Deciding on 5-Day Radiation (Accelerated Partial Breast)

I am participating in this study and I am very glad I am. This is a large, well-established study -- I believe they are actually planning to close it soon, but I am not certain about that. My surgeon and oncologist were fully supportive of my participating. My radiation oncologist and the trial manager are wonderful.

 As you know, after a person is accepted into the study, you are randomized to either the control group (conventional radtiation treatment 1x/day for 6 weeks) or the expermental group (partial breast irridation 2x/day for 5 days). So, you've got a 50/50 chance of standard or experimental treatment.

I was radomized to the experiemental arm. I found the treatment very easy to take. I was very glad to have the accelerated schedule because I felt like my treatment was long enough as it was: I had 2 surgeries (lumpectomy with axial node dissection and then a re-ex to get clean margins) and 8 rounds of chemo ( 4 A/C + 4 T dd) as well as the radiation. (My tumor was 2.8 cm and I had 1 malignant node.)

The only real side effect from PBI was that when I had my second round of a/c chemo, I got "radiation recall", which means that the chemo triggered the radiated area to turn bright red -- more noticeably than during the actual radiation treatment. I just put aloe on it a few times a day and it subsided. (In the experimental arm, you have radiation before chemo rather than after, but I realize this isn't going to be an issue for you anyway.)

 I hope that this study and others like it will help evolve the standard of care.

I asked my radiation oncologist about this and she said she would not put in someone with node involvement (I had a smidge on sentinal node) and she wouldn't put someone in that was triple negative.  I'm really surprised you don't have your hormonal status, as that came with my original pathology, 4 days after my surgery.  That and your oncotyping may help you decide your risk before radiation and make the decision easier.

This treatment sounded like the way to go for me & surgeon placed a Contura balloon this past Monday.  My excision cavity was small and my breast is small too and the pressure I felt from day one was very uncomfortable, possibly because the balloon was close to the nipple area.  Everything I had read online said women feel "mild discomfort," but I felt like I wanted pain meds. 24 hrs. a day. 

Today, the Rad-Onc had to remove the balloon catheter because the CT scan showed too little space between it and my surface skin.  Six mm is needed, I had only 4.3 mm.  So, it was no longer an option for me and I have to get the whole breast radiation now.  I'm apprehansive about the skin-burn some get from the 6 wk. treatment, which is why I had hoped for the 5-day treatment instead.  However, I am not missing the balloon catheter at all!  (If I do, I'll wear a ping pong ball in a sports bra 24 hours a day to remind me.)

One more thing, the treatment is 5-day, but you could wind up having the balloon cathether inserted for a week or more before actually starting the rediation.

Not trying to steer you away from the 5-day,,,It was my first choice without having tried either. Good Luck with which ever method you decide upon.

Hi there...I just wondered if anyone has heard of the 5 day brachytherapy with the catheters, as opposed to the balloon?  I will have the catheters placed tomorrow a.m., a ct scan on Tues (I had one last Friday to decide the placements) to see if they're a.o.k. and then radiation Thurs, Fri, and Mon - Wed. I'm excited to be done!!  Then chemo 3-4 weeks later.  Just wondered if anyone out there has had this procedure.  My dr had a former patient who volunteered to talk to me about the procedure but haven't reached her yet. They say I'm a good candidate for this therapy so I hope they're right!

kuchagirl...

It was great to get your reply.  I made contact with the gal that my dr gave me info about, as she'd finished brachytherapy recently.  It turned out we'd known each other 25 years ago, when our now 30 year old daughters were in preschool and kindergarten. We hadn't seen each other since, due to both of our moves.  I so value your input regarding "down the road!"  I started the 2x day radiation yesterday, Thursday. Having the catheters (25) inserted on Monday was a bit painful, even with the number of meds they had given me, but now I'm doing fine (with no pain pills as I don't like the way I feel on them). I was very happy to meet the criteria for the 5 day, which seemed somewhat extensive, and I'm surprised that most people have the balloon...which seems to have quite a few side effects (from reading posts).  Maybe I don't read about side effects to the catheters because fewer people have them.  Not that I expect any...I'm just  happy NOT to read about them   I trust my drs completely, they are incredibly considerate about my comfort and to be surrounded by rad oncologists and the number of physicists that are constantly making sure everything is "radioactively correct" is amazing!  Please tell me if you had any side effects that I should be aware of.  They've said fatigue would probably be all, usually after treatment.  I will start chemo about 6-8 weeks after brachy is finished.  I think it's awesome that you're sharing your experience 2 years later...hearing of your experience gives me even more hope!  Have a great day!

Is the 5 day Radiation also known as Mammosite? If yes, were any of you advised that it may not be the most proven treatment if you are under 60 yrs of age? When I asked one of my docs if she would ever consider it for herself if she needed it, she replied she would absolutely consider it if she was 80 yrs or older.  Hmmm

what is breast radiation catheter?

Hi all, RonnieKay how are you healing now? Kuchagirl gives alot of great advice with her experience. I had the multicatheter technique as well. I had 22 catheters which I thought was excessive, but such is life. i finished a week ago and go for follow up visit tomorrow. Ronnie how are you healing?

My medical professionals are quite sophisticated and current. They were happy to let me have mammosite, or contura. (I ended up with Contura) And I did my own research. Based on the research, it seemed like the thing to do for me - highly targetted radiation for a very localized, noninvasive cancer. I just turned 60, had the diagnosis of DCIS on my birthday! Had a lumpectomy on Aug 12, and had the balloon radiation last week. I am quite sore and bruised from everything, but that's it.

I did multi catheter and had my catheters out on aug 21. I still have tenderness and redness but it is getting better. What has helped the most are icepacks, tylenol and aquafor healing lotion. And don't wear underwire bras. I tried yesterday and the wire areas left big red marks that took a day to go away. Stick with the surgi bra for awhile and then use soft wireless bras that are one size up from your normal size. Best wishes!

They have great soft bras that are wireless but supportive. As for scar tissue try vitamin E and massage scar gently. I have a lymphnode area scar that is bugging me. My holistic doctor says he can do scar therapy after 4 months and it will oncrease mobility. I like the aquafor a lot too because my skin was a bit sensitive to vitamin e. Oh I have a pitbull dane mix, cattledog, pointer, and yellow lab

I finished the 5-dy routine with Contura at the end of Aug. One month later I developed a burn on my breast. The rad onc says it can't be radiation, must be infection.But two surgeons have said it isn't behaving like infection, must be radiation. Anyone else have this issue?