when do i have radiation only after breast cancer surgery? when i heal from surgery? or right away?

Answer 1

The primary and initial treatment for the majority of breast cancers is surgery. (The rare exception nowadays is that for very advanced or cancers with special skin involvement, many oncologists recommend starting with chemotherapy prior to surgery.) Historically, the main surgical treatment was a mastectomy - or removal of the entire breast. As surgery got more advanced, and pathology got better, and doctors learned that many women would really like to keep their breast if they could (doctors have always been a bit slow to realize the obvious), then "lumpectomy" - or removal of a small amount of breast tissue with the goal of removing the entire tumour and a certain amount of surrounding normal breast tissue - became much more common.

The challenge here was that despite good lumpectomies, that looked like they got everything under the microscope they had found that there were frequently recurrences in the breast with lumpectomy alone. So they thought of adding radiation after surgery with the goal of killing any small microscopic deposits of cancer that might have been unwittingly left behind.

That is what is done today. Any women with breast cancer (other than advanced breast cancer) should be offered two treatments by her surgeon: a mastectomy or a lumpectomy followed by radiation. Radiation is given after the lumpectomy, and it has been shown in trials that lumpectomy + radiation is equivalent to a mastectomy. In Canada, radiation is typically 3-5 weeks of treatment, although I understand that some centres in the US use longer regimens.

Two other points should be mentioned. While there are a few oncologists who suggest that for very early breast cancer you might be able to omit the radiation component, there is no good evidence to support this (although if a women is fully informed about the risks, it may be reasonable for very small tumours). Secondly, for women who do have mastectomies, radiation is still recommended for those women who have either very large tumours or are noted to have more than four axillary (armpit) lymph nodes to be positive for cancer.

As for the timing, the goal is to start radiation within 6 weeks of surgery. However it IS important to have good healing of the surgical wound prior to radiation, since radiating a scar that is not healed will further delay and impari wound healing.

So after all that babble, bottom line answer to your questions: 1. Radiation is only after breast cancer surgery. 2. You must be healed from surgery prior to radiation 3. The goal would be within 6 weeks, but ONLY if you have healed.

Answer 2

The reason for radiation after breast cancer surgery is to try and kill any cancer cells that might have not been removed from the body. Some people don't even have radiation but there was no doubt that all the cancer was removed. In my opinion its better to do radiation just in case. If all your margins are clear there is a possibility that you wont need radiation. I had reconstructive surgery at the time of my mast. and I wish that they would have gave me the option that if all cancer was not gotten that I could have waited on reconstructive surgery (tram) Because of the healing process I had to wait 8 weeks before radiation. I had 9 lymph nodes that were positive and they were unable to take any more because of cutting more nerves and muscles. For me chemo was the worst and radiation was a cake walk. I only had a little burning with the last 3 treatments. Had 33 treatments of radiation. Don't wear a bra, and wear loose tops this helps and use cream that the radiation oncologist recommends.

Answer 3

Usually 6 weeks after surgery if things have healed properly. Don't worry about the radiation therapy. For me it was a piece of cake! The worst part was the trip to the hospital and back. That took longer than the daily treatments. Good luck to you.. it sounds like you don't need the chemo .... you are so lucky! Have a fabulous day!!

Answer 4

Usually, if the surgery goes well and the incision line closes properly with no infection or problems chemotherapy is started 6 to 8 weeks post operatively.

Answer 5

before you go in to this surgery explore this page.
http://www.polymvasurvivors.com/testimonial_braincancer.html

these are people that has breast cance and have survvied.
My mother had brest cancer and I only wish I would of had the products of today.

Poly MVA
They did surgery and radation, but when she missed her radation her chest opend up raw.
once they cut you can go back Know all your options befor you take that step in to surgery.

Important Know your options

Answer 6

rudy has it right. Heal up and then get the radiation.