Unable to Face Radiation

Now that my two breast cancer surgeries are over, I've got radiation
staring me in the face. As a Nevada nuke test victim who grew up
playing in fallout, I have a horror of radiation that only a fellow
downwinder can understand. My sisters want me to see about radiation
in Utah, because doctors there have some knowledge about treating
downwinders.

After all, the same breast can't be re-irradiated if there's a
recurrence. Susan Love's Breast Book says previous radiation exposure
must be considered in radiation treatment. My whole body was
irradiated for 12 years. I asked my surgeon about this, and she'd
never even heard of the nuke tests. She says I must have max whole-
breast radiation for 6 weeks.

Also alarming, the radiation doctor I'm assigned to is known for her
refusal to answer any questions. According to my neighbor, she
answers questions with a grunt and a wave of the hand. Even the
clinic PA hates her.

I had to psyche myself up for weeks just to get a scam-o-gram. At the
moment I have no idea how I'm going to drag myself into the radiation
place--32 times! As for going to Utah, I also can't feature leaving
Hublet for 6 weeks. My question is, does anyone know someone who
couldn't go through with radiation?

Les

I do know people who decided not to do the radiation, and of course
"experts" will say they did this at their peril. You're a bright woman,
you've read the stats about risk and recurrence. I am soooooo sorry the
options on your plate are so unappealing and terrifying. so so sorry. All of
us with BC face difficult (to put it mildly) choices. it's such a crapshoot.
I would feel exactly as you do in your situation.

"sage hen" <desertnymph@cwo.com> wrote in message
news:5018fc3c-387e-425f-b99d-d826419fc500@l42g2000hsc.googlegroups.com...
> Now that my two breast cancer surgeries are over, I've got radiation
> staring me in the face. As a Nevada nuke test victim who grew up
> playing in fallout, I have a horror of radiation that only a fellow
> downwinder can understand. My sisters want me to see about radiation
> in Utah, because doctors there have some knowledge about treating
> downwinders.
>
> After all, the same breast can't be re-irradiated if there's a
> recurrence. Susan Love's Breast Book says previous radiation exposure
> must be considered in radiation treatment. My whole body was
> irradiated for 12 years. I asked my surgeon about this, and she'd
> never even heard of the nuke tests. She says I must have max whole-
> breast radiation for 6 weeks.
>
> Also alarming, the radiation doctor I'm assigned to is known for her
> refusal to answer any questions. According to my neighbor, she
> answers questions with a grunt and a wave of the hand. Even the
> clinic PA hates her.
>
> I had to psyche myself up for weeks just to get a scam-o-gram. At the
> moment I have no idea how I'm going to drag myself into the radiation
> place--32 times! As for going to Utah, I also can't feature leaving
> Hublet for 6 weeks. My question is, does anyone know someone who
> couldn't go through with radiation?
>
> Les
>
>
>
>

sage hen wrote:
> Now that my two breast cancer surgeries are over, I've got radiation
> staring me in the face. As a Nevada nuke test victim who grew up
> playing in fallout, I have a horror of radiation that only a fellow
> downwinder can understand. My sisters want me to see about radiation
> in Utah, because doctors there have some knowledge about treating
> downwinders.
>
> After all, the same breast can't be re-irradiated if there's a
> recurrence. Susan Love's Breast Book says previous radiation exposure
> must be considered in radiation treatment. My whole body was
> irradiated for 12 years. I asked my surgeon about this, and she'd
> never even heard of the nuke tests. She says I must have max whole-
> breast radiation for 6 weeks.
>
> Also alarming, the radiation doctor I'm assigned to is known for her
> refusal to answer any questions. According to my neighbor, she
> answers questions with a grunt and a wave of the hand. Even the
> clinic PA hates her.
>
> I had to psyche myself up for weeks just to get a scam-o-gram. At the
> moment I have no idea how I'm going to drag myself into the radiation
> place--32 times! As for going to Utah, I also can't feature leaving
> Hublet for 6 weeks. My question is, does anyone know someone who
> couldn't go through with radiation?
>

Geez, Les, you're caught between the devil and the deep here.
It's unfortunate that your doctors don't seem to be willing to
work with you, to consider your special needs. Would it help if
you brought in some documentation that estimated the amount of
radiation that downwinders received? Short of moving to Utah for
6 weeks for treatment, could you contact a clinic in Utah ( or
maybe someone at a university med school) that has experience
treating downwinders and asking for them to send you some
documentation on how they modify their protocols?

Is there any way that you can be assigned to a different
radiation doctor or go to a different clinic? (Not knowing just
where you live, I don't know if the distances involved would be
insurmountable. I do know that driving long distances daily
would get old very fast, especially in the last weeks of
treatment when your energy levels are likely to be lower.)

When are your treatments schedule to start?

I don't know enough about the stats regarding recurrence etc.
w/out radiation. Have your doctors discussed any alternatives
with you? Can you find a doctor who will?

{{{{{{{{{{{{Les}}}}}}}}}}}}}}

FurPaw

--
The plural of anecdote is not proof.

To reply, unleash the dog.

x-no-archive: yes

sage hen wrote:
> Now that my two breast cancer surgeries are over, I've got radiation
> staring me in the face. As a Nevada nuke test victim who grew up
> playing in fallout, I have a horror of radiation that only a fellow
> downwinder can understand. My sisters want me to see about radiation
> in Utah, because doctors there have some knowledge about treating
> downwinders.
>
> After all, the same breast can't be re-irradiated if there's a
> recurrence. Susan Love's Breast Book says previous radiation exposure
> must be considered in radiation treatment. My whole body was
> irradiated for 12 years. I asked my surgeon about this, and she'd
> never even heard of the nuke tests. She says I must have max whole-
> breast radiation for 6 weeks.
>
> Also alarming, the radiation doctor I'm assigned to is known for her
> refusal to answer any questions. According to my neighbor, she
> answers questions with a grunt and a wave of the hand. Even the
> clinic PA hates her.
>
> I had to psyche myself up for weeks just to get a scam-o-gram. At the
> moment I have no idea how I'm going to drag myself into the radiation
> place--32 times! As for going to Utah, I also can't feature leaving
> Hublet for 6 weeks. My question is, does anyone know someone who
> couldn't go through with radiation?


Only one I can think of who's forgone all conventional tx after surgery
is Suzanne Somers. She took IP6, inositol hexaphosphate, which actually
has quite a lot of good science behind it as an anti cancer therapy
without adverse effects. There's a lot about it on Medline and the M.D.
Anderson Cancer Center recommends it, based upon research out of the U
of Maryland. Any way, Somers is an N of one who's still out there
selling whatever new thing she's selling.

I do think that before you proceed with possible radiation therapy, you
MUST have your cumulative lifetime dose evaluated and considered, and
you must have doctors with some level of interest in pursuing this
excellent question. At least then you'll have more and better info to
base a treatment decision on. In any case, I'd RUN, not walk, from any
treatment professional who will not answer questions, converse, offer
empathy or address your concerns.

Meanwhile, IP6 will not interfere with other treatments according to
what I've read, and vit D3 is also extremely effective in cancer
prevention and treatment. You might want to have your levels of 25(OH)D
tested. If low, the proper protocol is to take 50,000 iu of D3 once
weekly for 8 weeks.

Most folks are deficient or very low on the normal scale for D3.

Susan

On Jun 29, 5:43*pm, Susan <neverm...@nomail.com> wrote:
> x-no-archive: yes
>
>
>
> sage hen wrote:
> > Now that my two breast cancer surgeries are over, I've got radiation
> > staring me in the face. *As a Nevada nuke test victim who grew up
> > playing in fallout, I have a horror of radiation that only a fellow
> > downwinder can understand. *My sisters want me to see about radiation
> > in Utah, because doctors there have some knowledge about treating
> > downwinders.
>
> > After all, the same breast can't be re-irradiated if there's a
> > recurrence. *Susan Love's Breast Book says previous radiation exposure
> > must be considered in radiation treatment. *My whole body was
> > irradiated for 12 years. *I asked my surgeon about this, and she'd
> > never even heard of the nuke tests. *She says I must have max whole-
> > breast radiation for 6 weeks.
>
> > Also alarming, the radiation doctor I'm assigned to is known for her
> > refusal to answer any questions. *According to my neighbor, she
> > answers questions with a grunt and a wave of the hand. *Even the
> > clinic PA hates her.
>
> > I had to psyche myself up for weeks just to get a scam-o-gram. *At the
> > moment I have no idea how I'm going to drag myself into the radiation
> > place--32 times! *As for going to Utah, I also can't feature leaving
> > Hublet for 6 weeks. *My question is, does anyone know someone who
> > couldn't go through with radiation?
>
> Only one I can think of who's forgone all conventional tx after surgery
> is Suzanne Somers. *She took IP6, inositol hexaphosphate, which actually
> has quite a lot of good science behind it as an anti cancer therapy
> without adverse effects. *There's a lot about it on Medline and the M.D.
> Anderson Cancer Center recommends it, based upon research out of the U
> of Maryland. *Any way, Somers is an N of one who's still out there
> selling whatever new thing she's selling.
>
> I do think that before you proceed with possible radiation therapy, you
> MUST have your cumulative lifetime dose evaluated and considered, and
> you must have doctors with some level of interest in pursuing this
> excellent question. *At least then you'll have more and better info to
> base a treatment decision on. *In any case, I'd RUN, not walk, from any
> treatment professional who will not answer questions, converse, offer
> empathy or address your concerns.
>
> Meanwhile, IP6 will not interfere with other treatments according to
> what I've read, and vit D3 is also extremely effective in cancer
> prevention and treatment. *You might want to have your levels of 25(OH)D
> tested. *If low, the proper protocol is to take 50,000 iu of D3 once
> weekly for 8 weeks.
>
> Most folks are deficient or very low on the normal scale for D3.
>
> Susan

Susan, the studies do look good: here's a good one
http://jn.nutrition.org/cgi/content/full/133/11/3778S
On IP6=inositol
Les, I started radiation, and I am not enjoying the experience--
however, I have a wonderful radiation oncologist a truly lovely
person, and that helps. I am scheduled for 35 sessions, 28 regular and
7 boost. After one day, I was sore and miserable, and the techs wanted
me to see the doctor, but I just wanted to leave. I called her when I
got home, and she said it was common at the start and the end, and to
take advil--and it worked.
Counting the days.
Saw my surgeon last week who popped in and brightly asked "Playing
tennis yet?"--she has literally no clue of what life has been like.
She admitted that she dropped the ball on the BRCA testing, putting me
through another week of misery while I waited for the (thankfully)
negative results.
My axillary issues are resolving, but have left me with some
lymphedema of the hand, and that's very discouraging. Hopefully,
because it's in response to the acute inflammation, it will settle
down. It's minimal, but drives me nuts.
So, I share your reservations, but I'm proceeding, and counting the
days.
Judy

x-no-archive: yes


> Susan, the studies do look good: here's a good one
> http://jn.nutrition.org/cgi/content/full/133/11/3778S
> On IP6=inositol
> Les, I started radiation, and I am not enjoying the experience--
> however, I have a wonderful radiation oncologist a truly lovely
> person, and that helps. I am scheduled for 35 sessions, 28 regular and
> 7 boost. After one day, I was sore and miserable, and the techs wanted
> me to see the doctor, but I just wanted to leave. I called her when I
> got home, and she said it was common at the start and the end, and to
> take advil--and it worked.
> Counting the days.
> Saw my surgeon last week who popped in and brightly asked "Playing
> tennis yet?"--she has literally no clue of what life has been like.
> She admitted that she dropped the ball on the BRCA testing, putting me
> through another week of misery while I waited for the (thankfully)
> negative results.
> My axillary issues are resolving, but have left me with some
> lymphedema of the hand, and that's very discouraging. Hopefully,
> because it's in response to the acute inflammation, it will settle
> down. It's minimal, but drives me nuts.
> So, I share your reservations, but I'm proceeding, and counting the


Judy, yay for Advil when ya need it!

Are those sessions weekly?

Sorry to hear about the lymphedema.

