Hello Diane and thank you for posting.

I'm sorry you're having to make this decision on top of everything else you are going through, and I can understand you wanting more information.

Your consultants' recommendation is very much in line with how breast cancer treatment has changed over the last decade. Certain patients with very low-levels of cancer cells in their lymph nodes can have radiotherapy and get the similar cancer control as surgery. This also causes substantially less problems with the affected arm, like lymphoedema.

The Amaros trial, discussed in this medical paper, followed up women for 10 years who had radiotherapy or surgery in breast cancer. To summarise the key findings of this trial in plain English;

Axillary recurrence surgery was 0.93% after clearance versus 1.82% after radiotherapy.

There was no difference in overall survival.

There was no difference in disease-free survival.

Lymphoedema was much more common after clearance (24.5%) than after radiotherapy (11.9%).

Cancer Research UK explains axillary clearance surgery and its potential complications, including lymphoedema on our website if you haven't read it. This may help you understand why doctors are increasingly cautious about recommending a full clearance unless there is a clear benefit.

It may also help to post in other threads on our forum to hear from other women going through similar situations and having to make similar decisions. Breast cancer Now, the breast cancer charity, also have a good patient forum.

Take care Diane, and I hope you get the information you need to help in your decision. If you would like to talk anything through with the nurses on the helpline our number is 0808 800 4040. Lines are open mon-fri, 9-5.

Sarah.

Hello Diane and thank you for posting.

I'm sorry you're having to make this decision on top of everything else you are going through, and I can understand you wanting more information.

Your consultants' recommendation is very much in line with how breast cancer treatment has changed over the last decade. Certain patients with very low-levels of cancer cells in their lymph nodes can have radiotherapy and get the similar cancer control as surgery. This also causes substantially less problems with the affected arm, like lymphoedema.

The Amaros trial, discussed in this medical paper, followed up women for 10 years who had radiotherapy or surgery in breast cancer. To summarise the key findings of this trial in plain English;

Axillary recurrence surgery was 0.93% after clearance versus 1.82% after radiotherapy.

There was no difference in overall survival.

There was no difference in disease-free survival.

Lymphoedema was much more common after clearance (24.5%) than after radiotherapy (11.9%).

Cancer Research UK explains axillary clearance surgery and its potential complications, including lymphoedema on our website if you haven't read it. This may help you understand why doctors are increasingly cautious about recommending a full clearance unless there is a clear benefit.

It may also help to post in other threads on our forum to hear from other women going through similar situations and having to make similar decisions. Breast cancer Now, the breast cancer charity, also have a good patient forum.

Take care Diane, and I hope you get the information you need to help in your decision. If you would like to talk anything through with the nurses on the helpline our number is 0808 800 4040. Lines are open mon-fri, 9-5.

Sarah.