mammosite

Options
flossy20
flossy20 Member Posts: 6
edited June 2014 in Radiation Therapy - Before, During, and After

I have a decision to make whether to have full breast radiation or the new mammosite (internal breast radiation). Full Breast will take 61/2-7 weeks and the mammosite only 1 week, twice daily. Has anyone used this?My only concern is one (full breast) has been out for 30 years proven and the other 6-10 years but doctors tell me with same results. I read on internet and some places says not same results. Would like input on this. My cancer was Stage 1, ER positive and 1.3 centimeters , no lymph node involvement. Thanks for any help or input on trying to make this decision

· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • puddingirl84
    puddingirl84 Member Posts: 120
    edited March 2010

    hi flossy20- I have an aunt, my late mom's sister, that had mammosite about 5 or 6 years ago. She was DCIS, node neg, ER pos. My auntie has access to all the finest doctors in NYC on 5th and Park ave. I didn't know what she was talking about when she first told me. But the advantage of having mammosite first is that you can always have the conventional full breast radiation at a later time if deemed necessary. Where as if you have full breast radiation like I did on each  of my breasts, you can never do any kind of radiation again to that area. I wish I were given a choice, I would have definitely done mammosite first. 

    Some women have said that you have to have large breasts to be offered mammosite, and my auntie has enough for three women! Mine were average. I don't know how true that is. You know how rumors get started and all.

    Please take the mammosite first if it is offered. That's my opinion. It gives you an extra chance.

    Puddin' 

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • redsox
    redsox Member Posts: 523
    edited March 2010

    Please check details and questions with your doctor.  

    Mammosite delivers radiation to part of the breast only whereas whole breast radiation treats the whole breast.  The area treated by whole breast radiation but not by partial breast irradiation has some risk of recurrence but not as high as the area immediately around the tumor. 

    If you have whole breast radiation you cannot have more radiation to the same area in the future.  If you have mammosite or other partial breast irradiation you may be able to have partial breast irradiation again to another location in the same breast but you cannot in the future have whole breast irradiation to that breast or partial breast irradiation to the same location. 

    Mammosite is a newer technique with shorter follow-up data than whole breast irradiation.  For carefully selected patients it may have quite good results but definitive studies are still underway to determine that.

    (edited to clarify future options)

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • ICanDoThis
    ICanDoThis Member Posts: 1,473
    edited March 2010

    I have a cousin-in-law (married a southerner with 32 first cousins) who had mammosite about 10 years ago. She is still doing fine.

    On her recommendation, I had it two years ago. I really liked getting it over with - by the time I got to rads, I was so DONE with cancer.
    But, be sure to be on antibiotics - I got an infection from treatment.

    The studies have been coming out that it is effective for women with no node involvement, and cancer that was only in one spot. If your doctor recommends it, I would think it is appropriate

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • flossy20
    flossy20 Member Posts: 6
    edited March 2010

    I am at the point of being DONE with cancer now. Right now the mammosite sounds good but I just keep questioning because of the difference in time the two types of been out 10 years compared to 30 years. Thanks so much for responding.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories