Mammosite: Pro's & Con's?????

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  • peachy-pie
    peachy-pie Member Posts: 201
    edited July 2011

    Not much sleep last night,  feeling very sore and uncomfortable.   :(       Hopefully this week will go by fast.    Tylenol doesn't help much. 

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  • ritaz
    ritaz Member Posts: 186
    edited July 2011

    peachy-pie:  Sorry you couldn't sleep well last night...When I had the mammosite balloon in me, I found that extra strenghth Motrin was helpful...Also, I took a bath every day taking care that I didn't get the insertion site wet (and washing my hair too).  Also, I'm sure you're on an antibiotic?  My BS put me on one from the day of surgery until the end of the balloon being removed.  I never had any infection issues.  Yes, it's a bit uncomfortable - and there's this whole to-do when you go for the procedure (2X day X5 days) to apply dressings to that area - but well worth it.  I've had both types of rads:  Mammosite and Whole Breast...Mammosite is a walk in the park in comparison - glad you are a candidate!  I've had CA twice and neither time did I have chemo.  Lucky, lucky girl that I am...I tell people that I'm the Poster Child for early detection...

    Please feel free to PM me if you just want to "talk"...

    Rita

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  • elimar86861
    elimar86861 Member Posts: 7,416
    edited July 2011

    As I wrote long ago (before this thread got "revived,") the Contura balloon was very uncomfortable to me.  Like having a ping pong ball under my skin.  I actually had to use hydrocodone a few times before it was taken out.

    Btw, the contura balloon is made of a firmer material than the Mammosite one.

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

    peachy-pie -- When I have pain in the evening I take Advil PM. It has something in it that helps you sleep. Once I took two of them and slept for about 24 hours!

    It's a long story, but although I didn't have Mammosite I did have a temporary balloon in place for 24 hours. I too found it uncomfortable but I'm with RitaZ -- better the discomfort of Mammosite for a short while than whole breast radiation. I think in the long run you will be VERY glad you chose this option.  

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  • peachy-pie
    peachy-pie Member Posts: 201
    edited July 2011

    Had a dry run with the radiologist yesterday and found out I do not have a mammosite catheter,  I have what they call Savi catheters.     I actually have 11 little catheters under my arm,  no wonder it feels so bulky and is sore.   It kind of pulls when you move certain ways and can be uncomfortable.   I was told it's shaped loike a football and is more accurate and affective then mammosite,  and this is what more doctors are using now.    Smile

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