Has anyone done MammoSite Radiation Therapy?

Linda

Sorry to see your Oncotype DX score.  But it's good to know.

Glad your BRAC test showed no mutations!

Hope your balloon catheter procedure goes well on Thursday.  Mine is Firday.

Susan

Hi clk,

I know how you feel. Mine are where I had the sentinel nodes removed and only 1 day after I finished the MammoSite I spiked a fever of 104 and was very red and swollen in that area and had to get fluid removed several times and on 2 different antibiotics. Better now but saw the surgeon yesterday and still a bit swollen but doesn't want to try to remove fluids again because of the possible infection factor so just warm moist packs Really help. Try the warm moist wash cloth and re-heat in the microwave for 20-30 seconds and apply again.

I'm waiting on the onco. test as well but the Surgeon and My radiation Onco. both have stated I will need Chemo. first due to the size and the location of the tumor but hey anything to keep it away huh Ladies!!

Jerri

Well, had the wonderful cather put in Thursday morning. I don't know what they put in my IV but I don't remember leaving the little room to the operating room. Went to rad. onco. at 9 that morning for the CT scan and x-rays. They did my first treatment at 11:30 that morning and then at 5:30 that evening. I got the Contura instead of the actual Mammosite. I have a 6:45 and a 12:30 treatment.  4 down 6 to go.  I am having some drainage so DH is having to change the dressing. Daughter coming in Sunday for a couple of days. I have a little pain here and there but nothing I can stand. I am on 1500 mg daily of antibotics. I just take a pain pill before I go to bed to help me sleep. I wake up through the night wanting to turn over on the wrong side and realize nope!

Back to surgeon on the 17th and I guess to a med. oconologist to get the word on chemo or not.

FL and GA fans what will the outcome be today?  Go DAWGS!!!! Missing out on 2 great gatherings today due to this stuff! 

Everyone have a great weekend!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Linda

Linda - glad it's going well for you, and it's great they will do it over the weekend.  They only do Monday through Friday here.

I had the balloom catheter implanted yesterday, and I'm wrapped up like leftovers.  It sure looks like saran wrap.  I go in Monday to get set up and start.  I'll be doing 9 am and 3 pm.

Haven't really had pain.  I still have xanax and darvoset left from the partial mastectomy.  (I feel like a pharmacy).

I had a little skin rash so they gave me 9 days of antibiotics before surgery and antibiotics with the procedure yesterday.  So I'm hoping I'll have some protection from infection going in.

Onward!

Susan

Graduated from Balloon Pulling School Wednesday afternoon. I had the Contura and they had to really pull but nothing I couldn't stand. Followup appts. with them and surgeon the next 2 weeks and I will go from there.

Tigerlily, can't wait to take a shower! 

Thinking of all of you.

Linda

Congratulations Linda and Susan!!

 I hope you both took long relaxing showers and were able to sleep well!!

I saw my oncologist today and he says I'm doing so well on Femara that he doesn't want to see me for 6 months - WOO HOO!!

Hugs,

Karen 

Susan,

I should have been more precise - I still have to see my surgeon, just not the oncologist.  In fact, I have to get my 6-month post surgery mammo in a couple of weeks (ouch??), blood work, a chest X-ray and then have a follow up with my bc surgeon in early December.

I'm glad you were able to catch up on sleep this weekend and that your energy level will come back soon.

Hugs,

Karen

Linda

There must be some difference in how they do this.  When he removed the catheter, my rad onc took out the two stitches the surgeon put in when he placed the catheter.  He then used steri-strips and did not put in any additional stitches (which he apparently does some times).  There was bleeding through the strips, so I placed a regular band-aid over it to stop the bleeding on my bras.  It stopped in a day, and the steri-strips are starting to come off - they said let them come off naturally.  I see the surgeon tomorrow so should know more than.

Luckily, I did not have any leakage (or not much to speak of) during the week the catheter was in.  I really feel like my surgeon was extraordinary - the rad onc commented on what a nice job he had done with the catheter - there were no problems pulling it out.

I don't see the rad onc until a week from Friday.  And I've had an oncologist since the beginning.  It's interesting to see the different ways everyone is being treated.

Didn't need a nap yesterday or today (but no work today because it's Veteran's Day), but I also haven't gotten back to my regular exercise regimen yet, either.

 Keep warm everyone!

Susan

Ginnysue,

Sorry to hear about your not able to use MammoSite. Which side is your Cancer and what type and size?? Sorry you don't have to answer but I didn't see it here in your note.

Keep us in tune what your Doctor states about Chemo. Have you had the Oncotype Test done yet?? It helps with your decision on chemo.

Jerri

Oncotype is a test that they take a small portion of your tumor and can test it to see what your reoccurnce could be in ten years. Now the tricky part of this is that Not all insurance companys cover this test or don't cover it completely. I think the test is around $3000.00 without insurance. Mine came out to be a 14 but my BC surgeon, Raialogist Oncologist and Medical Oncolgist All say due Chemo just because of the size of the tumor and my age. Talk with your doctor about this to help you. We like stubborn around here. Shows you are a Fighter!!!

Jerri

You be upfront about the Chemo. You are calling the shots as well. But really listen to them. They will be throwing out a lot numbers about percentages to lower of this coming back. Ask about ALL of your options and you do Not have to make a decision right there and then. Have you started any kind of Radiation yet??

