IMRT

I had IMRT May-June 2009. I have nothing to compare it to but felt I was getting state of the art care. My 'team" bragged about how great it was. I had daily CTs prior to radiation. Time on the table was considerable... lots of set up, remarking, etc. They were very detailed, no fooling around. It was my left breast so I was concerned about heart effects... so far, all is fine. I had 28 regular, 8 boosts. I was worried my breast would shrink as that can happen with large breasts... did not happen. I got the usual skin irritation, healed up fine and quickly. I did develop a tickle cough during rads that cleaared up as soon as I was finished. 

My insurance denied $200 of the $1000 a day cost, considered it investigational. FINALLY the hospital wrote that off and did not make me pay it :-)

I would certainly choose to go that route again.  Good luck.

pam 

How are you doing Willheal and what has been your experience?  I'm having my first IMRT treatment tomorrow and it helps to read what others have experienced.  I too am concerned about it being on my left side, but they assured me that this method is fairly protective.  I have an asthma related chronic cough and sure don't want any added lung/cough problems nor heart at age 70.   I will only be having the breast and not underarm area.  amig1, I am also that size and wonder how to protect the sides, cleavage and underneath from skin against skin irriatation. Some are saying to wear camisole instead of bra...but I see that as a potential skin problem I'd have even without radiation. Do you have any tips/suggestions?  Also have a tube of Biafine I plan to use after first treatment tomorrow. How often can you use that? Is that the right thing to do rather than wait until a burn develops?

Is Aquafor available in a drug store?

I found that the set up was interesting. My gal Shea was very nice. She had me lay on a large bean bag- rectangular form that went from my waist to just past my head. This form was laying on a larger foam wedge on a CT scanning table. The form also had a port where she attached a compressor to push air in and out of the form.

We talked about what areas were going to be zapped. She had me place my arms over my head in a comfortable postion. She turned the compressor on and as air was sucked out of the form she molded it to the shape of my body. This is to try to keep you in the same postion for every treatment.

After the form was made she placed some small skin markers on me- one on each side and one on my chest between my foob/boob. The rad.onc. came in and stuck some tape to my chest that would show up in the CT scan around the area they wanted to treat. Then I was placed into the CT machine for some baseline scans. The markers helped line up some laser lines coming from the machine. These scans were sent off to the Dosimitrist (sp?) for my planning which took 3-7 days before I knew when I would be coming in for treatments.

Once the scans were done she tattoed me (OUCH). She placed a drop of ink on the previous marks and stuck a needle into the center of each. My tattos are about the size of a pen mark and black in color.

The whole procedure took 30-40 minutes. They also took my picture to help identify me and a picture of how my arms were laying. Both those pictures are in the front of my chart.

 My form is on the treatment table for every zap. Although my arms don't line up the same way everytime (my port pulls and aches) I am sure to keep them still between the set up scan and the actual zapping.

I found the Aquafor, but it's confusing because it has alcohol as an ingredient and the dr said not to use anything w/alcohol or fragrance so I didn't buy it.  Isn't it confusing how diff. docs say diff. things. But not using alcohol seems to be mentioned several times in these forums. Since I'm having luck so far with Biafine Rx and aloe vera from my plant, will stick w/that I guess.  I had some X's put on me and 3 tatoos which were dots and barely visible. They put waterproof stickers over the two X's that survive the shower. Under my breasts doesn't seem affected...BUT everyone is different and the way it's aimed might be diff. However I definately would ask them about that. Remember that the Radiation people who do the actual radiation are not doctors, so be sure to ask your radiation oncologist about the plan for you and if any changes needed. They would have to realign and re set up Im sure if that happened. But you deserve some answers. I had my radiation person tell me the pink/red I got right away had nothing to do w/the radiation..but it did. He said it was too soon. But it wasn't too soon for "me."  All is going well though.