3wk plus boost vs. 6 wk radiation?

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arbella
arbella Member Posts: 34
edited June 2014 in Radiation Therapy - Before, During, and After

hi ladies

i am trying to decide which is the best course of treatment...the traditional 6 wk radiation or the 3 wk plus boost. i understand that sometimes there is some cosmetic issue with hardening skin and shrinkage of size with the 3 wk plus boost. also, what does the boost actually mean? is that done during the 3 wks or afterward? thank you for your input.

arbella

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  • Macc
    Macc Member Posts: 23
    edited January 2010

    The boost is extra treatment to the tumour bed and is done at the end. I'm currently having boosts...first one today...having had 25 breast and node treatments.

     I didn't get a choice as to what type of treatment as I'm stage llb but understand that there have been trials on the 3 week course which have shown good results for early stage bc which yours is. Glancing thro the articles it seems that the overall does is lower in the 3 weeks but the daily does higher. I should ask what dose you would be getting with each type of treatment. There's probably more about this on the net but these are the only two articles I had read. Good Luck with your treatment.

    http://www.webmd.com/breast-cancer/news/20070604/less-radiation-breast-cancer-works

    http://www.nhs.uk/news/2007/January08/Pages/Lowerdoseradiotherapyforbreastcancer.aspx

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  • knowledgeforpower
    knowledgeforpower Member Posts: 184
    edited January 2010

    Hi Arbella, 

     I did the three week program last summer.  I had 15 regular sessions and 3 boosts, for a total of 18 treatments.  I slathered on aloe vera starting about a week before treatment and then several times a day during treatment.   I was very happy with the 3 week plan.  I did not burn and have no skin changes.  If you search this forum for the word shortened you will find other posts on the subject.  Let me know if you have any questions... 

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  • kira66715
    kira66715 Member Posts: 4,681
    edited January 2010

    Arabella, the regular treatments are photons, which penetrate the tissue deeper, and are usually delivered as IMRT--intensity modulated radiation therapy--planned on a CT of your breast to try and be most accurate and deliver the majority of the dose to the breast, with as little as possible getting to lung/heart/other breast.

    The boost is a higher fraction per day of electrons, which don't penetrate the tissue as deeply. It's delivered to the lumpectomy site, in a much smaller field.

    I think the shorter protocol is called the Canadian protocol, there are some concerns about larger daily fractions possibly causing more side effects--like fibrosis, but I believe the protocol has been used successfully for some time--sorry, where I work, women either get the standard 6 week course or mammosite, so I haven't seen women with the shorter treatment.

    Here's an abstract from ASTRO, on bc.org

    http://www.breastcancer.org/treatment/radiation/new_research/20080922b.jsp 

    Kira 

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  • kimann
    kimann Member Posts: 5
    edited January 2010

    Hello Arbella,

     I chose the 6 weeks RAD (33 treatments). My RAD doc did not recommend the shorter treatment becasue of the lack of long term study data.  I did some research also.  The boost for me-I am told-is focused on the incision: tumor removal site, rather than on the entire breatst. My boost starts in 2 days and I will have 5 treatments then I am finished!

    Take care of you-Good Luck.

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  • arbella
    arbella Member Posts: 34
    edited January 2010

    so if i understand correctly the boost is 5 days long? So really thats one more week making it 4 weeks?

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  • knowledgeforpower
    knowledgeforpower Member Posts: 184
    edited January 2010

    Arbella, I had 15 regular treatments and only 3 boosts for a total of 18 treatments.

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  • Cowgirl13
    Cowgirl13 Member Posts: 1,936
    edited January 2010

    Arbella, I just finished today (!!!) a course of 19 rounds of radiation--16 regular and 3 boosts.

    It was a piece of cake and I highly recommend it--It is indicated for early stage cancer. 

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  • DaylilyFan
    DaylilyFan Member Posts: 80
    edited January 2010

    First, thank you, Kira, for the detailed info.

    Second, my rad onc ordered 16 treatments to the left breast and 5 "boost" treatments to the tumor site, for a total of 21.  There should be no difference in any side effects.  He said that women with larger breasts (I was a 34/C) are not eligible for the shorter course but I have forgotten the reason.  He also said that the dose is adjusted to be biologically equivalent to the longer course of treatment.  I chose the shorter course because I want to get this over with!  

    Good luck to you! 

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  • arbella
    arbella Member Posts: 34
    edited January 2010

    hi kimann..one of the rad onc that i met with said the same thing...but most are saying 3 wk plus boost is the way to go. where is your doc?

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  • arbella
    arbella Member Posts: 34
    edited January 2010

    daylily fan...so you didnt do the short course due to size? you did 5 wks? i am wondering what research your onc is referencing...any clue?

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