APBI, Brachytherapy - anyone?

I had the Savi catheters placed last wednesday.  Except for the bulkyness under my arm from the gause I don't feel any other discomfort.  I start my rads on Monday.  I also have to take an antibiotic 3x a day to prevent infection.  So far so good.  I hope this continues. 

Has anyone experienced nausea after treatment?

I had no side effects.  I was able to go to the movies, spend time at a state park and go out to dinner.  Its not a walk in the park but it is definitely doable.  Keep in mind 5 days and you are done!  You may have drainage.  Mine was minimal but another woman that was having the same treatment had a lot of dranage.  Also if you have trouble sleeping, build a cocoon of pillows all around you and sleep slightly inclined.  It definitely helped me.  The bad part is that you can't shower.  I don't want to see or smell another baby wipe again!

Yes.  I was not allowed to touch my dressing.  I brought a clean bra with me each morning.  The techs took off my bra, cleaned the site, changed the gauze and dressed me in my clean bra.  I was told if the drainage seeps through, I should place another gauze on top of the others.  I also bought sport bras that was bigger in the band.  I am normally a size 38 so I bought 2 sport bra's size 42 to allow for swelling and gauze.  I am glad I did because with everything, I defintely used the extra band width.  I also brought my baby wipes with me so I could clean my cleavage and under my breasts.  Let me know how you make out.

I just completed interstitial multi-catheter brachytherapy.  It was no walk in the park but I would do it over again if I had to.  The position of my tumors (I had three in the same area) and my heart made it almost impossible for external beam radiation to miss my heart.  I went to Arizona and the guy who originated the procedure in Lousianna, then took it to Wisconsin.  He is now in Scottsdale and the whole process felt more like a medical spa than a medical treatment.  Everything was arranged for the comfort of the patient.  But make no mistake, this is a serious procedure best done by an expert.  If you are considering this treatment find out how many procedures have been done by the radiologist before committing.  If you can afford ten days away from home, RUN to Arizona.  Your surgeon can consult and send info prior to your travelling to make sure you fit the protocols.  My own docs were not in favor initially but were very enthusiastic when I returned and they observed the results.

I was diagnosed mid-july, had surgery august 3rd and am due to start brachytherapy on the 19th.  Am having interstitial catheters placed on the 15th,  

I live in AZ and am fortunate enough to be going to the same place that GoddessP went to..... just hope I have the same good fotrune and get this over with.  Glad to hear you speak so highly of them!!

Will probably meet with a MO the week I have my radiation treatments since his office is just around the corner from where I'm having the radiation.

Had the interstital APBI towards the end of september... chatted with Kuske the while he was placing them and felt absolutely no pain at all.  During the week of treatments, a few of the sites started bothering me basically when the attached and disconnected the guides from the after-loader but on a scale of 10, I would say the pain was a 3 and tylenol was all I needed.

Due to the radiation, just about all of the scarring from my surgery is gone!  Kinda wished they could have hit the SN scar a few times while I was there. 

No antiobiotics needed and the care from the nurses in cleaning 2x day and putting some extra gauze around a few of the more sensative the sites kept the redness down between treatments.

Am now 2 1/2 mos since radiation and almost 3 weeks on arimidex (generic) and doing great!!

Would be more than happy to "speak" with anyone that wants info about brachytherapy and APBI and the Az Breast Cancer group.  Kuske was the doctor who trains most of the doctors around the US as well as from outside the US on these type of treatments and was the guy who invented the SAVI.

I am now a year out after recieving my SAVI brachytherapy radiation treatment.  I am happy to report today breast looks pretty normal with the exception of light scar where my lumpectomy occured.  I had some breast pain for the first 9 months after treatment.  My Radiologist said it was all part of the healing process.  I now graduated to seeing him once a year. 

I am also a year into taking Femara.  I will continue taking Femara for another 4 years.  My side effects have been minimal.  I visit my Onc every three months.  So far so good. 

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