qualifying for IMRT

tarry

I see my RO tomorrow.  I would love to have IMRT, but I think the size of my tumor will rule me out.  Does anyone know about what qualifies one?

I get the feeling that all the trials for innovative rad treatments take the most promising cases - early breast cancer with small tumors.  As far as I can tell, there are no innovations in treatment for larger tumors.

I may try to get the Canadian protocol, and I hope the size doesn't disqualify me for that.  I'm nearly 70, and the statistics for bad effects seem to go up, while those for good effects seem to go down.  I have been sad about this all week.

I also have the dismal feeling that all the important decisions have already been made without any input from me.  This happened with the surgery, and everyone was unhappy with me when I insisted on a lumpectomy.  My DH says they probably have put "very difficult patient" on the chart.  I said, "Yes, and the code for that is DNR."