I need to decide if I want radiotherapy...not sure what to do

Good morning 

This is a hard one......giving you the option is sending you in a spin. I too had a complete response to treatment for her2 positive breast cancer. Research ongoing I suppose shows that some treatments need de-escalating in some cases but I personally wanted everything thrown at it so I had radiotherapy and the whole treatment that goes with her2. Yes it's affecting me in everyday life but I would rather that and reduce risks of the cancer returning. 

Personally as you've been given the choice, I would ask to see data on the risks if you don't have radiotherapy. 

Hope this helps 

Julie 

If you go ahead, maybe read about bioavailable turmeric and bioperine (black pepper. I read that taken one hour before it helps with radiotherapy. And also hyperbaric oxygen can speeds along the healing process. That’s usually found at MS society. It’s a hard decision. I would be thinking about how I’d feel if I hadn’t done everything I could too. I completely get having had enough of treatment though. X

That's a good reply. I didn't have chemo, I was grade 2 and it was in the 1 lymph node. 5 sessions of radiotherapy. I have been back twice since March with fear of recurrence. Went back this week, I am reassured. Why 15 and not 5 maybe, perhaps barter with them. I had a bit of redness and slight burning but nothing major. It is much more targeted than it used to be. X

I went through this as well and decided to have RT (5 fractions began yesterday) as I decided I would have more regrets if cancer returned than living with side effects. 

the consultant was unhelpful though telling me that if the cancer returned I could just have more surgery - showing no understanding of the impact of the 2 surgeries which I needed to get clear margins.  He also reminded me that not having RT would reduce the demand on hospital services.  Although I appreciate this I want a clinical rather than a resource based decision.  

having the choice has just left me with doubts about whether or not I have made the right decision.

not sure this helps but just wanted you to know that someone else gets it.  And also that there probably is no right or wrong decision as we will never know the outcome of our the alternative choice. 

Hello, I also had radiation to both breasts as had DCIS in one and a stage 1 invasive ductal in the other.  My surgeon and radiation oncologist both agreed that I should have it to reduce the chance of reoccurrence.  I agreed as I am small breasted and if I had not had radiation and it reoccurred my breasts are small and they would not have been able to do another lumpectomy and get good  cosmetic results I had 16 treatments to both and a boost of 5 to the DCIS tumor bed as one margin was about 1mm so rather than reoperate the tumor board recommended it.  I could have had the 5 days of radiation and  the boost but all the data of the trial was not available so I opted for the longer one.  Did really well and other than nipple soreness at the beginning of the treatments and occasional itching had only a slight pinkish hue.  Skin did feel hot to the touch.

Hope all goes well for you.  Seems like with the 5 days of radiation the skin becomes redder and guess because dose is more concentrated as it is a shorter course.  
Take it easy.

Barbars