A couple of questions from UK

sarana · March 2011

Hi I've recently gone through bilateral wide excisions, turned out to be stage IIa instead of stage 1 as largest was 2.2cm. Node negative, and ER+, so I've just been recommended radiotherapy plus letrozole for 5 years. I've noticed that a lot of people here (assuming most are in the States) have had chemo for less serious stuff than me. Has this been recommended to you or is it a choice? It seems here if nodes are negative they don't feel chemo is warranted.

Second question, for anyone not having chemo, is how long is the usual wait for radiotherapy. I've been advised my RT won't start for 11 weeks after the surgery, far too long in my mind.

Thanks

Sarara

suzieq60 · March 2011

Hi Sarana - Glad you got your bilateral lumpectomies after all. Rads usually start a month after surgery. Of course if you have chemo, you have rads after chemo. 11 weeks does seem a long time to wait, I think it's optimal to start earlier than that. There was a thread here somewhere where someone was asking the maximum time to wait.

You shouldn't need chemo being node neg. The only reason I had chemo the first time was because of the HER2 factor. What grade was it? Lower grades don't always respond to chemo anyway - proven to me by my second lower grade one being there during the chemo for the first and not disappearing but only maybe being kept under control.

I'll try and find that thread about the time for rads for you.

Sue

suzieq60 · March 2011

Hi Sarana,

I did a search and found this which I posted on that thread I mentioned:

Found this:

Should radiation treatment begin right after surgery? How long a delay is safe?
If you are not having chemotherapy, radiation treatment should begin as soon as possible after your incision heals, usually within 8 weeks after surgery. It is generally believed that radiation treatment should not be delayed longer than 12 weeks after surgery, although there is no proof to support this. If you are having chemotherapy, most cancer centres recommend that radiation treatment be delayed until chemotherapy is finished. Sometimes both kinds of treatment are given together. However, there is no evidence that this improves the outcome, and it can increase the risk of unwanted side effects, especially if any of the anthracycline drugs (drugs like Adriamycin) are used as part of your chemotherapy.

and this :

http://news.health.com/2010/03/04/radiation-most-effective-soon-after-breast-cancer-surgery/

Sue

sarana · March 2011

Thanks again Sue

I was grade 2. Just posted my letter to oncology centre yesterday complaining about delay, but seems very unlikely it will happen any earlier. Here in Scotland we have guidelines and targets. Guidelines are what would happen in a perfect world, targets are what might happen if you're lucky. So I'll try not to get bent out of shape as, like you, I've read that there's no hard evidence of raised risk with this timescale. Just wonder why every other country can get it sorted.

You still coming to Scotland?

S

suzieq60 · March 2011

Hi Sarana,

Yes we are - I sent you a PM with where we are going some time ago. Edinburgh 2 nights - Loch Ness 2 nights - Badicaul near Kyle of Loch Alsh 2 nights and then Callender for 1 night. I've got B&B's and a car booked. I'm looking forward to seeing Stirling Castle and the Wallace Monument. I'm bringing my Wallace tartan scarf with me to wave about

Pity you have to wait for the rads. Over here, you can go public or private, so I went private - costs a lot but it's worth it. I did get government refunds on it though but it still costs about $1300 out of pocket but at least there's no waiting to get seen. I just started back at work part time last week. I need to get back to full time asap so we can pay for some of the trip. I've been paid the whole time I've been off but only 75% of my regular income so it's been quite difficult.

Sue

A couple of questions from UK

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