First Post- Balloon radiation vs. Standard radiation

kroop73

Hi, I am 43 pre-menapausal, recently diagnosed with mucinous carcinoma in my left breast. I am er/pr+, HER2-. I am awaiting genetic testing for BRCA. My doctor/surgeon said I will more than likely only need to take tamoxifen and radiation if I am BRCA negative. We briefly talked about balloon radiation (if I meet the qualifications) which is only 5 days/ 2 times per day. Does anyone else have experience with these two forms of radiation? What are some side effects of either? Do you have a recommendation as to which one is easiest to tolerate? Thanks for your responses!

obsolete

Kroop, so sorry 😞 you find yourself here during this new year. Please search other threads to address your concerns and join the mucinous carcinoma thread. Please seek 2nd opinions on your pathology, consider an MRI and obtain Oncotype testng before finalizing treatment. 38% of mucinous BC patients have multiple masses or multifocal disease. Best wishes.

Fightingirl

kroon, I'm very much like you...43 pre-menopausal, but have IDC and DCIS. ER/PR + and her2-.it is determined already I have none of the known genes. I've posted and searched for this as well and have only found one person who replied and had the brachytherapy and was happy with her choice. I'm being offered brachytherapy and meet all qualifications but age which you will be in the age boat with me.

I had a 2.5 hour consultion with the radiologist on Friday about brachytherapy, then came home and attempted to do my own research on that vs whole breast radiation and wound up so confused! If you find anymore answers, do share and I will do the same! Wishing you the best of luck on this crazy journey and feel free to pm me or reach out here

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roche

hello kroop73,

For what's it worth, I recently touched basewith an old friend who had that type of radiation around 9 years ago when it was relatively new. She had a tiny tumor, completed the radiation, took a hormone pill for a few years and is cancer free today. She was very happy and satisfied with the treatment. Hope this helps.

Roche

Fightingirl

Roche, thank you! I'm scheduled for catheter implant on feb 7th so happy to hear about your friend and that I get the same results!

kroop73

Hi Weareconnected,

Thanks for your input. I have had an MRI and do not have any other tumors. I will search out other forums on mucinoious breast cancer. Thanks!

kroop73

Fightingirl,

Thanks for responding. It seems we are very similar in many areas. I am awaiting my BRCA testing before we move forward. So at this moment I feel as if I'm at a stand still. I will let you know what my doctors recommend. I wish you the best and will pray you get the answers you search for too. I have been told my age is the only thing that does not fit the requirement for brachyradiation too. However, my doctor feels we can possibly still do it....of course depending the results of my BRCA test. Thanks again!

kroop73

Hi Roche,

This is awesome and encouraging news. Thank you so much!

kroop73

I wish you well fightingirl! You are in my prayers. Let me know how it goes with you. It appears I am following right behind you. I would love to hear your experience with brachytherapy.

Fightingirl

I will kroop73. I picked up all my prescriptions for the procedure yesterday. I have a cream to rub on the left breast about 1 hour prior to procedure as well as take a valium. They ask you to take Aleve the night before and the morning of. They will numb me up really good and install the cathetar and then do a ct scan I assume to make sure all is placed correctly. I then get a surgical bra to wear for the duration. I will go home after cathetar and the day after...this is where they perfect the treatment just for me. I will go back on the 9th to actually start radiation. Then it's 2 x daily 6 hours apart. It's going to be a long week with that cathetar in and doing nothing but driving back and forth for treatment but I know I'm blessed to have this option rather than spread it over many more weeks. I'm still a bit scared but I know as I get closer I will just be ready. That's how everything has been so far anyways...my family still jokes that I was the calmest one in the room the day of my surgery. I had made peace with it and I was just ready to go do what I needed to do. I have heard the catheter is a bit painful for the first couple of days and they did give me extra valuim to sleep and some sortof pain pill I have never heard of before. Your in my prayers also and I will for sure you keep you posted as I actually go through the process as the above is just sort of how they told me it will go! All the best!

kroop73

Hello Fightingirl,

I was just thinking about you and you upcoming appt next week to have the catheter implanted next week and begin your brachytherapy. I finally got my genetics test back (after 3 weeks of waiting). I am negative for BRCA 1&2, thank the Lord! Now we can move forward with the next phase. At the moment they are doing an oncotype dx test, to determine if I will need chemo. Did you have this test done? My doctor said we have to find out, as chemo will come before radiation. Also, next Friday 02/10/17 I will have surgery to remove more tissue (to get a clear margin) and at least one lymph node to test for cancer cells. This is outpatient surgery. After the surgery and the oncotype dx test results, we will determine what to do next. I'm really hoping brachytherapy is the treatment I receive but we shall see! Again, I wish you all the best and will say a prayer for you. God bless you and I look forward to hearing more from you!

Fightingirl

Kroop73, yay for the negative genes! I was also negative! I am waiting on a mammaprint test so sounds like we are in the same boat! They ate letting me do the brachytherapy before they know if I need chemo. I have appt with mo Monday and my test will be back but because of my radiation schedule I may or may not need to move the mo appt to next week. I hope not because I'm really wanting to know if chemo is in my future. I hope your surgery went well.

I just completed my pre-procedure stuff for night before. I had to shower with antibacterial soap and take an aleve. Tomorrow morning I have to take another aleve and then 1 hour prior to procedure, I will squeeze a tube of numbing cream on my breast and cover it with Saran Wrap and follow that with a Valium.

One the medicine head wears off tomorrow, I will try to post about the procedure!

Have a great night!

kroop73

Hello Fightingirl,

I saw your post about how your brachyradiation is going. sounds very involved but glad to hear you are pushing through with little pain! I had my surgery on Friday 2/10. I had more breast tissue excised and one lymph node removed. It appears the lymph node is clear of cancer but has been sent off for further testing. We should know the test results by Tuesday 2/14 and I might even have the catheter placed as early as next week, 2/16 Thursday. I could potentially start radiation the week of 02/20-24. Everything seems to be moving on smoothly. She told me my oncotype dx number is 16, which is good. Now if the lymph node will just be clean... we can proceed. Thanks again for sharing your story with me. You are in my thoughts and prayers!

Fightingirl

Hi kroop73! I just saw and replied to you in the January group but thank you! It's been a little more painful today but not sure if that is the catheters (I got an infection from the procedure) or if it's the 4 radiation treatments? Whatever it is, I'll be happy to have this done and the catheters pulled out Wednesday! I'm so ready for that! I too had good news this week and will not be needing chemo so yay for both of us on that! I hope your lymph node pathology comes back clear and then you'll just have the final round with radiation!

kroop73

Oh no fightingirl, I hate to hear that about the infection. I pray the next few days you are strengthened and have less pain. I know you will be glad to get this over with! Be encouraged my friend. I will be praying for you! Yes, I am ready to get the ball rolling. So happy for your good news too!