Intraoperative Radiotherapy

AmmaPeace

I've just been diagnosed with IDC, stage 1, HR&PR+, HER2- and am deciding on radiation. My doctor is recommending IORT and I was wondering if anyone has had this type of radiation and would be willing to share their experience?

Also, I'm living with lots of anxiety, sometimes debilitating, and would love to know how others are dealing with or have dealt with their diagnosis.

Thanks!

MinusTwo

Amma - I know there are some discussions about this. Go to the "search" section and enter IORT, or go to "all threads" and move down to radiation.

Mountainlover

Hi Amma, I am so sorry you're finding yourself here. So, first of all, I'd like to send you a big virtual hug! The shock at diagnosis and initial series of bad news were the worst for me, I too had bad anxiety in the first months but it did get better as I moved into the active phase of treatment. I didn't have IORT so can't help you with that (but I know it's well established in a major cancer centre back in Italy where I come from so I would have gladly accepted it -plus lumpectomy- had it been an option for me) . I wanted to share on anxiety though. Following my GP's advice I used xanax , a few drops mainly at night and before medical appointments to keep going in the first months. That really helped a lot. I weaned myself without problems while recovering from mastectomy. After surgery I've been seeing a psychologist specialised in cancer patients which also helped. That's a free service offered by the hospital where I have been treated. What I've found most effective for anxiety has been hypnosis. I have had a few sessions which I recorded and have been using on my own. That is helping me to remain more centered , focus on acceptance and recovery. A couple of free applications working on breathing were recommended to me and may be worth a try: respirotec and respirolax. I've used them to manage work-induced stress lately, and I noticed a mild improvement . More than anything else they make me feel a bit more empowered - I know I have a little set of tools which I can go to when needed, and I am confident they can at least take the edge off.

My very best wishes to you.

Salamandra

I wasn't offered IORT because it hasn't yet been validated for women my age, but given the evidence if it's offered to you - especially during COVID, it seems like a great boon. It means you won't have to expose yourself over and over.

Re- anxiety - does your cancer center have a mental health unit? I found mine very helpful!

AmmaPeace

Thank you for your comments and encouragement!

farmgirl888

I'm having it done the week of the 8th. I have spoken with several people that had it and recommend it. If you are a candidate for it, go for it....in my opinion it's the least invasive solution. Recent studies released in August 2020 say it's just as effective as whole breast radiation without the risk of damaging other organs (heart / lung).

kaboozle

Hi Amma,

Sorry you find yourself here.

I did have IORT with my lumpectomy the end of October, 2020. If this option is available to you, my vote is to go for it, with one caveat. Because you won't have final pathology back until well after the procedure, if you choose this option you have to understand that they may need to go back in with a second surgery to obtain clean margins. This is what happened to me and I had a re-excision 10 days later (this time with clean margins). I also chose the IORT option because my small tumor was on the left side of my chest and I wanted as little residual radiation to my heart and lungs as possible. I'm a bit of a one and done type of gal. Now, 3 months after the second surgery, I'd personally make the same decision again. My incisions are well healed and life is pretty much back to normal