Radiation Boost

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lindaonthelake
lindaonthelake Member Posts: 8
edited June 2014 in Radiation Therapy - Before, During, and After

Did anyone out there not receive the boost?  The Dr. said he didn't think I needed it but don't trust his judgement.  IDC, Stage 1, Grd 2, ER+; 0/3 lymphs....lumpectomy done (large as I had 2 places one was DCIS)....the margins were close.  Why not do a boost?  is the a problem with them.  I feel like my insurance is driving the decisions and they are hoping something else will kill me.

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  • IllinoisNative
    IllinoisNative Member Posts: 125
    edited July 2011

    I don't remember anyone saying I needed a boost, either.  I'm IDC, stage 2a, Grade 3, and 0/4 nodes.  I also had the lumpectomy and my margins were clear.  And I do trust my doctor.  Anyone want to enlighten me?  Do I need one?

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  • Omaz
    Omaz Member Posts: 5,497
    edited July 2011

    My BS and RO didn't give me a choice - boosts for me.

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  • spendygirl
    spendygirl Member Posts: 231
    edited July 2011

    Hi Linda.  Our stats are almost the same, my tumor was 1.8 cm.  I also had no choice on the boosts.  I had 26 full rads and 7 boosts.  All the best to you.

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  • LittleMelons
    LittleMelons Member Posts: 273
    edited July 2011

    Hi Linda, In my case, my tumour was very close to the chest wall - .3 mm (one third of a millimetre) so the RO said boosts were required.  I had eight. When you say that your margins were close, were any of them close to the chest wall?  That's definite indicator for boosts.  I am certainly not a medical professional, but I would also question the decision for no boosts if the margins are close.  Seek another opinion if you can.  Good luck!  Please keep us posted.

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  • lindaonthelake
    lindaonthelake Member Posts: 8
    edited July 2011

    I believe my tumor(s) were not close to the chest wall.  Also, one was DCIS and the other was only 5 mm....so your info helped.  Maybe due to the size, they are thinking no boost.  They want to do 28 whole breast rads and then I will do an AI.  I am going to ask questions and not leave until I get anwers this time.  Thanks

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  • AnneWisc
    AnneWisc Member Posts: 476
    edited July 2011

    These questions are so hard!  On the one hand, I'm sure your docs have some rationale for the treatment plan they came up with.  On the other hand, I'm not sure you'd agree with that rationale if you knew what it was.  

    Do ask lots of questions, and don't leave until you're satisfied.  You might trust your doctor more after you ask... he might respect you more! 

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  • CTMOM1234
    CTMOM1234 Member Posts: 633
    edited July 2011

    Interesting post, because I thought boost was standard if there was idc. I would definitely do more research on this, op. I found the boost zaps easy to take and really liked sticking it to bc.

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  • lindaonthelake
    lindaonthelake Member Posts: 8
    edited July 2011

    Thanks for reply.....Yes, he could be right but since the doctors have not explained anything to me (I am getting all my info from the path report) I guess I don't understand much.  When I see words like "high" grade; necrosis evident; margin = .4 mm....gosh, it looks chancy to me but then when you put that with a IDC that was 5 mm in size and a dcis then maybe it is OK.  I will see him on Wednesday.  

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  • stage1
    stage1 Member Posts: 475
    edited July 2011
    lindaonthelake:) I am with you!  Half the time I feel that I have no explanations for the path the doctors choose for us.  I, too, want reasons.  I guess they feel we will not understand, but each of us is different, and if we choose to be fully informed, we need the respect from our providers.  I have 7 rads left, five will be boosts.  After reading your situation, I am thinking, why do I need the boosts???  Really clear margins...etc.  I too got all my info off the path report.  But, ask the questions, and get the answers....
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  • GmaFoley
    GmaFoley Member Posts: 7,091
    edited July 2011

    linda: I'm not having boosts but the RO is doing a higher dose of radiation so I didn't have to have a boost.. He also said that being my margin was clear he didn't want to put me through stuff that was really unnecessary... But I did have a micrometases in one SN that was encapusulated and being I didn't need chemo, he radiated the lymph nodes just to be sure...I'm on 24/28 doses so far - Done this week.

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  • lindaonthelake
    lindaonthelake Member Posts: 8
    edited July 2011

    I plan to get more info.  I may not understand all but have questions about cancer cells outside the margin area.  From what I was told (from a oncology nurse who had bc) this type cancer acts like "buckshot" and the surgeon confirmed that.  Then the surgeon said that the radiation would "kill" any stray cancer cells that were left......so if that is the case then I wonder why cancer ever comes back.  I want to know if it is from the original tumor bed?  or from a more distant area....a cancer cell left behind?  I have so, so many questions .....I am not a person who will accept whatever doctors say without question.  Thanks for your reply.  

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