Jan
Message 1 of 1
I have had surgery to remove a 1 cm tumor in the vulva that was determined to actually be a breast type tumor and left inguinal node that was cancerous. Small nodes in the area were cancer free. I have had chemotherapy and am now ready for radiation treatments. Since I am estrogen receptor positive, I will be receiving a 5 year course of Tamoxifen after treatment. There is some dispute about whether I have to have the full pelvic radiation normally prescribed for vulvar cancer patients or just the local radiation prescribed for breast cancer patients. Complicating the issue is the fact that I have a colostomy from a former rectal cancer surgery 12 years ago that is controlled by irrigation. My fear is that full pelvic radiation would cause ongoing diarrhea that would undermine the bowel control I now have. My breast oncologist, surgeon and radiologist do not all agree on the need for full pelvic radiation. My doctors have been able to find only a few other cases like this. Help!