

> mastectomy (especially double mastectomy), then she can " get away "

> without radiation, but often with chemo.

> Yet, I see some of the women write that they had double mastectomy,

> which was followed up by radiaton and chemo.

>

>

> I've chosen to mastectomy on the cancerous breast and also on the

> healthy breast just to avoid radiation and have a better chance with

> reconstructive surgery. I hope there are no surprises with this

> potential radiation.

>

> Can someone please clarify it for me?

>

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Thank you for your reply. I guess I'll get all the answers on the day of my

surgery, which is 1/10/07. I went from being in shock that I'll lose my breasts

to now realizing that it's about so much more...

Anne unicycle012000@...> wrote:

>Hi Mrs. Katz: Sometimes radiation is necessary after a mastectomy if there were

lots of

positive nodes or if an aggressive tumor was attached close to the chest wall,

or if there

are enlarged mediastinal nodes (in the mid-portion of the chest wall). There are

probably

other situations that also call for post-mastectomy radiation (in elderly

patients who can't

tolerate chemo, etc.). But usually with early BC a mastectomy can allow a

patient to avoid

the radiation. Hope this helps your understanding. Best wishes, Anne V.

> It is or was my understanding that if a woman choses lumpectomy, then

> most likely a radiation course is required. When a woman choses a

> mastectomy (especially double mastectomy), then she can " get away "

> without radiation, but often with chemo.

> Yet, I see some of the women write that they had double mastectomy,

> which was followed up by radiaton and chemo.

>

>

> I've chosen to mastectomy on the cancerous breast and also on the

> healthy breast just to avoid radiation and have a better chance with

> reconstructive surgery. I hope there are no surprises with this

> potential radiation.

>

> Can someone please clarify it for me?

>

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

I just had one breast removed but they were consider radiation along with the

chemo. Everyones circumstances are different.

Hugs

nne

Breast Cancer Patients Soul Mates for Life

http://www.geocities.com/chucky5741/breastcancerpatients.html

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www.angelfeatherloomer.blogspot.com

Check out my other ornaments at

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Lots of info and gifts at:

www.cancerclub.com

Is radiation given not only after lumpectomy, but

after mastectomy as well?

It is or was my understanding that if a woman choses lumpectomy, then

most likely a radiation course is required. When a woman choses a

mastectomy (especially double mastectomy), then she can " get away "

without radiation, but often with chemo.

Yet, I see some of the women write that they had double mastectomy,

which was followed up by radiaton and chemo.

I've chosen to mastectomy on the cancerous breast and also on the

healthy breast just to avoid radiation and have a better chance with

reconstructive surgery. I hope there are no surprises with this

potential radiation.

Can someone please clarify it for me?

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[Guest guest]

mrs.katz wrote:

> It is or was my understanding that if a woman choses lumpectomy, then

> most likely a radiation course is required. When a woman choses a

> mastectomy (especially double mastectomy), then she can " get away "

> without radiation, but often with chemo.

> Yet, I see some of the women write that they had double mastectomy,

> which was followed up by radiaton and chemo.

What you mention is the " standard on paper. " A doctor might want to

do rads after bilateral-mast for many reasons. I had a bilateral-mast

and WILL be getting rads. This is because my tumor was huge (8 cm or

larger). Actually, the MRI showed TWO tumors, one very large, the other

smaller. When the mast. was done it was found that the breast was a

minefield of cancerous tumors. It is believed that when the tumor is

large it is a good idea to get rads because the chance of recurrence is

highest in the same area. My other breast had three DCIS, and no rads

are planned for that one, just the " minefield " one.

-Frances

--

-Frances Bartels *** ki0dz@... (((#))) ^ ^

http://www.qsl.net/ki0dz Central Ohio | ^ - ^

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[Guest guest]

Hi

I had a mastectomy with chemo then radiation then another set of

chemo.. I'm not sure why that happens sometimes except that maybe your

chances are better with both treatments if you have an aggressive

cancer.

Mine is the fast growing kind..stage 3. it got big quickly. I decided

to let them do both treatments in hope my changes would improve.

I was also told by my specialist that radiation wouldn't affect a

reconstrution as long as I waited till after treatment to have the

reconstrution done.

P.S.

I just want to say even though I don't post very often that I am so

glad to belong to this group. Everyone I have had contact with has been

wonderful..

C Xo