radiation

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Elizabeth37
Elizabeth37 Member Posts: 84
edited June 2014 in DCIS (Ductal Carcinoma In Situ)

Hi all, I am having a lumpectomy on my right breast on May 12 then 6 weeks of radiation.Can any one tell me how long after surgery did you have to wait till you started radiation?and can you also tell me how you felt while going through treatment.Thank you

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  • rianne2580
    rianne2580 Member Posts: 191
    edited April 2011

    I plan to refuse rads (DCIS). I had a RMX and a few cells somehow got near the skin, not the chest wall. Docs said they've never seen anything like that. I personally do not feel radiation vs SE will help me. Many people go through rads with no problem, no SE. Just knowing the lung, heart, broken ribs and skin infection possibilities was enough. And the SE you can get later, possible cancer. I suggest you research rads as much as you can. Find every article and study and read about it. Some people have no problem. Others have huge problems.

    Good luck in your treatment, I'm sure you'll do fine.

    Rianne

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  • cmesker
    cmesker Member Posts: 6
    edited April 2011

    I had a lumpectomy on April 14 and will be starting rads the second week of May.  My surgeon said she liked 3 weeks for healing time before starting rads.  Since I haven't started the therapy yet I can't tell you anything about that, but my mom went through it 3 years ago and she said the only discomfort she had was a little tenderness in the breast area and fatique about half way through treatment.  Good luck to you!

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  • AlohaGirl
    AlohaGirl Member Posts: 213
    edited April 2011

    I had a lumpectomy about 2 years ago and started radiation about 3 or 4 weeks after.  I tolerated the radiation quite well.  Some redness and soreness but very manageable.  I also had some issues with fatigue.  Again, manageable, but I had to work late one night and I was exhausted for a couple of days afterwards.  Definitely good to be aware of how your body is reacting and give yourself a break as needed.  Good luck!

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  • CTMOM1234
    CTMOM1234 Member Posts: 633
    edited April 2011

    I had my lumpectomy in January and rads started in March -- believe 4-6 weeks is the preference between the surgery and start of rads (I had a little detour of a few extra weeks because I was sent for a sentinel node biopsy after the final path. report showed a teeny idc).

    Rads were fine for me, the mental worry was certainly far worse than the physical, and I so vey vey glad that I did them. I consider the zaps as an excellent insurance policy, and I most certainly preferred having a lumpectomy w/ rads over a mastectomy, but each of us must make the right decision for ourselves. My rad treatments were on my left side, and was happy that my dr. allowed them in the prone (face down) position which is considered safer for the heart.

    Good luck, you'll be through before you know it. 

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  • Dabulls23
    Dabulls23 Member Posts: 30
    edited April 2011

    I had lumpectomy last july & aug 2010...Started myt higher doze of 6 wks radiation in 4 wks..Last 4 days for the booster in 2nd wk of sept 2010..Atleast 4-5 wks after 2nd wide excession surgery..I took surgery and radiation ok...But hell broke lose 6 wks after i started my 5 yrs meds "Arimidex"  I had all the SE of meds SEVERE..Off the meds since Dec 21st 2010..Will be trying new meds a-o July 2011...If this does not help and end up having same SEs than I will leave it to fate and god...I rather die of cancer when ever that happens VS dying of heart attack or stroke...

     Good luck with your treatment..God bless and lots of warm hugz

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  • cycle-path
    cycle-path Member Posts: 1,502
    edited April 2011

    I had Intraoperative Radiation Therapy (IORT), in which the radiation is delivered during the surgery. After that, you're done! IORT is not available everywhere, but you might try to find out if you can get it in your area. I recommend it highly if you can get it and if you're considered a good candidate.

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  • Elizabeth37
    Elizabeth37 Member Posts: 84
    edited April 2011

    I want to thank you all for your help and God Bless you and your family

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  • gymnut
    gymnut Member Posts: 37
    edited April 2011

    If you're still looking for info., I had my second surgery (re-excision) end of January and will be done w/ rads in 2 weeks (Yippee)!!! I think it's been much more metally exhausting than anything else, just really everything hitting me & wanting to be done.  There is  redness and tenderness but doc says I'm tolerating it quite well.  I would definitely recommend really being diligent w/ the creams and lotions, though.  I put stuff on at least 3-4x/day & rad onc thinks it really helps.  I started w/ aloe w/ some calendula in it & now use aloe in the morning & usually aquaphor or something silimar at night.

    Good luck.  There's a light at the end of the tunnel, this too shall pass & all that stuff. I also like my doc & the rad therapists have all been very nice & sensitive, play music every day all day, ask if I'm okay, etc. & also have a sense of humor, & I find all of it helps.

    Take care.

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  • Elizabeth37
    Elizabeth37 Member Posts: 84
    edited April 2011

    thank you so much gymnut.yes i know what you mean that you just want it all to end,And I havent even started I am so happy you are almost done that is great good luck to you

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  • dsj
    dsj Member Posts: 277
    edited April 2011

    I had radiation and boost after lumpectomy. I had absolutely no side effects from the radiation, except a very slight pink skin at the end. I never considered not doing radiation; the chance to cut my recurrence risk in half was too important to miss. Except for having to drive to the facility every day, I thought radiation was the easiest part of the whole ordeal. Adjusting to tamoxifen has been more challenging. But I promised my husband and my oncologist I would commit to six months of tamoxifen and by the time that happened, most of the side effects had abated. I am grateful I had access to such good care.

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  • pinkcandy001
    pinkcandy001 Member Posts: 54
    edited April 2011

    To Dabulls: Click had the same problems as u.

    Lumpectomy 19.12.2010. 3 weeks rad. Drank plenty of water, got tired because of the long journey (200 miles daily) to rads each day. Slight redness of breast, make sure u moisture the breast well, it does get dry.  I completed rads 25.2.2011, and managed to catch a chill which developed into a ear, eye, throat virus and was really sick. Mind u I was by then very mentally, physically exhausted.  I am still getting tired now and it has been 2 1/2 months now. Seems to be if i do to much, not every day, it it like complete exhaustion and u feel u just have to go to bed to sleep. My doctor advised me to listen to my body, if i begin to get tired, sit down, rest. I started tamo day after rads as i was not told when to start. 3 weeks into tamo terrible dry skin, peeling hands, heels cracked and bleeding, vag dryness was so bad it was agonising, especially at night and drove me crazy.  Back to onco last week, quality of life is more important.  Waiting on bloods re hormone level for post meno. Trying Arimidex and pray that everything works better on this.

    I have been told by onco that i have a 4% chance of recurrence.  I had 2 small IDC 1. 3mm (1mm spread) grade 2.   2. 4mm (10mm spread) grade 1 both ductual and had no tissue spread. Nodes clear.

    The onco has said if i dont take to H. Therapy i can come off it, but i am worried about the 4% chance.  I dont think i could go through H. Therapy for 5 years with all the problems which are terrible.  Any advice, or has anyone opted out of H. Therapy who has same.

    Pinkie

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