hello

mayukh_max

my mother had mastectomy (mrm). She completed her 6 TAC chemo. Now about to start radiation(unfortunately positive margins). I just want to ask u that what kind of tests are necessary before start EBRT sessions? After mastectomy is it necessary to have a ct? Because there is no tumor to locate. By the way she has no lymph nodes involvement. I will b highly obliged if you answer my question.

Icietla

Hello mayukh_max, and welcome to BCO. We are so sorry about your Mother's illness and all you have been going through. She is very blessed to have you watching out for her.

Posting activity here on BCO is quite a bit slower during the weekends, holidays, and late night/overnight times for the Western Hemisphere. In about eleven hours, there should be more members active here who would be more knowledgeable about the medical imaging tests and Radiation Treatment. Until more knowledgeable members come along to participate, please be patient with us.

One of our members, djmammo, is a retired Radiologist having expertise in breast imaging. You might contact him by Private Message through his member profile page linked here__

https://community.breastcancer.org/member/99560/profile

Icietla

Hello again, mayukh_max. I have just found this informational page that tells generally why CT scans might be used in cancer cases. See, it says that CT scans to help plan EBRT is a customary use. Also see, on this list of CT uses, that it might also serve to check on the effectiveness of her Chemotherapy treatments against any tumor tissue remaining after her mastectomy surgery (where there were the positive margins).

https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/diagnosis-staging/ct-scans-fact-sheet#q3

I am guessing (?) that maybe the tumor location was on or very near her chest wall or other structure/s, and that might explain why there was not re-excision surgery done after her mastectomy surgery (?).

mayukh_max

Many many thanx. She didn't had any reconstruction. I am very worried that how much scans or tests we still have to go through..... Because she faced a lot during last 6 months. Hope this radiation procedure also passes very quickly

Icietla

Yes. If you just take a cursory look down these Search results for BCO discussions, you can fairly surmise that CT is customary in the planning of Radiation Treatment for breast cancer cases.

https://community.breastcancer.org/posts/search?utf8=%E2%9C%93&search_builder%5Bkeyword%5D=CT&search_builder%5Bauthor%5D=&search_builder%5Bsource%5D=forum_70&search_builder%5Bdate_range%5D=&commit=Search

Icietla

You are very welcome. We hope it all goes very well for her.

Breast cancer diagnosis is always devastating, a very bad shock to the patients and to those who love them. We know the entire experience is scary. And the fears we (personally affected persons) have about cancer are very long-lasting fears.

I had the same type surgery -- modified radical mastectomy. I did not have reconstruction. Nobody seems to notice. When I want to make certain that nobody will notice, I wear big scarves (dupattas) draped over my upper body.

I understand Radiation Treatments often cause increasing tiredness, and that the resulting tiredness may continue and may increase even for months after the end of one's course of Radiation Treatments. When your Mother's skin is affected by the Radiation, it is very important that she use only skin care products that her Radiation Oncologist specifically approves for her case.

Do you know whether some continuing treatment (taking medicine) is planned for your Mother after her Radiation Treatment has been completed?

DanielHunt

My sister was diagnosed with breast cancer last year, her oncologist suggested for breast cancer radiation treatment along with chemotherapy sessions. she had recently completed her end sessions for the same. she is recovering quite well and will be fine soon.