Susan

I'm pretty sure I read that Somers DID have radiation. Are you sure? I'm
too....preoccupied to google it at the moment.
"Susan" <nevermind@nomail.com> wrote in message
news:6cqdvgF3hou2iU1@mid.individual.net...
> x-no-archive: yes
>
> sage hen wrote:
>> Now that my two breast cancer surgeries are over, I've got radiation
>> staring me in the face. As a Nevada nuke test victim who grew up
>> playing in fallout, I have a horror of radiation that only a fellow
>> downwinder can understand. My sisters want me to see about radiation
>> in Utah, because doctors there have some knowledge about treating
>> downwinders.
>>
>> After all, the same breast can't be re-irradiated if there's a
>> recurrence. Susan Love's Breast Book says previous radiation exposure
>> must be considered in radiation treatment. My whole body was
>> irradiated for 12 years. I asked my surgeon about this, and she'd
>> never even heard of the nuke tests. She says I must have max whole-
>> breast radiation for 6 weeks.
>>
>> Also alarming, the radiation doctor I'm assigned to is known for her
>> refusal to answer any questions. According to my neighbor, she
>> answers questions with a grunt and a wave of the hand. Even the
>> clinic PA hates her.
>>
>> I had to psyche myself up for weeks just to get a scam-o-gram. At the
>> moment I have no idea how I'm going to drag myself into the radiation
>> place--32 times! As for going to Utah, I also can't feature leaving
>> Hublet for 6 weeks. My question is, does anyone know someone who
>> couldn't go through with radiation?
>
>
> Only one I can think of who's forgone all conventional tx after surgery is
> Suzanne Somers. She took IP6, inositol hexaphosphate, which actually has
> quite a lot of good science behind it as an anti cancer therapy without
> adverse effects. There's a lot about it on Medline and the M.D. Anderson
> Cancer Center recommends it, based upon research out of the U of Maryland.
> Any way, Somers is an N of one who's still out there selling whatever new
> thing she's selling.
>
> I do think that before you proceed with possible radiation therapy, you
> MUST have your cumulative lifetime dose evaluated and considered, and you
> must have doctors with some level of interest in pursuing this excellent
> question. At least then you'll have more and better info to base a
> treatment decision on. In any case, I'd RUN, not walk, from any treatment
> professional who will not answer questions, converse, offer empathy or
> address your concerns.
>
> Meanwhile, IP6 will not interfere with other treatments according to what
> I've read, and vit D3 is also extremely effective in cancer prevention and
> treatment. You might want to have your levels of 25(OH)D tested. If low,
> the proper protocol is to take 50,000 iu of D3 once weekly for 8 weeks.
>
> Most folks are deficient or very low on the normal scale for D3.
>
> Susan

I hated radiation and cried during every treatment for the first two or
three weeks. It was torture for me. Nevertheless I did it, because I did
not want to die. And I was as close to death as I've ever been at that
point. My belief was, and is, that every possible weapon had to be fired at
my cancer to give me the best chance of survival. I am left maimed but I am
(so far) still alive. I still don't know if the radiation was really
necessary but I had to trust what my doctors told me. What if I'd gone with
my gut feelings and made a fatal mistake?

Eva

x-no-archive: yes

pumpkin wrote:
> I'm pretty sure I read that Somers DID have radiation. Are you sure? I'm
> too....preoccupied to google it at the moment.


You're right, she did have radiation, my mistake.


Susan

x-no-archive: yes

Eva wrote:
> I hated radiation and cried during every treatment for the first two or
> three weeks. It was torture for me. Nevertheless I did it, because I did
> not want to die. And I was as close to death as I've ever been at that
> point. My belief was, and is, that every possible weapon had to be fired at
> my cancer to give me the best chance of survival. I am left maimed but I am
> (so far) still alive. I still don't know if the radiation was really
> necessary but I had to trust what my doctors told me. What if I'd gone with
> my gut feelings and made a fatal mistake?
>
> Eva
>
>


This is such a touchy issue for me right now. I completely understand
why folks feel they must rely on and trust their doctors when they're so
vulnerable, ill and scared.

In my case, I STRONGLY felt that chemo was a Very Bad Idea when I took
my mother to the oncologist, and I was shocked when she chose it. I
didn't feel as though I could take the responsibility of possibly
talking her out of it; what if she died from her cancer, would it be my
fault?

All we can do is all we can do. I still don't know if I erred on the
side of discretion or plain old cowardice.

Susan

>
> Only one I can think of who's forgone all conventional tx after surgery is
> Suzanne Somers.

nope, see here, her comment on Larry King:

SOMERS: I had a lumpectomy and radiation and I took the most massive dose of
radiation that I could tolerate because I wasn't taking chemotherapy because
I wasn't taking the after care.

> Susan

"Susan" <nevermind@nomail.com> wrote in message
news:6cqofdF3hgforU1@mid.individual.net...
> x-no-archive: yes
>
> Eva wrote:
>> I hated radiation and cried during every treatment for the first two or
>> three weeks. It was torture for me. Nevertheless I did it, because I
>> did not want to die. And I was as close to death as I've ever been at
>> that point. My belief was, and is, that every possible weapon had to be
>> fired at my cancer to give me the best chance of survival. I am left
>> maimed but I am (so far) still alive. I still don't know if the
>> radiation was really necessary but I had to trust what my doctors told
>> me. What if I'd gone with my gut feelings and made a fatal mistake?
>>
>> Eva
>
>
> This is such a touchy issue for me right now. I completely understand why
> folks feel they must rely on and trust their doctors when they're so
> vulnerable, ill and scared.
>
> In my case, I STRONGLY felt that chemo was a Very Bad Idea when I took my
> mother to the oncologist, and I was shocked when she chose it. I didn't
> feel as though I could take the responsibility of possibly talking her out
> of it; what if she died from her cancer, would it be my fault?
-----------------
I think if I were 86 I'd make different decisions than I did at 56. But as
you say your mother was a competent adult, and the decision was ultimately
hers.

I keep meaning to read the book by Susan Sontag's son about her losing
battle against leukemia and his role in her life during that time.

Eva

On Jun 29, 7:38*pm, "Eva" <EvaDStructio...@NOverizon.net> wrote:
> I hated radiation and cried during every treatment for the first two or
> three weeks. *It was torture for me. *Nevertheless I did it, because I did
> not want to die. * And I was as close to death as I've ever been at that
> point. *My belief was, and is, that every possible weapon had to be fired at
> my cancer to give me the best chance of survival. *I am left maimed butI am
> (so far) still alive. *I still don't know if the radiation was really
> necessary but I had to trust what my doctors told me. *What if I'd gonewith
> my gut feelings and made a fatal mistake?
>
> Eva
That's my approach as well: the studies are very clear, lumpectomy is
only equivalent to mastectomy IF you do the radiation. I go daily for
35 sessions (3 down and counting every day). They take about a minute.
The lymphedema is a drag, but the ###@ surgeon finally touched me
and found the huge seroma she'd created, and all the axillary webs.
She was freaked--but wouldn't have examined me unless I literally put
her hand on it.
I iced the axilla for a week, and the seroma is gone, and the webs
are going. The hand/wrist swelling is minimal but bothers me so much.
I have a lymphedema therapist--I sent myself to her once the webs
formed, and we're doing bandages and I'm getting a compression sleeve
and glove, and I'm going to push her for a night garment today. She
was well trained, but the first two bandages she put on me were too
tight and turned my fingers purple. All the position papers from the
Lymphedema society talk about not putting on bandages too tight,
because they can harm the lymphatics.
It finally occurred to me that for many years I did ortho, and put
on my my own casts, and know damn well how to bandage--and I'm doing
them at night with enough compression, but not too much.
There is a wonderful woman on breastcancer.org who has helped me get
through this, including figuring out my therapist's credentials.
It is a struggle, and it's hard to fight when you don't feel well.
Les, the radiation is life saving. It's 6 weeks of your life. Many
people start 6 weeks post-op, so if you need to see your family, it
can wait. Mine waited for the genetic testing.
32 and counting....
Judy

x-no-archive: yes

Eva wrote:

> -----------------
> I think if I were 86 I'd make different decisions than I did at 56. But as
> you say your mother was a competent adult, and the decision was ultimately
> hers.

Exactly. But before I took her to the oncologist, she'd already said
"no chemo, definitely no radiation." She didn't ask a single question
at the appointment, yet on the way home, said she'd decided to do the
chemo. I'd asked quite a few, and the odds improvement was so minor, I
was sure she wouldn't go for it, so I was shocked, but didn't address it
with her.

Susan

On Jun 30, 4:47*am, "judy.n" <judy.nudel...@gmail.com> wrote:
> On Jun 29, 7:38*pm, "Eva" <EvaDStructio...@NOverizon.net> wrote:> I hated radiation and cried during every treatment for the first two or
> > three weeks. *It was torture for me. *Nevertheless I did it, becauseI did
> > not want to die. * And I was as close to death as I've ever been at that
> > point. *My belief was, and is, that every possible weapon had to be fired at
> > my cancer to give me the best chance of survival. *I am left maimed but I am
> > (so far) still alive. *I still don't know if the radiation was really
> > necessary but I had to trust what my doctors told me. *What if I'd gone with
> > my gut feelings and made a fatal mistake?
>
> > Eva
>
> That's my approach as well: the studies are very clear, lumpectomy is
> only equivalent to mastectomy IF you do the radiation. I go daily for
> 35 sessions (3 down and counting every day). They take about a minute.
> * The lymphedema is a drag, but the ###@ surgeon finally touched me
> and found the huge seroma she'd created, and all the axillary webs.
> She was freaked--but wouldn't have examined me unless I literally put
> her hand on it.
> * I iced the axilla for a week, and the seroma is gone, and the webs
> are going. The hand/wrist swelling is minimal but bothers me so much.
> * I have a lymphedema therapist--I sent myself to her once the webs
> formed, and we're doing bandages and I'm getting a compression sleeve
> and glove, and I'm going to push her for a night garment today. She
> was well trained, but the first two bandages she put on me were too
> tight and turned my fingers purple. All the position papers from the
> Lymphedema society talk about not putting on bandages too tight,
> because they can harm the lymphatics.
> * It finally occurred to me that for many years I did ortho, and put
> on my my own casts, and know damn well how to bandage--and I'm doing
> them at night with enough compression, but not too much.
> * There is a wonderful woman on breastcancer.org who has helped me get
> through this, including figuring out my therapist's credentials.
> * It is a struggle, and it's hard to fight when you don't feel well.
> * Les, the radiation is life saving. It's 6 weeks of your life. Many
> people start 6 weeks post-op, so if you need to see your family, it
> can wait. Mine waited for the genetic testing.
> * 32 and counting....
> Judy

Thanks Furry, Susan, Judy, Pumpkin and Eva,

My main problem with radiation is my heavy radiation exposure from the
814 nuke tests of 1952 through 1963. The buzz among downwinders is
the one-two punch, the repeated exposure that really harms DNA. If
cancer recurs, after all, no breast can be irradiated again.

I'll try to get some answers today from the Utah Downwinders
Organization. I also asked my sister to contact the Huntsman Cancer
Center in Salt Lake. Industrialist John Huntsman started that place
because so many family members died of post-nuke test cancer. (saw a
stat: 200 percent higher breast cancer risk among Utah downwinders).
This is where my sisters want me to go. Hublet & I could leave for 6
weeks this fall. With our worst fire season just beginning, we can't
leave our backwoods home till then. (Yes I could leave, the first of
September) The smoke's starting to clear, after a Mordor-like pall
for over a week.

Judy, what a drag about your axillary problem. Strangely, my armpit
pain came right back after my second surgery, even though that area
wasn't touched this time. The back of my arm got numb and painful
too, along with the vise-like tightness. I can understand why you're
miffed at your surgeon. My long-standing fear and loathing of doctors
hasn't been improved by experience (except you of course).

Susan Love's book says two-thirds of women getting radiation don't
need it, but who knows which women?

Furry, it's 18 miles and 2500 feet downhill to the nearest radiation
place with the bitchy doctors. I'd have to go 40 miles to the next
closest one. Those doctors have no competition so can be as nasty as
they like.

Susan, I'll look into the IP6. I read about inositol being anti-
cancer, but not the particular kind.

Eva, I'm not balking at radiation because I have no fear of death.
Quite the opposite--I feel certain that radiation is the CAUSE of my
cancer. I can't seem to persuade these California doctors to take my
previous radiation exposure into account. We've already talked about
doctor-caused (iatrogenic) illness here. There's got to be some of
that with radiation. Susan Love says a tiny percentage of women will
get more cancer because of radiation treatments. That reminds me of
the stats I've read for lymphedema; one books says five percent,
another says thirty percent. Maybe the percentage getting post-
radiation cancer are those of us with previous heavy exposures.

Les

Susan wrote:
> x-no-archive: yes
>
> Eva wrote:
>> I hated radiation and cried during every treatment for the first two
>> or three weeks. It was torture for me. Nevertheless I did it,
>> because I did not want to die. And I was as close to death as I've
>> ever been at that point. My belief was, and is, that every possible
>> weapon had to be fired at my cancer to give me the best chance of
>> survival. I am left maimed but I am (so far) still alive. I still
>> don't know if the radiation was really necessary but I had to trust
>> what my doctors told me. What if I'd gone with my gut feelings and
>> made a fatal mistake?
>>
>> Eva
>>
>
>
> This is such a touchy issue for me right now. I completely understand
> why folks feel they must rely on and trust their doctors when they're so
> vulnerable, ill and scared.
>
> In my case, I STRONGLY felt that chemo was a Very Bad Idea when I took
> my mother to the oncologist, and I was shocked when she chose it. I
> didn't feel as though I could take the responsibility of possibly
> talking her out of it; what if she died from her cancer, would it be my
> fault?

Well, your mother may have felt that all those years at medical school
gave the doctors a bit of an edge when it came to taking *their*
advice for her treatment, as opposed to yours - mothers tend to
remember their children *as children*, and don't always think of them
as educated and erudite adults.


--
Jette Goldie
jette@blueyonder.co.uk
http://www.jette.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/
http://wolfette.livejournal.com/
("reply to" is spamblocked - use the email addy in sig)

x-no-archive: yes

Jette wrote:

> Well, your mother may have felt that all those years at medical school
> gave the doctors a bit of an edge when it came to taking *their* advice
> for her treatment, as opposed to yours - mothers tend to remember their
> children *as children*, and don't always think of them as educated and
> erudite adults.
>
>

Jette, I didn't give my mother any advice.

But nice of you to chime in.

Susan

On Jun 29, 3:28*pm, sage hen <desertny...@cwo.com> wrote:
> Now that my two breast cancer surgeries are over, I've got radiation
> staring me in the face. *As a Nevada nuke test victim who grew up
> playing in fallout, I have a horror of radiation that only a fellow
> downwinder can understand. *My sisters want me to see about radiation
> in Utah, because doctors there have some knowledge about treating
> downwinders.
>
> After all, the same breast can't be re-irradiated if there's a
> recurrence. *Susan Love's Breast Book says previous radiation exposure
> must be considered in radiation treatment. *My whole body was
> irradiated for 12 years. *I asked my surgeon about this, and she'd
> never even heard of the nuke tests. *She says I must have max whole-
> breast radiation for 6 weeks.
>
> Also alarming, the radiation doctor I'm assigned to is known for her
> refusal to answer any questions. *According to my neighbor, she
> answers questions with a grunt and a wave of the hand. *Even the
> clinic PA hates her.
>
> I had to psyche myself up for weeks just to get a scam-o-gram. *At the
> moment I have no idea how I'm going to drag myself into the radiation
> place--32 times! *As for going to Utah, I also can't feature leaving
> Hublet for 6 weeks. *My question is, does anyone know someone who
> couldn't go through with radiation?
>
> Les

http://feminism.eserver.org/health/e...cer-causes.txt

I tried looking for any sites about the aftermath of Hiroshima and
breast cancer. This is interesting and there are cites.

I used Google. You could try refining the search. Most of the things I
searched through were Japanese sites, but written in English.

Linda

On Sun, 29 Jun 2008 13:28:26 -0700 (PDT), sage hen
<desertnymph@cwo.com> wrote:

>Now that my two breast cancer surgeries are over, I've got radiation
>staring me in the face. As a Nevada nuke test victim who grew up
>playing in fallout, I have a horror of radiation that only a fellow
>downwinder can understand. My sisters want me to see about radiation
>in Utah, because doctors there have some knowledge about treating
>downwinders.
>
>After all, the same breast can't be re-irradiated if there's a
>recurrence. Susan Love's Breast Book says previous radiation exposure
>must be considered in radiation treatment. My whole body was
>irradiated for 12 years. I asked my surgeon about this, and she'd
>never even heard of the nuke tests. She says I must have max whole-
>breast radiation for 6 weeks.
>
>Also alarming, the radiation doctor I'm assigned to is known for her
>refusal to answer any questions. According to my neighbor, she
>answers questions with a grunt and a wave of the hand. Even the
>clinic PA hates her.
>
>I had to psyche myself up for weeks just to get a scam-o-gram. At the
>moment I have no idea how I'm going to drag myself into the radiation
>place--32 times! As for going to Utah, I also can't feature leaving
>Hublet for 6 weeks. My question is, does anyone know someone who
>couldn't go through with radiation?
>
>Les

I think it is a good idea to have a second opinion don it Utah if they
are faliar with your circumstanses. Having the radiation the way tou
have might make a differend approach needed.

R

Ratatosk, Jola
--

If you need to e-mail me, replace "don'tbother" with "zedicus"

"sage hen" <desertnymph@cwo.com> wrote in message
news:5018fc3c-387e-425f-b99d-d826419fc500@l42g2000hsc.googlegroups.com...
> Now that my two breast cancer surgeries are over, I've got radiation
> staring me in the face. As a Nevada nuke test victim who grew up
> playing in fallout, I have a horror of radiation that only a fellow
> downwinder can understand. My sisters want me to see about radiation
> in Utah, because doctors there have some knowledge about treating
> downwinders.
>
> After all, the same breast can't be re-irradiated if there's a
> recurrence. Susan Love's Breast Book says previous radiation exposure
> must be considered in radiation treatment. My whole body was
> irradiated for 12 years. I asked my surgeon about this, and she'd
> never even heard of the nuke tests. She says I must have max whole-
> breast radiation for 6 weeks.
>
> Also alarming, the radiation doctor I'm assigned to is known for her
> refusal to answer any questions. According to my neighbor, she
> answers questions with a grunt and a wave of the hand. Even the
> clinic PA hates her.

Is there by any chance a relatively nearby regional cancer center (such as
Sloan Kettering in NYC or Roswell Park in Buffalo) where oncologists may
know about this sort of deal (being downwind of that radiation for years) &
what the thinking re: the treatment protocol is? IOW, to get a second
opinion/more facts?

Cathy



Cathy


>
> I had to psyche myself up for weeks just to get a scam-o-gram. At the
> moment I have no idea how I'm going to drag myself into the radiation
> place--32 times! As for going to Utah, I also can't feature leaving
> Hublet for 6 weeks. My question is, does anyone know someone who
> couldn't go through with radiation?
>
> Les
>
>
>
>

Eva, I'm not balking at radiation because I have no fear of death.
Quite the opposite--I feel certain that radiation is the CAUSE of my
cancer.

I have to say I have my suspicions about radiation too. I had a 2001 biopsy
of the area that later became cancerous, and because it was so difficult to
access that area (against the chest wall) I was at the hospital for hours
and hours while they tried first to do stereotactic (maybe 40 mammograms)
and then insert a wire (another 40 mammograms). all in that one spot. the
biopsy (finally done surgically) came back benign. But guess what, seven
years later, the same spot turns up IDC. now....was it just growing anyway,
or did the radiation do that? I'll never know, but I have my suspicions.
Scientists tell me no, the amount is small; but....anyway, I knew that if
lymph nodes were clear, no radiation or chemo for me.

I can't seem to persuade these California doctors to take my
previous radiation exposure into account. We've already talked about
doctor-caused (iatrogenic) illness here. There's got to be some of
that with radiation. Susan Love says a tiny percentage of women will
get more cancer because of radiation treatments. That reminds me of
the stats I've read for lymphedema; one books says five percent,
another says thirty percent.

I read tons of stuff about lyphedema too, I was absolutely obsessively
terrified of it, TERRIFIED, and I told my doctor to take a maximum of TWO
lymph nodes, period, no matter what. I thought i'd never push a lawn mower
again, or row, or climb, or lift weights. a year later, I am doing two of
those four, and I don't think about it much. The oncologist says my risk is
very low, but the things I've read run the gamut, and it can turn up 10-20
years later. I stocked up on antibiotic and freaked if I scratched my left
arm or hand. But eventually I stopped thinking about it.

I am so sorry, Les. I would be terrified of whole-breast radiation,
absolutely terrified. what does your husband think? We know what your
sisters think. there are no perfect answers to any of this. I am so sorry
for your trauma and uncertainty and pain.

and I am so glad I have my hair. I say that just because i make myself say
it at least every day if I feel rueful about my experience. I still have my
hair.



I

Maybe the percentage getting post-
radiation cancer are those of us with previous heavy exposures.

Les

On Jul 1, 6:10*pm, "fortunata" <pacif...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Eva, I'm not balking at radiation because I have no fear of death.
> Quite the opposite--I feel certain that radiation is the CAUSE of my
> cancer.
>
> I have to say I have my suspicions about radiation too. I had a 2001 biopsy
> of the area that later became cancerous, and because it was so difficult to
> access that area (against the chest wall) I was at the hospital for hours
> and hours while they tried first to do stereotactic (maybe 40 mammograms)
> and then insert a wire (another 40 mammograms). all in that one spot. the
> biopsy (finally done surgically) came back benign. But guess what, seven
> years later, the same spot turns up IDC. now....was it just growing anyway,
> or did the radiation do that? I'll never know, but I have my suspicions.
> Scientists tell me no, the amount is small; but....anyway, I knew that if
> lymph nodes were clear, no radiation or chemo for me.
>
> *I can't seem to persuade these California doctors to take my
> previous radiation exposure into account. *We've already talked about
> doctor-caused (iatrogenic) illness here. *There's got to be some of
> that with radiation. *Susan Love says a tiny percentage of women will
> get more cancer because of radiation treatments. *That reminds me of
> the stats I've read for lymphedema; one books says five percent,
> another says thirty percent.
>
> I read tons of stuff about lyphedema too, I was absolutely obsessively
> terrified of it, TERRIFIED, and I told my doctor to take a maximum of TWO
> lymph nodes, period, no matter what. I thought i'd never push a lawn mower
> again, or row, or climb, or lift weights. a year later, I am doing two of
> those four, and I don't think about it much. The oncologist says my risk is
> very low, but the things I've read run the gamut, and it can turn up 10-20
> years later. I stocked up on antibiotic and freaked if I scratched my left
> arm or hand. But eventually I stopped thinking about it.
>
> I am so sorry, Les. I would be terrified of whole-breast radiation,
> absolutely terrified. what does your husband think? We know what your
> sisters think. there are no perfect answers to any of this. I am so sorry
> for your trauma and uncertainty and pain.
>
> and I am so glad I have my hair. I say that just because i make myself say
> it at least every day if I feel rueful about my experience. I still have my
> hair.
>
> I
>
> *Maybe the *percentage getting post-
> radiation cancer are those of us with previous heavy exposures.
>
> Les

I haven't made my decision yet, but after talking to my mom yesterday,
I'll see the radiation doctor and go from there. My husband says I
should skip the radiation, but he's always been a live-for-today guy.
When I met him, he didn't think he'd make it to 30, let alone 56.
I've come to realize that the idea of skipping radiation is just as
scary as the idea of doing it. Fear is inevitable at the moment.

Regarding lymphedema, Judy and Lane, my neighbor, who had a radical
mastectomy 11 years ago, is just getting it in her OTHER arm! It
arrived in the cut arm about a year after surgery (all but two lymph
nodes removed). She's like me, must always be doing something, and
it's been a real curse. At least I don't have axillary web, despite
the fact that I've done some work with my arm.

I still have my hair, but have lost 10 pounds since finding my lump in
February.

Les

Fear is the demon, no question. Fear governs almost everything I do (or
don't do) but I'm working on it. I know what you mean. I do understand that.
Your husband isn't like my BF; he would absolutely have advocated for the
rads, as would my scientist brother. but fear is REAL, and fear is a health
risk too. I am so sorry you are dealing with this.

"sage hen" <desertnymph@cwo.com> wrote in message
news:d5b6b71b-ad4d-4129-bbdc-efd1d21be8d0@e53g2000hsa.googlegroups.com...
On Jul 1, 6:10 pm, "fortunata" <pacif...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Eva, I'm not balking at radiation because I have no fear of death.
> Quite the opposite--I feel certain that radiation is the CAUSE of my
> cancer.
>
> I have to say I have my suspicions about radiation too. I had a 2001
> biopsy
> of the area that later became cancerous, and because it was so difficult
> to
> access that area (against the chest wall) I was at the hospital for hours
> and hours while they tried first to do stereotactic (maybe 40 mammograms)
> and then insert a wire (another 40 mammograms). all in that one spot. the
> biopsy (finally done surgically) came back benign. But guess what, seven
> years later, the same spot turns up IDC. now....was it just growing
> anyway,
> or did the radiation do that? I'll never know, but I have my suspicions.
> Scientists tell me no, the amount is small; but....anyway, I knew that if
> lymph nodes were clear, no radiation or chemo for me.
>
> I can't seem to persuade these California doctors to take my
> previous radiation exposure into account. We've already talked about
> doctor-caused (iatrogenic) illness here. There's got to be some of
> that with radiation. Susan Love says a tiny percentage of women will
> get more cancer because of radiation treatments. That reminds me of
> the stats I've read for lymphedema; one books says five percent,
> another says thirty percent.
>
> I read tons of stuff about lyphedema too, I was absolutely obsessively
> terrified of it, TERRIFIED, and I told my doctor to take a maximum of TWO
> lymph nodes, period, no matter what. I thought i'd never push a lawn mower
> again, or row, or climb, or lift weights. a year later, I am doing two of
> those four, and I don't think about it much. The oncologist says my risk
> is
> very low, but the things I've read run the gamut, and it can turn up 10-20
> years later. I stocked up on antibiotic and freaked if I scratched my left
> arm or hand. But eventually I stopped thinking about it.
>
> I am so sorry, Les. I would be terrified of whole-breast radiation,
> absolutely terrified. what does your husband think? We know what your
> sisters think. there are no perfect answers to any of this. I am so sorry
> for your trauma and uncertainty and pain.
>
> and I am so glad I have my hair. I say that just because i make myself say
> it at least every day if I feel rueful about my experience. I still have
> my
> hair.
>
> I
>
> Maybe the percentage getting post-
> radiation cancer are those of us with previous heavy exposures.
>
> Les

I haven't made my decision yet, but after talking to my mom yesterday,
I'll see the radiation doctor and go from there. My husband says I
should skip the radiation, but he's always been a live-for-today guy.
When I met him, he didn't think he'd make it to 30, let alone 56.
I've come to realize that the idea of skipping radiation is just as
scary as the idea of doing it. Fear is inevitable at the moment.

Regarding lymphedema, Judy and Lane, my neighbor, who had a radical
mastectomy 11 years ago, is just getting it in her OTHER arm! It
arrived in the cut arm about a year after surgery (all but two lymph
nodes removed). She's like me, must always be doing something, and
it's been a real curse. At least I don't have axillary web, despite
the fact that I've done some work with my arm.

I still have my hair, but have lost 10 pounds since finding my lump in
February.

Les

On Jul 2, 10:31*am, sage hen <desertny...@cwo.com> wrote:
> On Jul 1, 6:10*pm, "fortunata" <pacif...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>
>
> > Eva, I'm not balking at radiation because I have no fear of death.
> > Quite the opposite--I feel certain that radiation is the CAUSE of my
> > cancer.
>
> > I have to say I have my suspicions about radiation too. I had a 2001 biopsy
> > of the area that later became cancerous, and because it was so difficult to
> > access that area (against the chest wall) I was at the hospital for hours
> > and hours while they tried first to do stereotactic (maybe 40 mammograms)
> > and then insert a wire (another 40 mammograms). all in that one spot. the
> > biopsy (finally done surgically) came back benign. But guess what, seven
> > years later, the same spot turns up IDC. now....was it just growing anyway,
> > or did the radiation do that? I'll never know, but I have my suspicions..
> > Scientists tell me no, the amount is small; but....anyway, I knew that if
> > lymph nodes were clear, no radiation or chemo for me.
>
> > *I can't seem to persuade these California doctors to take my
> > previous radiation exposure into account. *We've already talked about
> > doctor-caused (iatrogenic) illness here. *There's got to be some of
> > that with radiation. *Susan Love says a tiny percentage of women will
> > get more cancer because of radiation treatments. *That reminds me of
> > the stats I've read for lymphedema; one books says five percent,
> > another says thirty percent.
>
> > I read tons of stuff about lyphedema too, I was absolutely obsessively
> > terrified of it, TERRIFIED, and I told my doctor to take a maximum of TWO
> > lymph nodes, period, no matter what. I thought i'd never push a lawn mower
> > again, or row, or climb, or lift weights. a year later, I am doing two of
> > those four, and I don't think about it much. The oncologist says my risk is
> > very low, but the things I've read run the gamut, and it can turn up 10-20
> > years later. I stocked up on antibiotic and freaked if I scratched my left
> > arm or hand. But eventually I stopped thinking about it.
>
> > I am so sorry, Les. I would be terrified of whole-breast radiation,
> > absolutely terrified. what does your husband think? We know what your
> > sisters think. there are no perfect answers to any of this. I am so sorry
> > for your trauma and uncertainty and pain.
>
> > and I am so glad I have my hair. I say that just because i make myself say
> > it at least every day if I feel rueful about my experience. I still have my
> > hair.
>
> > I
>
> > *Maybe the *percentage getting post-
> > radiation cancer are those of us with previous heavy exposures.
>
> > Les
>
> I haven't made my decision yet, but after talking to my mom yesterday,
> I'll see the radiation doctor and go from there. *My husband says I
> should skip the radiation, but he's always been a live-for-today guy.
> When I met him, he didn't think he'd make it to 30, let alone 56.
> I've come to realize that the idea of skipping radiation is just as
> scary as the idea of doing it. * Fear is inevitable at the moment.
>
> Regarding lymphedema, Judy and Lane, my neighbor, who had a radical
> mastectomy 11 years ago, is just getting it in her OTHER arm! *It
> arrived in the cut arm about a year after surgery (all but two lymph
> nodes removed). *She's like me, must always be doing something, and
> it's been a real curse. *At least I don't have axillary web, despite
> the fact that I've done some work with my arm.
>
> I still have my hair, but have lost 10 pounds since finding my lump in
> February.
>
> Les
Les, don't get me started on the lymphedema--but recent, June 15th
article in the journal Cancer, they prospectively followed women with
an impedence meter to pick up subtle lymphedema, and then had them buy
cheap over the counter Jobst sleeve and gauntlet (about $50 on line)
and the vast majority resolved. No expensive (I discovered the
worthless therapy I was getting is being billed by hospital at $360/hr
and my copay is $72/session. The therapist has a private practice
where she does it fee for service for a fraction of the cost.)
I switched to another therapist, and he thinks early lymphedema,
minimal, is what I have and all this massage, wrapping, compression
sleeves that turn my fingers blue are hurting, not helping me. It sure
had made me miserable way beyond the condition (a tiny puff on my
hand, sometimes.)
Les, I am 1/5th through with radiation--I don't feel I am a
candidate to NOT do it, because my margins were so tiny--1 mm in the
posterior ("You didn't give me much to work with here"--famous comment
from the surgeon.)
But, I am not a downwinder, but did get scatter radiation when I was
a resident--I'd be in the ICU and they'd be taking portable films, and
yell-clear in here--and all there were between beds were curtains. And
I was pregnant as an intern--I would run as fast and far as I could.
Radiation is concerning, and you have every right to be concerned.
Your case is unique and your personal risk may be very difficult to
determine--but see if the radiation oncologist can help.
Hang in there. This is an ordeal and a process, and I've finally
realized that the new normal will not be the old normal.
My friend thinks that women who go through this get a form of PTSD,
I think she could be right.
Judy

On Jul 3, 11:58*am, "judy.n" <judy.nudel...@gmail.com> wrote:
> On Jul 2, 10:31*am, sage hen <desertny...@cwo.com> wrote:
>
>
>
> > On Jul 1, 6:10*pm, "fortunata" <pacif...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > > Eva, I'm not balking at radiation because I have no fear of death.
> > > Quite the opposite--I feel certain that radiation is the CAUSE of my
> > > cancer.
>
> > > I have to say I have my suspicions about radiation too. I had a 2001 biopsy
> > > of the area that later became cancerous, and because it was so difficult to
> > > access that area (against the chest wall) I was at the hospital for hours
> > > and hours while they tried first to do stereotactic (maybe 40 mammograms)
> > > and then insert a wire (another 40 mammograms). all in that one spot.the
> > > biopsy (finally done surgically) came back benign. But guess what, seven
> > > years later, the same spot turns up IDC. now....was it just growing anyway,
> > > or did the radiation do that? I'll never know, but I have my suspicions.
> > > Scientists tell me no, the amount is small; but....anyway, I knew that if
> > > lymph nodes were clear, no radiation or chemo for me.
>
> > > *I can't seem to persuade these California doctors to take my
> > > previous radiation exposure into account. *We've already talked about
> > > doctor-caused (iatrogenic) illness here. *There's got to be some of
> > > that with radiation. *Susan Love says a tiny percentage of women will
> > > get more cancer because of radiation treatments. *That reminds me of
> > > the stats I've read for lymphedema; one books says five percent,
> > > another says thirty percent.
>
> > > I read tons of stuff about lyphedema too, I was absolutely obsessively
> > > terrified of it, TERRIFIED, and I told my doctor to take a maximum ofTWO
> > > lymph nodes, period, no matter what. I thought i'd never push a lawn mower
> > > again, or row, or climb, or lift weights. a year later, I am doing two of
> > > those four, and I don't think about it much. The oncologist says my risk is
> > > very low, but the things I've read run the gamut, and it can turn up 10-20
> > > years later. I stocked up on antibiotic and freaked if I scratched myleft
> > > arm or hand. But eventually I stopped thinking about it.
>
> > > I am so sorry, Les. I would be terrified of whole-breast radiation,
> > > absolutely terrified. what does your husband think? We know what your
> > > sisters think. there are no perfect answers to any of this. I am so sorry
> > > for your trauma and uncertainty and pain.
>
> > > and I am so glad I have my hair. I say that just because i make myself say
> > > it at least every day if I feel rueful about my experience. I still have my
> > > hair.
>
> > > I
>
> > > *Maybe the *percentage getting post-
> > > radiation cancer are those of us with previous heavy exposures.
>
> > > Les
>
> > I haven't made my decision yet, but after talking to my mom yesterday,
> > I'll see the radiation doctor and go from there. *My husband says I
> > should skip the radiation, but he's always been a live-for-today guy.
> > When I met him, he didn't think he'd make it to 30, let alone 56.
> > I've come to realize that the idea of skipping radiation is just as
> > scary as the idea of doing it. * Fear is inevitable at the moment.
>
> > Regarding lymphedema, Judy and Lane, my neighbor, who had a radical
> > mastectomy 11 years ago, is just getting it in her OTHER arm! *It
> > arrived in the cut arm about a year after surgery (all but two lymph
> > nodes removed). *She's like me, must always be doing something, and
> > it's been a real curse. *At least I don't have axillary web, despite
> > the fact that I've done some work with my arm.
>
> > I still have my hair, but have lost 10 pounds since finding my lump in
> > February.
>
> > Les
>
> Les, don't get me started on the lymphedema--but recent, June 15th
> article in the journal Cancer, they prospectively followed women with
> an impedence meter to pick up subtle lymphedema, and then had them buy
> cheap over the counter Jobst sleeve and gauntlet (about $50 on line)
> and the vast majority resolved. No expensive (I discovered the
> worthless therapy I was getting is being billed by hospital at $360/hr
> and my copay is $72/session. The therapist has a private practice
> where she does it fee for service for a fraction of the cost.)
> * I switched to another therapist, and he thinks early lymphedema,
> minimal, is what I have and all this massage, wrapping, compression
> sleeves that turn my fingers blue are hurting, not helping me. It sure
> had made me miserable way beyond the condition (a tiny puff on my
> hand, sometimes.)
> * Les, I am 1/5th through with radiation--I don't feel I am a
> candidate to NOT do it, because my margins were so tiny--1 mm in the
> posterior ("You didn't give me much to work with here"--famous comment
> from the surgeon.)
> * But, I am not a downwinder, but did get scatter radiation when I was
> a resident--I'd be in the ICU and they'd be taking portable films, and
> yell-clear in here--and all there were between beds were curtains. And
> I was pregnant as an intern--I would run as fast and far as I could.
> * Radiation is concerning, and you have every right to be concerned.
> * Your case is unique and your personal risk may be very difficult to
> determine--but see if the radiation oncologist can help.
> * Hang in there. This is an ordeal and a process, and I've finally
> realized that the new normal will not be the old normal.
> * My friend thinks that women who go through this get a form of PTSD,
> I think she could be right.
> Judy- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

Thanks Judy and Lane,

At least I have no sign of lymphedema; I realize that is a great
stroke of fortune. Yesterday my surgeon said to use my arm as normal
even if it hurts, which it doesn't much. I'm used to slinging things
like sacks of cement, so will take it slow. Susan Love's book says
the worst lymphedema aggravators are weight gain and skin injuries on
the affected arm.

Weight gain isn't a problem. I'm still losing, and my blood pressure
is getting worrisome--a feedback loop no doubt.

I was spaced out as usual when my surgeon talked about margins, but I
believe she told me they were all at least 3 mm. Does a big margin
mean there's less need for radiation? Gawdess, more uncertainty. My
radiation consult is on the 9th.