Glad to hear and See the FIGHT!!!

My mammosite radiation was done in early March '08.  Here it is at year end and I'm still getting some serious discomfort.  Now, everything I read and heard before and during all this ordeal was that it was a cake walk.  I'm not sure it would be wise or kind to complain about the pain I experienced, but it was quite painful.  In fact, I told my husband if I'm unfortunate enough to find another lump, I want to be admitted into the hospital from biopsy through balloon removal after radiation therapy with special attention being paid to PAIN MANAGEMENT!  lol  So, I'm a little skeptical about my resources.  lol  Anyway, I wanted to ask if it seems "normal" to still be having such pain in what's left of my breast.  I feel sharp pains at time and other times aching pain.

Also, what wisdom can be shared about reconstruction surgery from this forum?   

Thanks!

(((((minidox))))) I'm sorry that you are still in pain.  I have had discomfort/pain because of a seroma that formed in the cavity after my lumpectomy.  It has gotten smaller, but it is still painful at times.  Have you asked your doctor about it? 

Mary - I'm 62, and in my case the medical oncologist told me I had a 25% chance of recurrence, but it would most likely NOT be in the same breast.  Since my mother and her two sisters also had bc, I decided to take one of the Aromatase Inhibitors - he started me out on Arimidex, but I had some unpleasant side effects, so I'm now on Femara, which is much better. Now my recurrence rate has dropped to 10%.  If I had only a 5 to 10% chance, I'm not sure whether I would have agreed to hormone therapy, but I do hope that you'll listen to what your med. onc. has to say before making up your mind.

Hugs,

Karen 

I had my lumpectomy on Jan 19th.  I saw my surgeon on the 27th to talk about mammosite radiation.  He did an ultrasound and said my margins weren't quite thick enough in a few areas.  My tumor was very close to my skin.  He said we should wait a week because over time the margins tend to even out and thicken.  I go back on Tuesday, Feb 3rd for another ultrasound.  If all goes well, he will insert the balloon in the office using the same incision he used for the lumpectomy.

My tumor was located at the mid-inner quadrant.  I know that this isn't a common site and was wondering if I will have any concerns about the catheter site? 

 As I have posted in other topics,Ladies thank you for posting your experiences.  My world is calmer since I found this site.  My reading tonite has helped to prepare me for the possible news that I am not an appropriate candidate for this treatment.

This thread has been very helpful to me ladies. Thank you for sharing your experiences. This site also helped me be prepared for my lumpectomy and sentinel node biopsy on 1/21. If I hadn't read your posts, I would have gone to the hospital thinking everything was going to be done while I was under anesthetic. But I learned that 2 hrs before surgery I had to have a tracer injection, and nuclear scan before the actual surgery. I learned to call and ask for lidocaine cream. Thank you! Now I'm her in my second post op week, keeping a heating pad close to my incisions. The ice was just making things worse afer a week... I just received an email from my Med Onc. and she conversed with my breast surgeon, and they decided I may be eligible for mamosite if the cavity location is in the right place. So I'm just waiting to see “when” I can be considered. I don't see my Med Onco til 2/19 and that just seems so far away!  I can't help thinking “why aren't they giving me something for this! I was diagnosed on Dec 16, and I haven't been prescribed anything yet!” So naturally, I'm scanning the internet for anything that is supposed to kill cancer cells.... broccoli sprouts, grape juice, host defense, psk.... are there any real research studies done on “foods that block cancer growth? Or is that just not lucrative for the controlling pharmaceutical companies?????!!  I'm getting off the point. Sorry. The things that run through your mind on this roller coaster ride....  

I just wanted to say thank you to Caryl who warns against swelling and fluid (which I think I have post op), lidocaine application – i love the description, “like icing a cake” (10/30/08). Wondering about the dif between Arimedex and femara. 

Thanks to Jerri, for the warm moist cloths... heat is healing!! I haven't asked about aspiration. Can i do that before rads? I will prepare myself to be able to change my own dressings. Ugh!

Linda, thanks for description of the process. Very helpful. I'm guessing Contura is similar to Mamosite. “Balloon Pulling School.” Oh, great things to look forward to. And no showers?? What??? How was the skin healing? Congrats on the recur rate of 10%.

Susan. Thanks for preparing me to ask for antibiotics and start thinking about how I might have to spend the week closer to treatment.... investigate the family house nearby the hospital...two times a day is finally sinking in. My one hour drive through traffic will not be doable 2x day...

Karen. Thanks for telling us there is a 3 week protocol, if mamosite is not an option! What were your side effects on Arimidex?

Minidox, thanks for the warnings, and Mary, my namesake (real name is Mary), thankso yfor the blow by blow, very helpful! I am feeling sharp pains just from my snbiopsy and lumpectomy.  was thinking surgery and rads and I'd be done. But because of lymphovascular invasion, I better do the hormone therapy at least. My oncotyping isn't finished yet, because they had to send for more tumor tissue at the originating hospital.

And thanks to all I forgot to mention. You all added depth and perspective that help us all understand what we're up against. And that armors us for the challenge.

All that said, like Calif Cloud, I'm hoping I pass the cavity location eligibility. I wish you all blessings of the miraculous healer.