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Radiation Therapy Questions about Radiation Therapy. |
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| Asked | Publicly Submitted Question | ||
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| 3/23/2012 | I am 60 years old and recently had a lumpectomy on my left breast to remove a 2.2cm non-invasive DCIS grade 3 tumor. The tumor was ER/PR negative. The margins were clear and the 5 sentinel lymph nodes removed at the same time were all negative. After radiation treatment to the left breast is completed, will mammograms still be able to provide an effective read of the breast? I ask this because my doctors have commented that the breast will be lumpy after the radiation is complete. What will be the condition of the left breast when radiation is complete? Thank-you. | ||
| Replied | JHU's Breast Center Reply | ||
| 3/23/2012 | Thank you for turning to the Johns Hopkins Breast Center. Generally, today's radition to the breast tends to have very little long term effects to the breast. Some women notice breast seems a wee bit larger, some say a wee bit smaller, some say the skin darkened a bit, some say the skin lightend a bit. I have not heard of breasts becoming lumpy bumpy as a result of radiation. (If you had lumpy bumpy breast before, then you will after). Yes, you will continue with your mammograms, clinical breast exams, your own breast self awareness practice, and be compliant with your doctor visits and any medications prescribed. Here is a good web site for questions about radiation: www.rtanswers.org Hope this helps and best wishes. | ||
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