Short duration high dose radiation

Options
shells43
shells43 Member Posts: 1,022
edited June 2014 in Radiation Therapy - Before, During, and After
Short duration high dose radiation
· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • shells43
    shells43 Member Posts: 1,022
    edited July 2010

    Hi,

    Wondering if anyone has any experience with the higher dose radiation that is given over 3-4 weeks vs the traditional 6-7 week radiation plan. I'm mostly interested in the severity of the burn and any fatigue related issues. I'm starting in September and would love to be done sooner rather than later if the RadOnc says ok.

    Thanks for any input!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • phxsunshine
    phxsunshine Member Posts: 242
    edited August 2010

    I finished treatment #5 of 16 today, then I'll have 5 days of a Boost.  After reading about this "Canadian" method and discussing it with my Rad Onc, I opted for it. She has no reservations about using it.  I wanted a mammosite, but my cancer was too deep and I don't have enough tissue cushioning my chest wall, so that was out.  So far, I am tired mostly. I get up about 5:30, have my treatment at 8:45, it's about 1/2 hour drive from my house.  Try to get whatever I can accomplished and I'm sound asleep between 11:30-noon for 1 1/2 to 2 hours.  I don't feel too bad when I get up, but don't have as much energy as I usually have.  My nipple got sore after 2 days, but I'm using Aquaphor and it helps.  My collarbone itched, but they gave me some creme for it and that took care of it. I got a sheepskin pad for my seatbelt and I wear a soft sports bra instead of my regular underwire bra.   I feel like I'm getting a sore throat between my collarbones the past 2 days, but it's not horrible.  Just looking at myself, nothing looks any different in the mirror. Tomorrow I'll be 1/3 of the way done, and that makes me feel great!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • BarbaraA
    BarbaraA Member Posts: 7,378
    edited August 2010

    I finished it (16 tx) on July 9. I had pretty serious fatigue at around week 2-1/2 but I found out later that week I had a serious B12 deficiency. I got a shot and started taking a supplement and the rest of the tx were fine. Great cosmetic result and I used emu oil and my skin never broke, just a little pink on the nipple with red spots. I highly recommend it.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • shells43
    shells43 Member Posts: 1,022
    edited August 2010

    Thanks Ladies,

    I was afraid I wasn't going to get any info, this post is so old. Do either of you have any particulars (dosages, etc.) that I can use when I have my consult? I'm not sure what the Canadian method is, Phoenix. Can you elaborate?

    Barbara, are you going to Moffett? I'm in Fl also. Maybe I can go to their website for a protocol. I'm just anxious to get it over with, really. I have B12 in the medicine chest. Guess I'll start taking it! Glad you had such great results. I was concerned that it might lead to more severe burns. Sounds like you both had lumpectomies. Might be different with my mx as there's not much tissue there.

    Thanks again for your replies!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • DoubleWhammy
    DoubleWhammy Member Posts: 23
    edited November 2010

    By now you've completed your 21 days.  I've had 9 of 16 full breast treatments and will have 5 boosters.  So far so good.  I started November 1 and will have to have 3 treatments rescheduled (added to the end) because of the holidays this month (Veterans Day, Thanksgiving and the day after).  In addition, the machine that never breaks down broke down - twice.  So now my 21 days of treatment has been extended over a 5 week plus 1 days time period.  I asked the radiation oncologist yesterday if this is ok and didn't get a real answer from her.  First she said they like to do the 21 treatments within a certain peirod of time (which she didn't tell me) and then she said that it shouldn't make any difference for "my tumor".  That's when I reminded her that 5 of my 21 treatments are being rescheduled.  She offered to have me come in the day after Thanksgiving and I'm able to do that because we're not going away.  I think she did this because she thought I was upset, not because it's not ok to reschedule that many treatments, but, of course,  I'm not sure.   

    Does anyone have any information on delaying treatments over the course of therapy?

    Thank you

    Suzanne 

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • shells43
    shells43 Member Posts: 1,022
    edited November 2010

    Hi Suzanne,

    I'm pretty sure that there are breaks in rads treatment fairly often, it depends on how people's skin holds up, and sometimes the machine breaks down, etc. I know a few gals from the Sept Rads board that had a two-week break to let their skin heal up, so a short break here and there is probably ok, and may actually help you avoid a longer delay by giving your skin a break on those single holidays. I got one 3 day weekend in the middle of my treatment just at the right time when I was starting to get really sore, and it helped a lot. I was much better by Monday and was able to continue.

    You might hop over to one of the current rads boards, Oct/Nov 2010 as this one is not very active. You might get more responses there.

    Best wishes,

    Shelley

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Barbcard2
    Barbcard2 Member Posts: 71
    edited November 2010

    Need more info re short term high dose radiation (brachytherapy.)  Had lumpectomy a week ago and will see radiation onco in a few days.  I dread going everyday for 6 weeks or so, esp. in the winter.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • redsox
    redsox Member Posts: 523
    edited August 2013

    There are two different types of radiation therapy that are shorter than the standard 5-7 weeks whole breast irradiation. 

    1) accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI or PBI) that is usually done in 1-2 weeks with mammosite, other brachytherapy (e.g. multi-catheter), or external beam radiation (generally intensity modulated radiation therapy -- IMRT).

    2) accelerated whole breast irradiation (AWBI) which is done in 3-4 weeks with external beam radiation therapy but with fewer fractions (treatments) and a higher dose per fraction.

    PBI treats only part of the breast nearest the tumor site.  That is the area at highest risk of recurrence but the rest of the breast has some risk of recurrence.  Clinical trials are underway and other studies are collecting data but it is still considered to be a reasonable option only for patients with very low risk of recurrence who also meet specific criteria.

    AWBI treats the whole breast and has been the standard pattern in Canada for many years, which means there is better long term data, and many radiation oncology doctors will offer it as an option for a larger group of women. 

    PBI was not an option for me.  AWBI was an option and probably would have been fine for me.  I went with the standard treatment, figuring 4 weeks or 7 weeks is short in comparison to the rest of my life. 

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • cbharvest
    cbharvest Member Posts: 11
    edited August 2011

    I'm getting AWBI and am almost finished my five boosts. For some reason, they wouldn't let me use any ointment on my skin, and by the tenth day, it was blistering. The last day of the 16 they gave me Aquaphor. My boob is toasted and sore. I've only had two of my five boosts, so I can't say what that will end like.

    I held up generally pretty well until number 14 when the skin, fatigue, and anxiety peaked. I'm just tired today and looking forward to getting it done and recovering from the therapy. 

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories