January 2010 Rads Start

Options
unklezwifeonty
unklezwifeonty Member Posts: 1,710
edited June 2014 in Radiation Therapy - Before, During, and After

Gals,

Join us if your rads start in or around January 2010. Tell us your start date, if axilla would be included, if clavicle would be included, prone (face down) or supine (face up) position, # of whole breast doses, # of booster doses.

Who Start Axilla Clavicle Position Base Rads Boost

Gogo_Xago's Mom Dec/28 No No Supine 25 5

CatWrangler Dec/28 No No Supine 28 7

Veggy Dec/28 No No Supine 25 10 

CookieGal Dec/29 No No Prone 25 0

kmf/KarenAnne Dec/29 No No Supine 25 8

Jillilene Jan/4 Yes Yes Supine 28 0

Skidoo Jan/4 No No Supine 25 8 

Kim09/Kim Jan/4 Yes No Supine 28 0

Elisheva Jan/4 Yes No Supine 28 5

Sido Jan/5 No No Supine 25 8

DebbieSawyer Jan/5 No No Supine 16 0

Melinda-Tma3 Jan/5 No No Supine 25 8

MissMelis1 Jan/6 No No Supine 23 10

Ginny68 Jan/6 No No Supine 25 5 

Taggarung Jan/7 No No Supine 28 5

Tangi-Girl Jan/7 No No Supine 28 7

LeighAnnMarie Jan/7 No No Supine 28 5

1RareBird Jan/8 No No Supine 25 3 

Mom2aCat Jan/11 No No Prone 20 0 (to spine)

Grama5 Jan/12 No No Supine 30 3

DayLilyFan Jan/12 No No Supine 16 5 

Annie1273 Jan/12 No No Supine 28 5

TwinMom77 Jan/13 No No Supine 28 7

Sophie305 Jan/13 No No Prone 16 3

RedHeadPam Jan/14 No No Supine 28 5

JulieCA Jan/14 Yes No Supine 17 4
VictoriaSecret/Cheryl Jan/15 Yes Yes Supine 25 0

Snuziq Feb/16 No No Supine 28 5

One-L/Juanelle Jan/20 No No Supine 26 7

Sweetlander Jan/20 No No Supine 25

Mommy2two/Toyah Jan/25 No No Supine 25 8

Jenn3/Jenn Jan/25 Yes Yes Supine 25 5

Yoga4Vick Jan 25 (Sim) Yes Yes Supine 28 5

Eclectic_art Jan25 No No Supine 35 0

PreciousTime Jan/26 Yes Yes Supine 25 8 (Mediastinal Nodes also)

Weety91 Jan/26 No No 27 0 (Chest Wall also)

Karen1959 Feb/1 No No Supine 25 8

Jakhope Feb/1 No No Supine 26 9 

UnklezWifeOnty Feb/3 No No Prone 16 5

Sanaisa Feb/4 No No Supine 25 8

Veggy Feb/5 No No Supine 28 7

Scoobydoo/Anita Feb/16 No No Supine 28 7

Chinablue Feb/19 Yes No Supine 25 8

Anyone else?

· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
«134567…40

Comments

  • gogo_xago
    gogo_xago Member Posts: 131
    edited December 2009

    My mom is going to start after Christmas, don't know yet the exact date. Next Monday we are going to meet her rad onc, for first time. We don't know how many rads is going to have, or for how long...

    What about you? Have you meet the rad onc? What is your plan? 

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • unklezwifeonty
    unklezwifeonty Member Posts: 1,710
    edited December 2009

    Hi I'm still not sure of the plan. I have consulted 2 radiation oncs. 1 said to not bother about clavicle and left the choice of 19 + boost canadian fraction vs 25 + boost standard fraction to me. Either would be given lying on tummy. The 2nd said I should get clavicle also radiated and that means only standard fraction and lying on back which is more toxic to heart and lungs. I am going to meet the first one again this week.



    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • jenn3
    jenn3 Member Posts: 3,316
    edited December 2009

    I haven't met with the rad onc yet, but I am told I'm due to start mid-January.  The onc said I'll have 30 treatments/6 weeks of rads.  Not sure about much else at this point.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • unklezwifeonty
    unklezwifeonty Member Posts: 1,710
    edited December 2009

    Hi Jenn,



    I heard that the standard treatment is 33 rad sessions which consists of 25 doses to the whole breast followed by 8 booster doses to the tumor bed.



    The canadian fraction is 16 doses to the whole breast followed optionally - depending on the doctor and their protocol - by 5 booster doses. The total treatment dose is lower but each daily dose is higher than what you'd get with standard treatment.



