IMRT

willheal

IMRT

willheal

I would like to start a new topic relating to IMRT to share experiences, knowledge and questions for those of us being treated by this method or radiation therapy.  Today I had my 6th treatment and have questions:  How often are you x-rayed during treatment?  What reactions are we experienciing. Since the intensity is modulated, are reactions different?  For left breast cancer, does it spare our hearts any better than conventional rad.?  Too tired tonight to keep writing.  More later.

amlg1

I did have IMRT,but my cancer was on the right side.I was x-rayed once a week.I do go to a renowned cancer hosp.and when the techs set me up,they told me my set up was very interesting.I couldn't figure out why,but my rad.onco,told me I was the only one to have this IMRT,which made me nervouse,but later on the techs told me that I must have great ins.

I had many fields done,it was about 22,now that could be because the IMRT is much different,but I also much node involvement.The only trouble I had was.after the 6th tx,I had trouble swallowing,I then maybe the last week burn under my arm,but if you do the creams work wonders.After my tx the swallowing cleared up.OH also I was on the table between 20 and 25 min.

If you read up on IMRT,you will see how it works,it is supposed to spare the organs.Good luck,any questions we are here for you.

pj12

I had IMRT May-June 2009. I have nothing to compare it to but felt I was getting state of the art care. My 'team" bragged about how great it was. I had daily CTs prior to radiation. Time on the table was considerable... lots of set up, remarking, etc. They were very detailed, no fooling around. It was my left breast so I was concerned about heart effects... so far, all is fine. I had 28 regular, 8 boosts. I was worried my breast would shrink as that can happen with large breasts... did not happen. I got the usual skin irritation, healed up fine and quickly. I did develop a tickle cough during rads that cleaared up as soon as I was finished. 

My insurance denied $200 of the $1000 a day cost, considered it investigational. FINALLY the hospital wrote that off and did not make me pay it :-)

I would certainly choose to go that route again.  Good luck.

pam 

amlg1

Pam.. my boob does look smaller,I have DD.s and the radiated one looks smaller,which I don't mind,wish the other shrunk a little.

itizwutetiz

How are you doing Willheal and what has been your experience?  I'm having my first IMRT treatment tomorrow and it helps to read what others have experienced.  I too am concerned about it being on my left side, but they assured me that this method is fairly protective.  I have an asthma related chronic cough and sure don't want any added lung/cough problems nor heart at age 70.   I will only be having the breast and not underarm area.  amig1, I am also that size and wonder how to protect the sides, cleavage and underneath from skin against skin irriatation. Some are saying to wear camisole instead of bra...but I see that as a potential skin problem I'd have even without radiation. Do you have any tips/suggestions?  Also have a tube of Biafine I plan to use after first treatment tomorrow. How often can you use that? Is that the right thing to do rather than wait until a burn develops?

amlg1

My rad.onco started me with aquaphor at nite and eucerine after tx.Aquafor is gooy,so I wore an old undershirt,at nite.i did wear bras,no underwire.when I knew I would be home I used camisole or t shirt.I used biofene only towards the end where I burned the most,but it did clear up quickly.Good Luck.

itizwutetiz

Is Aquafor available in a drug store?

willheal

I'm sorry I haven't responded until now.  Been real busy lately with long-distance care-taking of my Dad.  Also trying to put in some work hours.  Thank you, amig1, pj12345, and itizwutetiz... for responding.  At the cancer center where I get treatment, they are very fast and don't take a lot of time setting me up. Don't know if good or bad (could make a mistake)  The other day, they put someone else's form under my head/arm and changed it after I pointed it out.  I have had 2 weeks of treatments and the skin under my breast (not the breast) is getting darker.  Did this happen to any of you?  I would think that area wouldn't be affected as it shouldn't be radiated.  I asked my rad doc it they reviewed the plan at any time during the 6 and 1/2 weeks of treatment and he said "no", that it never changes. Could someone share how the rad therapists went about setting you up on the treatment table...what motions they went through?  I am writing this at 3am.  Lately I have been waking up at 4 am and not going back to sleep.  Lots on my mind and questions about quality of treatment. Itzwutetiz, you asked about where to get Aquafor.  It is sold in drug stores.  It comes in a stand-up tube and made by same company that makes Eucerin.

RegulJ

I found that the set up was interesting. My gal Shea was very nice. She had me lay on a large bean bag- rectangular form that went from my waist to just past my head. This form was laying on a larger foam wedge on a CT scanning table. The form also had a port where she attached a compressor to push air in and out of the form.

We talked about what areas were going to be zapped. She had me place my arms over my head in a comfortable postion. She turned the compressor on and as air was sucked out of the form she molded it to the shape of my body. This is to try to keep you in the same postion for every treatment.

After the form was made she placed some small skin markers on me- one on each side and one on my chest between my foob/boob. The rad.onc. came in and stuck some tape to my chest that would show up in the CT scan around the area they wanted to treat. Then I was placed into the CT machine for some baseline scans. The markers helped line up some laser lines coming from the machine. These scans were sent off to the Dosimitrist (sp?) for my planning which took 3-7 days before I knew when I would be coming in for treatments.

Once the scans were done she tattoed me (OUCH). She placed a drop of ink on the previous marks and stuck a needle into the center of each. My tattos are about the size of a pen mark and black in color.

The whole procedure took 30-40 minutes. They also took my picture to help identify me and a picture of how my arms were laying. Both those pictures are in the front of my chart.

 My form is on the treatment table for every zap. Although my arms don't line up the same way everytime (my port pulls and aches) I am sure to keep them still between the set up scan and the actual zapping.

pj12

I did not have a "form." An incline frame was placed on the table with kind of stirrups for your arms. A sheet was under me and they used it to shift me small increments to line up tattoos with laser beams. Photos and CT scans were used to confirm position. My photo and stats were on a monitor in the room and I had to confirm it was me every time. I soon learned one therapist was pretty cavalier about how I was positioned while others went to great pains to get me right. Idid not like the time involved but preferred the precision. 

If I had one thing to do over.... a handful of times the machine went down and had to be rebooted. I never felt good about that, then read a terrifying article about radiation mishaps. If I had a do-over I would refuse to have therapy when the equipment was acting up.

But.... I am fine now. No apparent bad effect.  Hope it did the job!

pam 

itizwutetiz

I found the Aquafor, but it's confusing because it has alcohol as an ingredient and the dr said not to use anything w/alcohol or fragrance so I didn't buy it.  Isn't it confusing how diff. docs say diff. things. But not using alcohol seems to be mentioned several times in these forums. Since I'm having luck so far with Biafine Rx and aloe vera from my plant, will stick w/that I guess.  I had some X's put on me and 3 tatoos which were dots and barely visible. They put waterproof stickers over the two X's that survive the shower. Under my breasts doesn't seem affected...BUT everyone is different and the way it's aimed might be diff. However I definately would ask them about that. Remember that the Radiation people who do the actual radiation are not doctors, so be sure to ask your radiation oncologist about the plan for you and if any changes needed. They would have to realign and re set up Im sure if that happened. But you deserve some answers. I had my radiation person tell me the pink/red I got right away had nothing to do w/the radiation..but it did. He said it was too soon. But it wasn't too soon for "me."  All is going well though.

itizwutetiz

I found the Aquafor, but it's confusing because it has alcohol as an ingredient and the dr said not to use anything w/alcohol or fragrance so I didn't buy it.  Isn't it confusing how diff. docs say diff. things. But not using alcohol seems to be mentioned several times in these forums. Since I'm having luck so far with Biafine Rx and aloe vera from my plant, will stick w/that I guess.  I had some X's put on me and 3 tatoos which were dots and barely visible. They put waterproof stickers over the two X's that survive the shower. Under my breasts doesn't seem affected...BUT everyone is different and the way it's aimed might be diff. However I definately would ask them about that. Remember that the Radiation people who do the actual radiation are not doctors, so be sure to ask your radiation oncologist about the plan for you and if any changes needed. They would have to realign and re set up Im sure if that happened. But you deserve some answers. I had my radiation person tell me the pink/red I got right away had nothing to do w/the radiation..but it did. He said it was too soon. But it wasn't too soon for "me."  All is going well though.