Anyone in Seattle doing, or have done, Rads at Swedish?

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3monstmama
3monstmama Member Posts: 1,447
edited June 2014 in Radiation Therapy - Before, During, and After

So I met with Astrid the Radiation Oncologist yesterday and was told that there was no alternative but rads.  My DCIS is too aggressive and my VanNuys score too high.  She did allow me to put it off until the end of March so that I can keep things normal as possible and do a family vacation with my kids.  And she is letting me get through my daughter's 10th birthday.

Anyone have any experience doing Rads at Swedish?  Anyone starting? Any tips or pointers?

I am grumpy.  I did not want to do Rads.  They scare me. 

But having invasive breast cancer scares me more so off I go.

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited February 2010

    3monstmama - have you been on the Seattle thread?  It is under the chemo. forum, and titled '"Crazy, sexy cancer in Seattle" or something like that!  There are quite a few women on there that are Swedish patients - two I know have that same Radiologist.  I went to SCCA - and also did rads.  The worse part for me was the daily appt.  There is another women on this thread that had dcis, skipped rads and had a recurrence.  I would agree - invasive should scare you more - rads is just one more thing to get thru to reduce your risk.

    I also have a 10 year old - he will be 11 in March!

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  • 3monstmama
    3monstmama Member Posts: 1,447
    edited February 2010

    aprilgirl1,

    I have been on the Seattle thread and I got some good info there on doctors.  But to be honest, sometimes I feel like with DCIS I don't belong.  So many people have it so much worse than I do.  I felt more comfortable posting there until I had a talk with a colleague--who had DCIS herself a few years ago-- who told me that DCIS wasn't real cancer and was no big deal.  This was when I had one surgeon telling me that a mast might be the best way to go with my DCIS.  It was hard.  Anyrate, after that talk I have tried to stick to the DCIS board.

    10 is a fun age.  So is 11.  I have three kids--2 boys and a girl 8, nearly 10 and 12.  They are so much fun.

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited February 2010

    Hey - cancer is cancer - please do not feel like you don't belong.  However, I know what you mean - I had CMF chemo which has minimal side effects and felt like I didn't belong on the chemo boards as I did not have side effects or hair loss.  DCIS is cancer - my tumor, and I think most invasive have some insitu as well.  Madge24 is on vacation, but also has Astrid as her Radiologist.  You can send her a pm.  She really loves Astrid, and breezed thru rads - I had some discomfort, but did fine.

    I also have a 12 year old - both of mine have spring b-days, so will be 11 and 13.  Yes, so fun!  

    The Seattle women get together about once a quarter - you should come - it's fun, and I know there are some DCIS gals in the mix.

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  • YramAL
    YramAL Member Posts: 1,651
    edited February 2010

    I'm starting radiation next at Swedish, but I will be going to the Northwest Hospital satellite location. I'll have to check out the Seattle board!

    I was fortunate to not have to have chemo, since I got a low Oncotype score. 

    Mary

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