    So the canadian fraction is something to consider. They have 12 years of data showing virtually identical efficacy and side effects. The trial was done in Canada and some American hospitals and doctors believe it to be a good, well conducted trial. On the other hand, some don't :-)





    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • gogo_xago
    gogo_xago Member Posts: 131
    edited December 2009

    ladies, when did you finish chemos? Did your doctor say to have scans or blood tests?

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • unklezwifeonty
    unklezwifeonty Member Posts: 1,710
    edited December 2009

    I will be finishing chemo in first week of January. A couple of weeks after that, they will do some radiation planning scans and simulations and then follow it up with daily radiation sessions.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Kayel
    Kayel Member Posts: 28
    edited December 2009

    I meet with the rad onc on the 21st and do not have any details right now only that I should start mid to late Jan.  My last chemo is the 31st (Happy New Year!!).  My onc said it would be  6 weeks so I figured 30 treatments? 

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • gogo_xago
    gogo_xago Member Posts: 131
    edited December 2009

    My mom has appointment with rad onc. next week and we don't know nothing yet about the procedure.  I'm quite worry, because the when my mom had the last chemo (Nov.27) her onc. said to begin rads, 3 weeks later but it will Christmas. So maybe we have to wait until the first days of January... Also the rad onc we have choose, is on aboard, until next Monday, so we can meet him till then. We have no information about rads. What is the "boost"? I'm greek so my english isn't so good, and the translation of the word says nothing to me...Can someone explain?

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • unklezwifeonty
    unklezwifeonty Member Posts: 1,710
    edited December 2009

    Dear Kayel,

    It sounds like your radiation will have 25 base rads  followed by 5 booster rads.

    Dear Gogo,

    Boost is the extra dose given to the very specific area where the tumor used to be. There are 5-8 boost doses of rads given typically after the main rads are completed.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Sido
    Sido Member Posts: 234
    edited December 2009

    Hi Ladies,

    Count me in for January rads.  I have my last T/C tx next Monday (12/14) and will start rads 3 or 4 weeks later.  I met with my rad oncologist back in September before I started chemo, and I need to call to make an appointment to get things started.  From what we talked about back in Sept, I'm getting the standard 6 week, 33 treatment plan.  It also sounds like I need to learn a whole new treatment vocabulary again.

    Glad to be with you again Onty!  You are so smart about all this stuff.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • unklezwifeonty
    unklezwifeonty Member Posts: 1,710
    edited December 2009

    Hi Sido,

    Welcome to the rollcall for January start of rads! Do call the radiation oncologist now and make the appointment to start the planning etc. You may also want to ask about Canadian Fraction + Boost which is 21 sessions compared to 33 sessions otherwise. You will be done 12 days earlier!



    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • one-L
    one-L Member Posts: 1,110
    edited December 2009

    Hello Onty, I will  start my rads in January also.  My last tx is 12/24, so I should be on schedule to start rads about 3 weeks after that. 

    When I had my original consult with the Rad Onc, I was told I would get 6 weeks, that was about all I know at this moment.

    Juannelle

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • unklezwifeonty
    unklezwifeonty Member Posts: 1,710
    edited December 2009

    Dear 1L, welcome! Let us know more as you get closer to the actual treatment.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • one-L
    one-L Member Posts: 1,110
    edited December 2009

    I will let you know when I know  something definite.  I did ask the Onc when I would probably start rads and she said two or three weeks after the end of chemo.  It is coming at me fast.

    Juannelle

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • unklezwifeonty
    unklezwifeonty Member Posts: 1,710
    edited December 2009

    Yeah mine said anywhere from 3-6 weeks after chemo depending on how I am doing. When I pushed for doing sooner, she said maybe we could start in 3-4 weeks after chemo!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • one-L
    one-L Member Posts: 1,110
    edited December 2009

    Sounds just like a doctor.  I wonder about them sometime.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • unklezwifeonty
    unklezwifeonty Member Posts: 1,710
    edited December 2009

    Yeah they all went to the school of "if its convenient for me, I will sell it as the best thing for the patient!".



    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • one-L
    one-L Member Posts: 1,110
    edited December 2009

    I am not sure that any of them can understand what they are putting us through, unless they get the disease.  Then I think they are changed people and become more human or humane which ever.  I could be wrong about that, but I have read several stories of doctors that had the cancer they usually treated and it changed their prospective of the disease and how patients should be treated.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • unklezwifeonty
    unklezwifeonty Member Posts: 1,710
    edited December 2009

    I'm not one to wish bad things on anyone but I think that's a good experience for a doctor.



    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • one-L
    one-L Member Posts: 1,110
    edited December 2009

    I don't  think it would  be a bad idea.  I am lucky that I have had very good doctors  through this experience.  They are all very caring and compassionate.  My surgeon hasn't released me yet, he wants to make sure I am happy with my treatment.  I see him again the first  of January, of course, he will eventually have to remove my port.  My Onc seems to be  very understanding about everything, answers all my questions and never seems to be in a hurry to finish up with me to move on to the next patient.  I try not to keep her forever, but if I have questions, I want them answered.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Sido
    Sido Member Posts: 234
    edited December 2009

    Dear Onty and Juanelle,  I guess I'm lucky because my rad onco is starting me in two weeks. My staging is next Tuesday and she wants to get started with my daily tx when they get back from x-mas.

