mammosite vs. whole breast radiation

warrrior3

Hi everyone, I am scheduled 11/11/10 for lumpectomy and SNB, dx'd with 1.5cm IDC stage 1, grade 1 and am 52 years old.  I am strongly considering  having partial breast radiation, Mammosite.  Both my BS and Radiologist Oncologist agree I am a candidate because of the grade 1, but wish I was older.  I live in PA and have a phobia of driving in the snow which is the main reason I am in favor of a five day radiation vs. a 6 wk. radiation program.  Has anyone had mammosite?  Any information is appreciated.

jo1955

I was also a candidate for Mammosite.  Had the balloon catheter inserted and went to rad onc four times before he determined that the balloon was not going to fit in the tumor cavity as it was the wrong shape.  Talk to surgeon and rad onc before surgery to make sure there will be a good fit.  I have researched Mammosite and found out that the surgeon can insert catheter during surgery and can stay there until ready for rads.  Just be sure you take real good care of it so you don't get an infection. I am now doing the 6 wks of rads.

Good Luck to you

Jo 

kira1234

warrior3 I had something similar.I couldn't use the mammasite device, because of the shape of the tumor bed, but the device I used had several chambers so was able to fit my tumor bed. It went very well. The 5 days were long with 2 treatments daily, but I recoved very quickly. During that week I went shopping at the mall with my daughter, and went out to eat several times. I would say the device that extends outside of the body was about the only thing I didn't like, it was a bit of a pain. I had the catheter placed 3 weeks later, and it was quite easy to place using just a local in the BS. office. I had no problem with infection, the device was taken care of by the nurse after each treatment.

By the way I'm 57, and my BS thought because of my age this was a good choice for me.

worldwatcher

Hi Warrior

I had the Contura balloon radiation five-day treatment.  This is very similar to the MammoSite, but the device is just a little bit different.  There were two treatments daily, six hours apart.

I had no problems except for some pain the last three days, one of which was a Sunday and took a few Vicodin for that. I had NO burns at all.

I requested they numb my breast to remove the device because I had seen posts that indicated it could be painful. They did, and it was over quickly and easily.  

I am now more than two months out and have had very few after effects.  I had a lump of either scar tissue or fluid in the cavity site for about five weeks, but it is nearly gone now.  There have been reports of some lumps showing up a year or more after the procedure with MammoSite, but I'll deal with that if and when it happens.

I would choose the five-day treatment again in a heartbeat, not only for the time being a factor, but I was saved quite a bit of money in co-pays.

Good luck.

warrrior3

Thank you for your replys and information.  My lumpectomy is scheduled for tomorrow and as long as SN shows no involvement BS will insert temporary mammosite.  It has been a long month making life saving decisions and can't wait til this beast is out of me.

kira1234

worlwatcher, I have a question for you. Did you have chemo after the Contura balloon? If so how long after the radiation treatment?

worldwatcher

Kira,

I don't plan to have chemo. I may do a hormonal. At this point I am not seeing a medical oncologist.

I know that HER2+ is bad, but since I can't receive Herceptin without the chemo and the oncologist I saw was only interested in that route, I am taking time to choose another one.  Perhaps the "standard of care" will loosen up in this regard soon.

I am an old woman and don't intend to wager weeks/months of chemo SEs against the "possibility" that I may gain a few weeks/months in the end stage.  I am over-sensitive to drugs in general.

kira1234

worldwatcher, I can understand your feelings especially if you are sensitive to drugs. We all have to do what is right for us.

warrior3, good luck with your lumpectomy tomorrow. Let us know how it goes.

badexperience987

Sorry if this information is too late for you but here's what happened to me. In August 2010, I was diagnosed with early breast cancer and had a lumpectomy and radiation utilizing the Savi breast catheter for radiation. My surgeon gave me all my options; mastectomy, lumpectomy with external radiation, or lumpectomy with Brach therapy. I consulted with the radiation oncologist and she said I was a good candidate for the Brach therapy. I asked her if there were any side affects from that method and she said "no". After speaking with the radiation oncologist I opted for the Brach therapy as I have small breasts and I could avoid the radiation damage to my lungs and heart.

Both my surgeon and the radiation oncologist said that there is minimal pain associated with the Savi device. I found that to be untrue. The Savi device inside a small breast does hurt. After a couple of days of having the Savi device inside my breast I was told that my flesh had grown away from the wire whisk type device inside my breast, and since they were unable to readjust it, they told me I would have the old one removed and a new one inserted or the radiation would not be effective. Had they told me it wouldn't be 10-30% effective I would have opted to just leave in the one I already had, but the doctor made it sound as though it would not be 100% effective. I feel I was mislead as I found out later it still would have been partially effective. Let me mention that they charged my insurance company $14,000 for a 10 minute procedure to replace the device. The new device was a size larger and it was extremely painful. And not only when it was inserted, it was constantly painful. It felt as though it was on my chest wall (I have small breasts). I could barely move and sleeping was almost impossible. The pressure on my chest was unbearable and I told them that but they insisted I stay with the treatment. They prescribed strong painkillers and put me on antibiotics.

Let me mention that I have a very high tolerance for pain. I get cavities filled without Novocain and have had other surgeries with no pain and heal up really quickly. Not this time. While the radiation itself never hurt, the Savi device inside my breast hurt constantly and it pressed near my chest wall which is extremely painful.

No sooner had they finally removed the device that my side near my abdomen started hurting really bad! I got the worst case of painful shingles as a result of the Savi device and radiation. I was literally sick in bed for three months, sick with the nerve pain and skin pain that was excruciating! I was unable to move my body comfortably and even lost my appetite. I thought I might even die. Then, after the fact, the radiation oncologist tells me that, yeah sometimes shingles can result as a side effect from the radiation. It would have been nice to know this upfront. At least then I could have gotten the vaccination beforehand or have made a better decision. Knowing what I know now I would have opted for the mastectomy with reconstruction. Be forewarned that sometime doctors are not fully forthcoming and they only see things from their perspective.