Has anyone declined radiation after breast cancer spread to lymph nodes?

They are not doing chemo! I had it in 6 nodes and chemo was a must followed by radiation and 10 yrs of hormone blockers and chemo pill! Why so against radiation?

I am having chemo. It’s working well. I am against radiation because I am 65 and all of the health impacting side effects. In addition to my cancer I have cll/sll, pericarditis and ra. I have plenty of issues and don’t want more if I can help it.

Hi Denise, Everyone is different. I had many rounds of chemo and it was horrible. I still have terrible long long-lasting effects. Maybe had I known, I would have opted out of chemo. I don't know. But after chemo, I did have 30 days of radiation. For me, radiation was the easy part. Other than fatigue, I felt nothing else. But everyone is different. Chemo almost killed me. All of it is terrible. The first time I was diagnosed, I knew nothing. Four years later, I am diagnosed again. This time around, things will be done on my terms. Now I am better educated regarding treatment, etc...

Thanks for your insight. Chemo is horrible and I wasn’t given any choice. Wish I could have been more informed going in. Knowing what I know about radiation and outcomes I think I am going to opt out.

Good luck with your new diagnosis 🙏 Knowledge IS power!

Making treatment decisions can feel overwhelming, especially when there are different perspectives to consider. Many community members have shared their experiences with various treatment paths, including decisions about radiation therapy. Each person's situation and priorities are unique, so connecting with others who have faced similar choices might provide helpful insights. Consider discussing all your concerns thoroughly with your medical team to ensure you have complete information for your decision-making process.