    Can I stay with y'all even though I'm starting at the end of Dec?

    I asked about the Canadian Fraction but she said that she didn't find that the patient outcomes were as good than with the proven 6 week plan.  My rad onco is a wonderful little Indian lady wh remembers everything about me even though we last met in September and is always completely conversant in my current treatment modalities when she walks into the office, so I have a lot of confidence in her.  I still don't know the exact treatment stats as of yet, but I'll post them when I know.

     Love from chilly central Illinois, Sido

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • unklezwifeonty
    unklezwifeonty Member Posts: 1,710
    edited December 2009

    Dear Sido,

    Good news! Yes you can certainly stay with us. We will benefit from your experience! 

    The radiation oncologist I am seeing at Sloan said that Sloan is a big proponent of Canadian Fraction and gives boosts in addition. The main Canadian study from whom the 12 year data came out this year did not even give boost and they still got very comparable results. That said, she was very open with me on the fact that other hospitals are still not on board and in fact oppose canadian fraction. She is very sweet too. She is from Asia too, I think Chinese although she has an Aussie last name! For me the big thing was finishing 2.5 weeks sooner. I'm done with cancer treatment!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • paigelise
    paigelise Member Posts: 173
    edited December 2009

    Hi everyone...I get measured (is that the term?) on Thursday and think I will be starting my 6 weeks on January 4th.  All I know now is that I need 6 weeks with boosters (not sure how many yet). 

     I already met the radiaton oncologist who I really like.  I had tried to get the Mammosite but they didn't want me to since I'm 40.  My biggest fear is fatigue since I am going to try to keep working during the treatments and I'm already tired all the time.

     Nice to meet all of you! 

     Wendy

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • unklezwifeonty
    unklezwifeonty Member Posts: 1,710
    edited December 2009

    Dear Wendy,

    Welcome!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • one-L
    one-L Member Posts: 1,110
    edited December 2009

    Welcome everyone. 

    Wendy, I am also afraid of more fatigue.  I know after my next chemo, it will even be worse and I am planning on working through the rads if I can.

    sido, glad you are getting started on the rads early, that just means you get to finish early.  We will love to have you with us.

    Onty, hope you are having a great relaxing evening.

    Juannelle

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Sido
    Sido Member Posts: 234
    edited December 2009

    Hi Wendy,  I'm dreading more fatigue, since my last two chemo txs' just kicked my butt.  Right now I at times I barely make it upstairs to my bedroom without taking a break.  I've been reading that regular exercise will help stave off some of the fatigue, so I'm going to try walking every day.  Fortunately (or not), I'm done teaching until January 20th so I'll be halfway through when I start work again.

    Have a wonderful evening Juannelle and Onty!

    Cheers, Sido

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • one-L
    one-L Member Posts: 1,110
    edited December 2009

    Sido, my Onc told me to start exercising and that would help the fatigue.  When I work, I leave my house at 5:00 am and don't get home until at least 5:30 or 6:00 pm.  By that time, I am ready for one thing and that is to sit in my recliner.  When I start radiation, I am going to try and get an early appointment and go before work.  I live 50 miles from the cancer center, it is 50 miles from work and I live  50 miles from work, so I will do 150 miles a day.  I just don't know when I will find the extra time to exercise.

    Juannelle

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • mommy2two
    mommy2two Member Posts: 130
    edited December 2009

    Hi Ladies,

    I will be starting rads sometime in January.  I have my last T/C tx on 12/31 and will start rads about 2 weeks later.  I met with my rad oncologist originally in September before I found out that I would require chemo.  If nothing has changed since I saw her the first time then I will be getting the standard 33 treatments over 6 1/2 weeks.  I plan to continue working full time as I do now so I hope that rads is a walk in the park compared to chemo.....Smile

     Toyah

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • cookiegal
    cookiegal Member Posts: 3,296
    edited December 2009

    Hi I am going for simulation TODAY! My rad onc is all about the canadian 16, and having watched a friend struggle with some se's I am leaning towards that way. My rad onc reccomends it, my med onc says either are fine, but if I don't mind, and I am younger, I should do the 25. Guess I have to decide today!!!!!

    Anyhow I will send you my info when I figure it all out.

    My rad onc feels strongly about on my front, so I guess that rules out axilla et all.

    Party on ladies!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • unklezwifeonty
    unklezwifeonty Member Posts: 1,710
    edited December 2009

    Welcome Toyah!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories