How Long Before Treatment

jw523

I was wondering how long you waited from time of surgery before you started radiation? I did not need Chemo (eternally grateful for that!) I had a lumpectomy w/SNB on 9/21 and have my appt for consultation on 11/17.  I am just frustrated that things take sooo long to happen.

Thanks so everyone on this board.  I found you right before my surgery and it has been a life saver to come here!  Thanks Ladies~

Houndmommy

I too had to wait way too long for my radiation treatment and I was very upset about it.  My treatment started 9 weeks past surgery (surgery 5/17 and rads actually started 7/19).  My rad onc said they like to start 4 -6 weeks post surgery if you don't have chemo. 

Sending hugs - I understand your frustration.  Kim

jw523

Thanks so much for posting, I think I am just having a huge anxiety attack about the fact that most women seem to have gone through things a lot quicker.  3 months for Lumpectomy and Radiation and I will have dragged it out for 6 months. With all the waiting (some on my part - I had a vacation scheduled and was not going to cancel it which pushed back my surgery.

Houndmommy

When I discovered that my radiation was going to occur so late, I too, had some real anxiety issues - I was a mess.  To compound the problem I also had a vacation/family reunion scheduled - they were going to start rads the first day of my vacation.  After several really bad days, I decided to do the vacation and start rads later - I figured they were already starting waaaay later than they were supposed to, what was another week.  Had they been able to start my rads when they should have been started, I would have not done the vacation.  I was/still am upset with everyone involved in the entire fiasco.  In my case, several people "dropped the ball"  which resulted in my rads starting so late.  Anyway, I so understand your frustration.  I will say that once I started rads I felt better and have been able to put it behind me for now. I would be curious to know what your rad onc says about the delay.

Hugs, Kim

jw523

Just found this after a little searching.  Give me a little reassurance - it's only been 5 weeks so far, But I will call my doctor again on Monday just to be sure.  Thanks again for your help!

"A similar question can be asked about radiation therapy for women who have had a lumpectomy, or who have reasons to have radiation after a mastectomy (large tumor, multiple positive lymph nodes e.g.). A study of SEER data looking at women with early stage breast cancer provides an answer. This analysis by Dr. Gold et al concludes that a delay in starting radiation therapy of 12 or more weeks after surgery of 8 or more weeks after chemotherapy was associated with a much higher rate of a local recurrence/relapse."

kaycee

My radiation after chemo was pushed back by lung inflitrates that I developed during the chemo. The doctors were unwilling to start radiation till the lung was totally clear, so I asked about timeline and effectiveness.

The answer I got from my radiation oncologist was that radiation optimally should start within six months following surgery.