Breast Cancer and Radiation

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bonniejeane
bonniejeane Member Posts: 1
edited June 2014 in Radiation Therapy - Before, During, and After

I am very new to this and have been given a choice of external or balloon internal radiation.  From what I have read so far, I think I would prefer the extrernal. Even though the internal type would be faster, I don't want to have anymore problems when it's all done.  Would someone like to share their story about the external radiation treatment? I know what side effects to expect, but I'm not sure if you have had any of the same problems that the women who had the balloon internal radiation had.  Thank you in advance.

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  • Valgirl
    Valgirl Member Posts: 187
    edited August 2011

    Some have done well with the internal radiation.  I had the external IMRT (more targeted) and did fine.  Ask lots of questions.

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  • bevin
    bevin Member Posts: 1,902
    edited August 2011

    HI Bonniejean, I had external rads.  I was also offered originally the balloon type and my oncologist suggested against it.  I had a small second site of cancer in my breast near the main tumor. With the balloon radiation, small growths like this can by missed. With whole breast radiation, you will have rads to the entire breast tissue to cover off little things that may be lurking and not yet visible on Mammo and MRI. 

    I had 38 radiation treatements, the last 8 were boosts.  The radiation is fine. Its daily and a bit of a grind depending on your drive to the radiation oncologist. It goes by fast. Probably the worst thing was fatigue that set in toward week 4. Other than that, most people don't have very bad skin reactions. My skin turned brown but never burned. I moisturized after rads and before bed as suggested with Lindi cream. You may find the room to be a bit odd the first day as you're in there yourself. The radiation machine rotates around you. Its not like a cat scan or MRI.   You are totally in the open room not enclosed in the machine.. It is very doable.

    Good luck on your choice and I am sure others will be along soon to chime in with their thoughts.

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

    There's a third kind, which is a one-dose internal. It has almost none of the side effects the other two have. It's called IORT.

    breastcanceriort.org 

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  • Megadotz
    Megadotz Member Posts: 302
    edited August 2011

    FWIW, some insurers, consider IORT  "experimental  and investigational" for breast cancer and don't cover it.  The review date on the Aetna clincal policy review is 12/10/2010.

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