Hi. Does anyone know if radiotherapy is always given, with a lumpectomy for dcis? Is it given according to the grade? I haven't been told about a grade and am wondering how serious my cancer is.
My surgeon told me it was her preferred treatment plan though done think it's over treatment. I was initially told intermediate grade DCIS but upgraded to High after surgery .
Hi Biddygirl welcome to the forum. Have you had the results back from the Lumpectomy yet as that is usually the basis for having Radiotherapy when the results are known. At the same time as the Lumpectomy they usually take the Sentinal Lymph node to check if there are any Cancer cells there. You would usually get all this information at the follow up appointment to get your pathology results after the op.
Hi Granny59. Thank you. The surgeon told me when he gave me the results of the biopsy, that I would need a lumpectomy and 3 weeks of radiotherapy. I'm wondering if this is because it's a higher grade.
Radiotherapy is dependent on quite a few things. It seems to be dependent on what the hospital's protocol and NHS/NICE guidelines dictate - the hospital responsible for your radiotherapy treatment that is. Seems to me to be up to the lead radiologist and what the patient wants, with input from your Surgeon and your Oncologist also. My breast Surgeon and MDT Team mentionned radiotherapy very early on. Seems to depend on your age, size of the tumour and grade and whether you will benefit from having it, in terms of treatment and whether it is intended to prevent re-occurence.
