Fall 2012 Rads girls......come on in!

Junif,

I had asked about the Canadian when I first met with the RO but she politely did not steer me toward it or even discuss it much. I am not sure if she has 'done' a lot of them but I was strong about wanting to have the shortest therapy I could have as long as it was going to reduce the recurrence the same and of course studies have shown that Canadian is just an effective. What is it about the USA that we don't TRUST our northern neighbors to provide safe, effective and cost saving methods and FOLLOW them? They do cutting edge procedures and have cheaper meds and low cost health care. I have Canadian friend  who had BC and she was stunned that I had not been offered the Can. Protocol. I think we are whimps when it comes to change in this country.

I am sure you are correct about the money. I saw my RO for a short consultation after my initial visit with her and it cost over $250 for 10 minutes...JEEZ. Thank goodness for Medicare and my retiree supplemental.  I cannot even imagine how much the entire Rads therapy will cost and I would love to know 6 wk versus 3 week. I am going to ask the billilng/insurance person and see what she will tell me. I did find this even though its a few years old.  "Early-stage breast cancer patients who receive a more intensive course of radiation to their whole breast over three weeks is as effective as the standard, less intensive five-week whole breast radiation and offers patients more convenience at a lower cost, thereby providing a better quality of life, according to a randomized, long-term study presented September 22, 2008, in the plenary session at the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology's 50th Annual Meeting in Boston. The cost of this shorter treatment, called accelerated hypofractionated whole breast irradiation, is two-thirds of the cost of the standard whole breast radiation. It is also less expensive then other new approaches such as partial breast irradiation."

Onward!

Terri

Terri:  I don't have an answer for your question.  I met with my MO last Tuesday and got the Oncotype score, (16) and she gave me the script for Tamoxifen right then and when I asked when to start, she said 'tonight'.  She knows I am having rads as she said that she would email my RO that I was good to go on rads.

I will be asking that question tomorrow at my sims appointment.  Boy, and I thought I had read all there was to read...

Terri, you really are low risk and glad that you have this option.  I would have done it too and thus the trial felt good as being part of something to help others down the road.  I had no fatigue and had some peeling underarm and the underboob at the end...but all healed up quickly and now 3 weeks done, can barely tell skin difference at all..and scar from lumpectomy barely noticeable now which I never expected but am happy.  Now starting on Arimidex ..as I am 53 and post menapause..so will see what SE I get to deal with next.

I have a question about the shorter Canadian protocol.  I thought it was 3 weeks but upon closer exam of  my schedule it shows 4 weeks. I will ask RO next time I see her but wondered if the extra 5 days was the Boost. Anyone have the Canadian with the extra week?

Terri

Hi ladies, thought I'd report on my radiated skin.  Last nuking was November 14..... sunburnt skin gone and now just slightly tanned... moisturize, moisturize and moisturize more.

Healing hugs to all xx

Andrea:  I was exactly the same - worst seemed to be a week to 10 days before final nuking... that for me was definitely the worst time.  Last week was when I noticed it getting better.    So I would gauge about 10 days after final one it hit its peak.  I am still moisturizing like crazy.  

Hang in there rad girls !

Hugs and love xxx

Thanks Tazzy. So, I can expect to feel worse before it gets better? Ugh, I cannot wait for this BC ride to be over!

Andrea, Tazzy is right regarding skin effects however the unfortunate part is that given your te's you'll probably have lots of tightness for a while. My last treatment was about 6 weeks ago and I still experience tightness to the point of being uncomfortable at times. I even feel it sometimes on the nonradiated side that also has a te. My PS said that its probably from swelling and/or tightening of the overlying muscles. Hopefully this won't happen to you but giving you a heads up.

I am still moisturizing at least 3 times per day and using a hydrocortizone cream my RO prescribed before I go to bed.  Until my skin looks anything like back to normal I will keep that up.    Still plenty of fluids too... keeps the body and therefore the skin hydrated.

I don't know of anything and my PS said that there's nothing I can do besides stretching and moisturizing. He said of course once the te's are removed then I'll get relief but for me that's another 4 months away. Unfortunately can't say it will resolve with time because that particular se is just getting worse so far.

Patti, congratulations! It's wonderful that you're done! What a great feeling that must be!

llr010200, the tightness won't go away till your exchange? That's disappointing! I'm still a long way out from having these turtle shells removed! Okay, I'll keep on stretching and mosturizing!

Loving, I am taking tamoxifen during rads because I took it earlier when I needed to take a break from chemo due to a bad drug reaction. I was told by MO that it was not always done, but ok because they already knew I tolerated tamoxifen ok.

I finished my rads on Nov . 6. The skin is healing well, but my boob is still quite warm to the touch. Did anybody else experience this? Does it cool off EVER? 

Also, I'm still kinda tired some days. Not ridiculously tired, but I need to manage my energy level or I poop out quickly. They did not give me chemo, so this is rads only. 

Thoughts? 

Hi Kimby, my radiated breast tissue was very tender for about 4 weeks after rads were done. It felt hard and warm. Things are starting to get back to normal now and my last rad on that breast was October 28 (or so). Everyone is different.

Aruba - I am in that group and thought I had posted there! Thanks for the encouragement.