Doing Multi catheter Brachy

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dogsaver
dogsaver Member Posts: 201
edited June 2014 in Radiation Therapy - Before, During, and After

Hi all, I am starting multi catheter brachy therapy in Aug. On the 13th they are putting in the receptors and i will be radiated aug 17-21, then will start TC chemo on Sept 10th. I have done alot of reading on this procedure but the best advice and reports are from people who have gone through or or going through same experience. Please write backs with tips and if you have good advice or need support. thanx all :)

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  • dogsaver
    dogsaver Member Posts: 201
    edited August 2009

    Went in today for my receptor (catheter) insertions near cavity of where breast tumor was. They have me lidocaine creme the day before and I put it all over this am before going in. This and the percoset and ambien seemed to help. I had 22 put in. I am home now and have little pain. I will look like a cork board (the thumbtack look) for 8 days. Gee i hope someone else posts on this for me :)

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  • kuchagirl
    kuchagirl Member Posts: 66
    edited August 2009

    Hi,

    I had the multi-catheter brachy in March 2007.  Now, 2.5 years later, the breast looks great and there's no indication of recurrence.  I went back to work the day after the catheters were pulled out.  I'm on the B39 study, so I see my rad onc doc every 6 months, in addition to my breast onc.  I had 20 catheters, and then they pulled out 5, so treatment went ahead with 15.  I have very few doubts about my treatment, but only time will tell. My cancer was low-grade, and was centrally located in my breast.  Good luck with your treatment.

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  • dogsaver
    dogsaver Member Posts: 201
    edited August 2009

    thank you for writing :) i had 22 tubes put in so 44 buttons altogether and it freaked me out a bit but from what i am hearing, the spots will heal with time. i went to work the day after insertion and plan on working part time during radiation. I am wishing you the best of luck for a great life

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  • RHP
    RHP Member Posts: 48
    edited August 2009

    Hi It is nice to see this post, I did a search and didn't find brachy therapy.. OH well.
    I will have mine inserted Sept 8th checked by ct scan the 9th and have my rads the 14th through 19th. So if you don't mind updating on how it is going I would love to hear.. as always the unknown and waiting is the hard part. Seems so much easier when we can be pro active.

    Gentle hugs and good luck

    Robin

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  • dogsaver
    dogsaver Member Posts: 201
    edited August 2009

    kuchagirl thx for the post. did you work during your treatments? did you have to take pain meds> i will try going to work but obviously if it is too hard, ill take the week off. glad all is going well. What did you use to heal the marks left by the catheters? i heard vitamin e is good. Robin, i start day 1 of 5 tomorrow and will keep you posted. Im a little sore still from catheter insertion on thursday but have been out and about. will for sure keep you posted :)

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  • RHP
    RHP Member Posts: 48
    edited August 2009

    Dogsaver.. Thank you.. I can imagine how tough this is.. well have been for a couple weeks now and to know you are going through it today makes me wish I was there to give you a gentle but loving hug.. nobody knows like we do.

    You will be in my thougths and prayers all week. Hang in there and rest when you need it!

    Robin

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  • RHP
    RHP Member Posts: 48
    edited August 2009

    by the way my surgeon said sure to the vitamin e for the scars (he meant the ones he made) said the plastic guys love it!

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  • dogsaver
    dogsaver Member Posts: 201
    edited August 2009

    The first treatment was not bad. was pretty easy. my skin is tender from the prongs but nurse says they are in good shape. as far as healing, i was referred to a company called makemeheal.com.  they have products for open wounds healing that i can use once the prongs out (well they are catheters but i call them prongs) is called Wound be gone and then to help heal once wound is closed, yes i agree vitamin E is the best. they also recommend Scar Esthetique cream. also heard mederma is good too. wasnt too tired after morning session. went to work for a few hours. i dont have any plans for after the evening sessions other than to watch mindless TV and chill!!

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  • RHP
    RHP Member Posts: 48
    edited August 2009

    Glad to hear it went ok.. Mindless TV sounds good! By the way if it is ok to ask, where approx. do you live and where are you having treatment.. Just curious as I have found the world to be a very small place.

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  • dogsaver
    dogsaver Member Posts: 201
    edited August 2009

    I live in AZ. and i get treatment at arizona breast cancer specialists for my 5 day radiation, 20 percent down and 80 percent to go :)

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  • RHP
    RHP Member Posts: 48
    edited August 2009

    so it is 30% now as you have most likely done your morning! Hope each time gets easier! Gentle hugs Robin

    Love Arizona by the way. up near Seattle myself,

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  • kuchagirl
    kuchagirl Member Posts: 66
    edited August 2009

    Hi,

    I did go to work during the days in between the placement of the catheter and when the actual treatment started, but once treatment started, I did not go to work.  I haven't ever really thought about the reasons why I didn't go to work, but my oncologist recommended that I stay home, and I had the sick time accumulated.   I could have worked in theory, but I wouldn't have gotten very much done what with the 2 treatments every day at about 8:00 and 3:00.

    As far as meds, I took pain meds to sleep a lot during the week of treatment.  I know, a sane person could probably question that decision, because I wasn't having any pain, but I kinda wanted to knock myself out.  I had a bunch of pain meds left over from the lumpectomy.  At one point early on, a rad onc doctor offered to write me a prescription for something like 100 or 200 pain pills for the brachy treatment, but I still had about 45 pills remaining from the lumpectomy procedure, so I turned down the second offer.  It all just seemed excessive.  However, I am impressed at how liberal my docs were with narcotic pain medication for cancer patients. 

    To heal the catheter marks, I rotated amongst using Aquaphor and Vitamin E, and I also had days where I didn't put anything on it.  I was asked to use a cream every day for a year, and I mostly did that.  After the year mark, I started paying less attention to the breast, although it continued to look better and better as I moved toward the 2-year mark. 

    I'm in the Seattle area, myself.

    Kuchagirl

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  • RHP
    RHP Member Posts: 48
    edited August 2009

    Kuchagirl
    Glad the breast is looking better, I am curious just how mine will look later, I know he took a lot out and at this point it is bigger than the other breast most of the time,

    Did you happen to go to Seattle Cancer Care Alliance? So far they have treated me like a person which from my reading here isn't always the case..

    I am just east of Auburn, you?

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  • dogsaver
    dogsaver Member Posts: 201
    edited August 2009

    I just got back from brachy number 4. The multi catheters were really bothering me last night and i had meltdown at the radiation place this am. They asked me why i wasnt taking percoset for morning sessions and i said it was because i had to go to work and started crying. i went to work day after catheter placement and on monday. so anyways he said that i need to take rest of week off and take percoset and valium for upcoming sessions. So i am off for the next 3 days thank goodness. well ill be glad when this is over. Kuchagirl how long did the bumps stay red? thanks for the good tips

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  • RHP
    RHP Member Posts: 48
    edited August 2009

    Dogsaver.. I am just so sorry you had a hard day.. I know from experiance there isn't anything anyone can say to make it better..

    I am sure glad I am not the only one that has meltdowns.. I never understood people who did, until now! All I can say is I am sending you all the love and hugs I have.. hang in there after tomorow am it is half over! You are on your way to recovery.
    I was dx 5 days after you and will wait another 4 weeks for this therapy.. So I look forward to you telling me in four weeks " ah it really wasn't that bad"

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  • kuchagirl
    kuchagirl Member Posts: 66
    edited August 2009

    HI RHP,

     I did go to the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance.  I felt very much treated like a person.  I wasn't aware that the place has a somewhat negative reputation for the way they treat patients.  The front desk staff can be a little impersonal in the Rad Onc department, but I think they hire people for that very quality.  I love my Rad Onc.  You probably have the same doc.   

    I live, actually, 1 mile from the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance. 

    I had a meltdown on one of the days of my brachytherapy treatment, too.  I held myself together, but I hid my face from everyone, and one doctor asked me why I was hiding my face, and it was kinda weird although I appreciated that he asked.  I just felt a lot of stress around coming in twice a day to pour radiaiton into my breast.  I think I even came to my appointments cranky.  I swear I heard this young man who sat at the reception desk say to another staffer, "she's mean" in reference to me, although the nurses denied that anyone would say that.  I WAS pissy.  But in reality, front desk staff should be trained in understanding that cancer patients are entitled to being pissy sometimes.  I got over it eventually.  I can laugh about it now.

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  • RHP
    RHP Member Posts: 48
    edited August 2009

    Kuchagirl  I have found the appointment staff and desk staff to be dumb as sheep. The nursing staff and Dr. on the other hand I have found to be careing and wonderful. Honestly I have found radiation people other than Dr Wang (who seems to be personable) to be rather unfeeling. It is like most of what they do is non invasive (at least it doesn't show that way) blood etc. so when they use a needle etc they are like completely unable to handle doing it so they act like you are the baby.

    I guess the meltdown stuff has been the hardest thing for me. I am usually a very even person who just handles everything. So I guess now that my life isn't in my control (like it wasn't just an illusion before) I just can't handle it. That is why this site has been such a value. realizing I am not crazy and that most of us feel the same.

    I am curious that being a couple years out how you feel about all this stuff. Has it passes, if you know what I mean. Not that I think you ever are just over it. But the out of control emotions etc.

    I hope Dogsaver is doing better today. My heart goes out to you!

    Robin

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  • dogsaver
    dogsaver Member Posts: 201
    edited August 2009

    Just got back from treatment number 5. 5 more to go. yay. today was better because i knew i didnt have to go to work and the percoset and valium make it quite nice. My best advice is take the week off. Fill out FMLA paperwork now for intermittent leave for the next several months so you can take days off when you need. definately take off during brachy due to being on percoset to control the pain and something for the anxiety and the fatigue. rest of week should be a breeze. AND percoset does cause constipation. i went through that at the beginning and learned my lesson so take a laxative (senna is pretty gentle and works overnight) while you are doing the treatment. thx for the advice and the good wishes

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  • RHP
    RHP Member Posts: 48
    edited August 2009

    Dogsaver I am so glad, you sound a 100% better today!

    So pain, I am curious is it the tubes, buttons, when they are doing the treatment? Just trying to figure out what I will be up against!

    Hugs

    R

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  • dogsaver
    dogsaver Member Posts: 201
    edited August 2009

    its the buttons that are bothering me. usually when i sleep and in the am. during the treatment they dont hurt but after they do a little bit just from them handling them and the nurses cleaning afterwords. its just mostly uncomfortable. for sure dont work that week as the days go on it makes you tired. but when its done its done thank goodness. still a better option for me than the 6 week daily radiation! thx for encouraging words. half way done thank goodness! and i think its harder in AZ because its 115 degrees out. ick! wish i was where you guys were

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  • kuchagirl
    kuchagirl Member Posts: 66
    edited August 2009

    Hi Robin,

     Now that I'm more than 2 years out, I honestly have days when I don't even think about the cancer or the radiation.  I took some risks at the one-year-out mark - such as quitting my job and taking an educational program - and those things really helped me to 'move on" from the disease experience.  It's still shocking to think that I was only 13 months away from the diagnosis when I started taking that educational program, because everything was still new, but I wanted to have additional emotionally demanding experiences, so that I could put the cancer behind me.

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  • RHP
    RHP Member Posts: 48
    edited August 2009

    So today I found out my therapy won't be Monday through friday.. Almost had a meltdown but put it aside for now. I will have first treatment Friday wait the weekend and have the rest monday through Thurs. I don't know why I am so freaked by a little change. Other than I OVER THINK EVERYTHING right now..

    Dogsaver I too wish you werre here, we complained like babies over 105.. I am so glad you are half finished and it seems do-able.. I just noticed you wrote you will have chemo.. I am sorry for that too, did you have an onco type dx and if so what was your score? I guess I dodged that bullet by just a few points.

    Kuchagirl it is awesome to hear someone who is moving on and doing something new and challenging, even better is the thought of not dwelling on this cancer thing. I keep telling myself what was I doing three months ago before I knew and just don't think about it so much.. But it just hangs there like a dreaded cloud. My prognosis is great and I see people who are in such tough shape it angers me at myself for having a pity party..

    enough ranting and whining hugs to you both

    Robin

     So

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  • kuchagirl
    kuchagirl Member Posts: 66
    edited August 2009

    Robin,

     I'm sorry that you are going to have to wait over a weekend.  As I recall, I had to keep the catheters in over 2 WEEKENDS.  I was so pissed off.  They didn't tell me until immediately after the catheters were inserted.  It felt criminal at the time, because the catheters were in and what could I do about it?  There was a bigger story for me:  I was the first patient on the B39 study, and there was a rule that the head honchos of the study could have 72 hours to review the paperwork of the first patient on a study.  So that 72 hours extended into a weekend, and then the radiation treatment started on a Wednesday or something, and continued into the next week.  I really imagined that I would have 20 (or 40) holes in my breast the size of pencils.  It's one thing to have catheters in for 5 days, but yet another to have catheters in for 15 days. 

    And then the nursing staff was blase about giving me daily dressing changes!!!!  I was irate, as I knew that there was a reasonably high risk of breast infection.  I demanded daily dressing changes, and got them.  After a bit, they handed me a bag of materials and told me to do my own daily dressing changes.  I guess they thought I could just take an antibiotic if I got an infection. However, I never got an infection, and they said my breast look better at the end of brachytherapy than nearly all the other breasts they had seen (they were doing the brachy off-study).   

    I wrote an angry letter to the patient advocate, but I never mailed it.  In hindsighrt, they were a little negligent to not have read the rules of the study, but overall I got very good care - and these things happen in a fast-paced medical setting.  I've long-since forgiven the whole thing.  That onc, who I really was close to firing, is now my favorite onc.  Thanks for allowing me to vent about all that - I hadn't thought about it for months and months. 

    Kuchagirl

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  • dogsaver
    dogsaver Member Posts: 201
    edited August 2009

    yeah i am ready to have these tubes out! Chemo was recommended because I had two positive nodes. The sentinal and an axial. I did not want to do it because rest of nodes were clean but because they were in any nodes, they said it was more of a preventative measure and also if there is one cancer cell lurking, they want to get it. I still refused but then they told me the chemo I am doing, four rounds of taxotere cytoxan is a mellower chemo than years ago and i would not have this chemo choice again if any cancer has spread so im doing it more to get something if it is there. also right now i have a great job with great benefits and i am feeling pretty healthy. the decision was hard. If i had 14 positive nodes or no negative nodes, my decision would have been easy.  i am so glad you have no nodal activity robin! Kuchagirl, wow you really were a pioneer in this, thanks for making it easier for us later starters!

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  • RHP
    RHP Member Posts: 48
    edited August 2009

    Yes Kuchagirl THANK YOU! If it weren't for you both of us would be doing 7 weeks of radiation and burning lungs and heart , well you get the picture! Also venting is good!! I don't believe any of us can aford to hold this stuff in! My personal belief is if I didn't do that about stuff maybe I wouldn't have this beast to fight!

    Dogsaver I can imagine how hard that decision was to make, I prayed that it would be cut and dried and I wouldn't have to decide! thankfully it was pretty clear. But if it had been like yours I am pretty sure I would have made your same decision. We need to error on the side of not getting this back! Remember even though I am not doing chemo I am there for support just as you are there for me right now! It is amazing just knowing someone else understands.

     So day 4 only 3 more treatments for you! HUGS and hope you feel good today!

    Robin

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  • dogsaver
    dogsaver Member Posts: 201
    edited August 2009

    yes just one more night and one day!! yay! actually went by quick in retrospect. One of the nurses came in and said "today is last day right? are we removing your tubes?" i was so tempted to say YES IT IS TAKE THESE OUT. but i would have been in lots of trouble by my doctor so... anyways it will be easy, im just a wimp. be sure though to take your percoset and valium during the whole process. thx for the support!

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  • RHP
    RHP Member Posts: 48
    edited August 2009

    Dogsaver

    I am so glad for you two more YAY!

    So when did they give you the prescription? I have only seen my rad onc once which was when I met the team. She talked to my husband the week after my post op visit. He told her I was opting for the brachy and she had her receptionist call and set up the appointments. So the next time I see her is to have her do the simulation and mark for the cathiters.. Should I call and see if they will call in a prescription or will I need it for the first visit? Boy I hate over thinking this stuff. It all just seems so unorganized, I hate asking questions on the phone, they always act like I am the only one who ever asked that.. I cannot believe how many people go through this and that it isn't more scheduled and simplified.. sorry ranting again..

    Have a wonderful evening tomorow and treat yourself to something!

    Gentle hugs Robin

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  • dogsaver
    dogsaver Member Posts: 201
    edited August 2009

    they mailed me the prescriptions and i got them a few days before starting they gave me lidocaine creme to put on the morning of surgery and they gave me percoset and valium. yes make sure they call them in to your pharmacy or mail them to you. ask to speak to your doctors nurse. well, going in to get my last tx and these things out. write more later yipee!

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  • RHP
    RHP Member Posts: 48
    edited August 2009

    Dogsaver I am sooo excited for you! YIPPEE happy weekend or should I say radsend! Don't forget to take your percoset tonight so you don't hurt after the removal!

    Hugs
    Robin

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  • dogsaver
    dogsaver Member Posts: 201
    edited August 2009

    The catheters are out thank goodness. there is redness where the buttons were and the holes but i know those will fade in time thanks to kuchagirls postings. I am excited to finally be able to sleep comfortably! i am glad i chose this route. it is very precise on the dosage and already over although it was a hard week. dont work during catheter week for sure! kucha thanks again for the heads up and robin keep us posted!

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