Barbara
                    
                    
                    
                    
                    
                    
                    
                        
                        
                        Limmited knowledge.  I have DCIS malignant breast cancer and have rejected mastecomy and am seeing specialists to look at all other options.  Seeing a radiation oncologist today.. My back ground reading indicates that radiation treatment is daily for a period of up to 5 weeks to allow some recovery time.. There appears to be some local reaction, skin tensernes, redness, ulcers, sometime nausea and fatique and occassionally hair loss - I think this is only in the area irradiated.  After treatment symptoms pass and can be controoled during treatment.  My reading indicates that lunpectomys plus radiation have a highher success rate of non-reoccurrence.  Hope this is helpful - use the internet search as you can get lots of detailed information and look to talk to a radiation specialist.  Good Luck