My mother is 77 years old and had a double mastectomy (left side - 7 cm lobular cancer; right side - some evidence of cancerous cells) lymph axillary clearance and right lymph dissection at the end of October this year. On her left side 2 lymph nodes were found to have cancer cells.
She has got her oncotype test results back and her score of 7 so chemotherapy is not recommended. The cancer is highly ER+ and PR+; and HER2-. She started taking Femara 3 days ago. Her oncologist has recommended that she have radiotherapy on her chest wall, the lymph nodes just behind her breastbone. The doctor also said that she is borderline for a recomendation of having the lymph nodes above her collar bone zapped. What experiences do people have of having radiotherapy after having axillary clearance? My mother is concerned about increased the risk of lymphedema if she has radiotherapy on the lymph nodes near her collar bone.
Can anyone offer any advice? My mother is unsure of whether to have the additional radiotherapy.
