Is Skipping Chemo After a Double Mastectomy Normal?

I was told that they'll need to send the tissue for testing before confirming if radiation therapy was needed after a mastectomy. I'm getting a mastectomy next month and I was told that I probably won't need radiation therapy but they can't be sure without the pathology report.

I had six rounds of chemo and a double mastectomy. I was then in a clinical trial that randomized me to not have radiation treatments. This was 9 years ago. I am now 1 year in with MBC with bone Mets in both hips. I wonder now if I should have done the radiation and maybe prevented the Metastatic Breast Cancer. Get a second opinion if you need to.

Following....I have stage 3a IDCBC her2+ & pr+ er+ and I've been told to complete 6 rounds of chemo, then post op double mastectomy SEVENTEEN more rounds of chemo over the next 12 months.....God i pray I don't need anything else after my mastectomy. I just had c2 of 6 and this sucks!

At 71, I had ER+PR+HER2- Stage 1a Ductal Double nipple sparing mastectomy and removal of 2 Sentinel lymph nodes (no cancer in nodes) with reconstruction (expanders). I was advised no chemo, no radiation; however due to ER+PR+ status, I will be on Aromatase Inhibitors specifically Anastrozole for at least 5 years. Second stage reconstruction in 4 weeks.

My best friend had double mastectomy and no chemo or radiation..just the pill

I had a double mastectomy with no radiation or chemo. My surgeon said my cancer was completely encapsulated in one place with no lymph node involvement. He injected a radioactive tracer during surgery which identifies the sentinal, or first, lymph nodes that would be affected by cancer to see that they are ok.

Unilateral mastectomy with no radiation or chemo. Having an appointment next week to discuss treatment. Are you HER 2 positive?

Double Mastectomy with 33 rounds of Proton Radiation. This cancer though was on my sternum. Third time with breast cancer.

I had a double mastectomy 4 years ago. No radiation, no chemo, just 1 mg of Anastrozole every day.

Eileen, it is great you have onle 1mg of Anastrozole, with that dosage do you experience any side effects?

Not a lot, at first I had hot flashes way worse than I had during menopause, but they tapered off. I feel sometimes I read others post and think is mine (join pain) from the drug or from old age💁‍♀️ So I would say not really, or at least manageable! Good luck on your journey

I am one year out of a double mastectomy, no radiation or chemo, just Anastrozole pills for 5 years.

I was diagnosed with IDC that was Estrogen and Progesterone + but HERS2 -. I chose double mastectomy and DIEP Flap reconstruction. My doc originally said a lumpectomy was easiest. No lymph nodes were involved. Ended up being stage 1 and grade 2. Reasons: 1. I did not want to have the anxiety from mammograms constantly. 2. I did not want to have radiation or chemo if avoidable. With lumpectomy I was told mammograms and radiation were mandatory and chemo if lymph nodes were involved. 3. I also did not want the hassle of implants and having to potentially have them replaced in the years to come. 4. DIEP Flap is your own tissue and I am allergic to everything. So having a foreign thing put in me screamed problems. All in all I'm very happy with my decision, but it is a long recovery. I will be on Arimidex or Letrozole for 10 years to suppress hormones. I also had my ovaries removed. I had already had a hysterectomy years ago.

Your Oncotype score (low is good), location & size of tumor and lymphovascular involvement may determine if you need chemo and or radiation.

Heather P. correct! I have had the double mastectomy on 11/5/24. Saw my oncologist last week and per the tissue removed from the affected breast (left breast only) I am at stage 2a due to size of my tumor (6cm) and lymph node involvement. Now just waiting for Onco-testing to see if my score is below 26. If it is then I don’t need chemotherapy just radiation. Should know results by Dec 5 when I see my oncologist.

I had a unilateral mastectomy with no chemo or radiation. It was early stage but all is good.

My surgeon told me there wasn’t any breast tissue left after my bilateral mastectomy. She said with clear margins and negative lymph nodes, there is no need for further treatment.

Sending you big hugs Carla and hoping your Oncotype score is low. :-)

Heather P. Thank you and big hugs right back atcha 🩷🩷🩷

Carla, I’m Brca 2 not offered to have chemo or radiation. Yay! I had a bilateral dmx and 2 nodes removed which were negative. I’m very thankful b/c I really want to get my life back together and not go to so many appointments in different places. I’m in Chicago so the team is in different offices which is ok but getting old. I’m debating whether or not to take the anestrazole that was prescribed. Good luck with your decision. It’s your body and you know what is right for you. Im wondering if you choose tx and it doesn’t agree with you for one reason or another can it be discontinued?

I am 12 years out from stage 3C ILC. 9 positive lymph nodes I just spent 1/2 hr talking to my oncologist this wk at my 6 mo check up. Things are changing rapidly in the field of oncology because of genetics. They didn’t have any of that when I went through it. Everything is individualized to your cancer & you. That is good news. They have so much available to fight cancer today. Cancer support groups are so helpful. I have been leading a faith based group for 10 years. You learn these things too from your group as ladies share their experiences. Pouring into others is so rewarding. Prayer is powerful too. We all have our journeys & we need to find what works for us. Even my oncologist says that she needs to bring her experience & expertise to the table along what the patient wants to do.

I was told I was not going to need radiation post surgery. I ended up needing 37 rounds of radiation treatment after the pathology came back. That was after the 20 chemo infusions, I’m waiting currently for my last surgery in March. If there is one thing I learned is that things don’t always go as they plan, but I am confident my team has guided me to the right path.

I think it depends on the type of bc and if you are er+ your oncotype score factors in as well.

I had DM and decided not to do chemo / radiation for stage 1A. I have been off work 2 months & onco wants me to take 3 more months of for chemo & maybe radiation. I am alone & have zero financial support & medical bills piling up. Each treatment info is provided after the previous treatment completes. So there is no way to know ahead of time how much it will cost or how much time you need off work ahead of time. This makes it impossible to keep your job or do financial planning :(

I too had bilateral mastectomy without breast reconstruction. No radiation and no chemo. No lymph node involvement. My oncho score was 20. I’m not doing the estrogen blocker. It’s quality of life issue for me. I’m 64 and already have some joint and muscle pains. I don’t want to add to it with all the other side effects. I’ve had a recurrent seroma that needs drainage. I know how you feel. I just try to stay positive and thankful for every day!!!