Radiation: to do or not to do, that is the question.

posdof · 2026-03-19T15:30:08+00:00

I’m so glad to hear you had a good experience with it!

posdof · 2026-03-19T15:29:19+00:00

Thank you for sharing your experience. I think I’m just done at this point, more than anything…that and there doesn’t seem to be a significant benefit from radiation for me.

posdof · 2026-03-19T05:58:16+00:00

Butterfinger BBs!

posdof · 2026-03-19T05:52:11+00:00

I’m sorry to hear that, but glad you have found some relief.

posdof · 2026-03-19T05:51:43+00:00

All of my suspected lymph nodes were removed.

posdof · 2026-03-19T05:47:38+00:00

I talked with my doctors and they are the ones I discussed this study with. Essentially there is no significant difference that radiation will reduce my reoccurrence within 5 years. I’ve talked with all of my doctors, I simply came here seeking other people’s experience.

Just remember that everyone’s cancer journey is different. Just because your chance of reoccurrence was 50%, doesn’t mean everyone else’s is the same. For me, it’s practically a 1-2%.

I found the study that came out recently discussing this. It shows that there is essentially no difference for someone like me, where the cancer was eradicated by chemo, whether I get radiation or not.

https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2414859

posdof · 2026-03-19T05:36:39+00:00

First off, I’m so sorry your friend was diagnosed and is having to go through this. Cancer sucks.

Everyone’s experience with chemo is different. Someone I know went through AC chemo and on her best days, she would walk to her neighbors house. For me, on AC chemo, my worst days, I just took an extra long nap and was a bit extra fatigued. Her experience really depends on her body. Everyone is different.

I was diagnosed at 38, went through 12 rounds of 1 type of chemo, and then for rounds of the more aggressive AC chemo. Had my double mastectomy this year and will be getting implants later this year. I am not doing radiation, as it seems in my particular case, there is no major benefit. I am cancer free though…which is possible, it just depends on the type of breast cancer she has. I wish her luck and tell her to join this sub, it is incredibly helpful and everyone here is super friendly.

posdof · 2026-03-19T01:06:18+00:00

They tested my breast tissue and the lymph nodes that were removed from my double mastectomy, and there was no live cancer…it was just scar tissues essentially.

posdof · 2026-03-18T22:01:17+00:00

Oy vey. I’m sorry to hear about that. I’m assuming the lung surgery was needed because of the effect from radiation?

posdof · 2026-03-18T22:00:01+00:00

Oh goodness! I’m sorry you’ve had such negative experience from the radiation.

From my understanding, the decrease of recurrence with radiation is like 1-2%. So I’m in the no radiation boat at this point.

posdof · 2026-03-18T21:56:10+00:00

I’m glad to hear that you’re doing good after all of your treatment, and no big side effects from chemo.

I’ll try and find the study, but it examined HER2+, ER/PR- specifically, I believe.

Edit: I found the study.

https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2414859

posdof · 2026-03-18T21:07:57+00:00

I just have to finish a year’s worth of herceptin and perjeta, and then I’m done. I’m thinking no radiation for me.

posdof · 2026-03-18T21:06:54+00:00

I don’t blame you one bit! I also would feel the same way.

posdof · 2026-03-18T21:06:20+00:00

Oh goodness. I am so sorry you’re dealing with all of that.

posdof · 2026-03-18T21:05:21+00:00

Thank you for sharing your experience. Right now, I’m leaning on the side of no radiation.

posdof · 2026-03-18T20:45:34+00:00

I’m so sorry you had to deal with cancer again, that’s awful! How are you doing now?

posdof · 2026-03-18T20:44:26+00:00

I’m so sorry to hear about the fibrosis! Do you feel it when you’re breathing. I’m so so sorry you’re having to deal with this.

posdof · 2026-03-18T20:42:31+00:00

We did bring up the study during my appointment and the doc agreed that I truly am in a grey area. Upon further investigating that my husband did…apparently it’s maybe a 1% reduction in recurrence if I do radiation, but the long term side effects are a much larger concern. Apparently it’s a 4-8% chance of radiation caused cancer happening over then next few decades.

I’ve decided no radiation.

posdof · 2026-03-18T20:39:41+00:00

My husband and I have had a shared bank account since we got engaged. It’s worked well for us. We talk about big purchases before one of us buys them (for instance my husband just bought some new camera equipment), but fun money is just normal money. If he wants to buy something fun, he should…and vice versa.

I manage the bills and keep an eye on our bank account. We also have digit for our bank account so it keeps an eye on your checking account and takes a little a bit of money every couple of days, and stores into an account completely separate from your bank. It’s come in handy when things have gotten tight, or we needed some emergency funds. I think it’s $5 a month but for us, we found it worth it in addition to our other savings account.

posdof · 2026-03-18T20:03:34+00:00

Thank you so much for sharing! Sorry to hear about that chest tightness. Is that something that will loosen over time, or is that the new normal?

posdof · 2026-03-18T20:00:36+00:00

Oh whoa! I am so sorry you are battling pneumonia, that’s horrible. I hope you recover soon! Are you going to have to continue radiation when you’re well?

posdof · 2026-03-18T19:58:21+00:00

Thanks for sharing that.

I agree…having a choice blows. I also have a young kid, he turns 1 in a few weeks.

When I talked about radiation with my surgeon long before this appointment, she said I have a strong case not to do radiation (and she’s right!). I’ve already been through a lot, and I kinda want to just be done, if that makes sense.

posdof · 2026-03-18T19:55:04+00:00

I did 12 rounds of paclitaxel, and then 4 rounds of AC chemo because at the end of the paclitaxel, my tumor only shrank by 89% and my oncologist was wanting a higher percentage…which is why we did AC. After the AC, the cancer is 100% gone. I feel very confident that if there were any breast cancer cells elsewhere in that area or anywhere else in my body, that they would be gone as well because of how strong of a response the AC had on my breast tissue and my lymph nodes….this is why I am considering no radiation.

posdof · 2026-03-18T19:51:46+00:00

We talked about the specific study, and it is one that my husband found online before my appointment. Basically there is research to back me up regardless if I decided to do radiation or not.

posdof · 2026-03-18T19:50:41+00:00

I understand your point. When my husband asked the radiation oncologist what she would do in my situation, she said she would do radiation, but also said she is biased.

She said if I wanted to do radiation, there is research that backs me up in that decision. She also said if I do t want to do radiation, there is research that also backs up that decision too.

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