Spring 2014 Rads

My RO doesn't believe in the breathing technique.  Ever wonder how there are so many variations in radiation treatment?? How can they all be right? I would sure feel better if they could all agree on the "best" practice. 

is anyone else having prone (face down) radiation?  Seems to be the new thing.  I'll have five weeks face down and then the last week on my back for the boost.

MsJean63,  I have been using Aquaphore now for over 3 weeks. I have completed 17of 30.  I just take a small amount and rub my hands together then slather my breast.  I also use the leftover from my hands on my other breast and then my legs.  When i apply in the morning after rads i do put on a tee shirt just to protect my sweaters.  But even then they wash up fine.  I have not had any breakdown of the tissue yet, but do have an achy breast.  This is normal and was advised to take a pain reliever.  Everyone have a good day!

Macy, here is a list that LizzieK posted on the winter rads thread. I printed it out and took it with me when I went for my consult:

• What will be frequency and
  duration of treatment? (days per week for how many weeks)
• How long does each treatment take?
• Will you do the radiation with me lying on my back or my stomach?
• Is partial breast irradiation an option for me? If not, why?
• Is
  an accelerated schedule an option for me? If not, why?(On both of
  these if it is because they don't offer it you may wish to seek care
  elsewhere if you are a candidate - Stage 1 no nodes)
• How much radiation in total will I receive?
• What type of equipment will you be using? (IMRT, 3D)
• What will you do to minimize the amount of radiation to my heart (more
  of a concern if your cancer is on the left side, like mine)
• Do you utilize breath hold to minimize heart
  exposure?
• What is the risk of second primary tumor from the radiation?

• What are the possible side effects of
  each treatment option, both in the short term and the long term?
• What can be done to relieve the possible
  side effects? (burning, fatigue mostly)
• How will this treatment affect my daily
  life? Will I be able to work, exercise, and perform my usual activities?
• How long after treatment will I return
  to normal activities?
• What is the risk of recurrence if I don't get radiation versus if I do?
• What is the survival rate if I don't get radiation versus if I do?
• If I get radiation and then get another cancer in that breast I will have
  to have an mastectomy because you can't usually get radiated twice in
  the same area. There is a study showing that older woman may not need
  radiation (if early stage, no nodes). If I don't have radiation and it
  reoccurs I could then have a lumpectomy and radiation. Explain your
  rationale for doing radiation now?
• Will you be able to accommodate my schedule (work, travel time, etc.)

thegoddessjen,

I was suppose to only have radiation but in one of my nodes there was a 1mm cancer cell.  So now I am half way through chemo and will start radiation after that.

Glad to hear that you did not chose chemo!

Macy, you're welcome. I was overwhelmed before rads started too. It does get better

Hi ladies, I am 3 wks PFC and will have my RO planning on the 14th. Thanks for your helpful tips so far!

RO was initially thinking 30+ 3 boosts after my biopsy; surgery pathology changed to a lower grade; wondering if any of you are doing the shorter protocol and why your RO would recommend that vs the longer...

I want to get the best treatment and be aggressive, but don't want over-kill! My tumor was fairly close to my chest wall, but got clear margins.

Thanks in advance!

keepthefaith - any chance you're over 50?  The shorter protocol is becoming more the standard for women over 50 with clear nodes.  I was 45 at diagnosis which is shy my RO wants me to go with 30.

Although different RO's prefer different regiments, the real factor is the total amount of accumulated radiation that you receive.  I forget the technical term (greys?).  They recommend different amounts for different situations and then once the amount is determined, it can be delivered over a shorter or longer term.  Some RO's simply have a preference and some believe that skin reactions differ accordingly and some consider the convenience of treatments, etc.  Most studies that I have read find equal effectiveness in the short and long protocol.  And then boosts are an added consideration.  But a true comparison would take into account the, let's just say number of radiation measures, rather than the number of weeks that they are delivered in.

Another factor is whether or not the radiation is to the breast or to the chest wall.  So it is difficult to compare unless all factors are considered.  My RO states that boosts are not given to mx, but I have seen others receive boosts to their scars.  Guess we have to have some faith in our RO.  My RO is very highly regarded and the students state that they all compete to study under him.  But I feel that he is also very old school and would have provided me with the shorter protocol if I had insisted, but he was more comfortable with the traditional longer protocol.  At that point I was so exhausted from all the research and decisions, that I left that one up to him.

Ann:  I have had no difficulty with going "free" during radiation treatment.  But the other one is quite small, so that helps.  I am wearing cotton cami's.  Some have a bit more support than others.  I have found that others do not notice.  Some of the teens I work with "sneak a peek".  They are so sweet about it and try to be so inconspicuous.  I am touched that they even care to try be discreet rather than blurting out some crude comment        

Pam, sorry to hear about your MIL. Good luck on Monday!

Phebe, I was really nervous about starting rads too. Maybe it's the fear of the unknown. I just finished my second week, and so far it's going good. The drive is a bit exhausting but not as bad as TB's. Congratulations on being done with chemo!!!

Hey Phebe38,

Sorry you have to travel away from your home for rad tx, hopefully you are with family or friends. I went today for a mock radiation scan to check if all their calculations etc are correct. It was a bit weird having the scanner move around me and see the red laser crosshairs on my chest. I had never imagined that I would be going through this. Nothing hurt, but it was a bit sad to me. On a more humorous note, I felt like I was in the basement in the movie War of the Worlds with Tom Cruise, as the aliens scanned the basement looking for humans.  

We made it through the surgery and the chemo, we'll make it through the rad tx. One day at a time.

I also am Her2 positive and had my herceptin small doses with my taxol, and now I've had two full doses of herceptin. The first infused over 1 hour, the second  time, infusion was only 30 mins. I've had muscle and joint pain since second. I'm going to ask for slower infusions next time to see if that helps. Just an FYI for you.

TB, SE aren't too bad. I'm sleepy a lot which is good for me, because I typically can't sleep at night. Hurts just a tad when I breathe in a bit, and I've developed a bit of a dry cough - started this morning. No skin issues at all. A little sore inside where I get radiated, but not too bad at all. Finished 9/31 today. How are your SE's?

Slow:  I did not think that I was experiencing any fatigue, but after getting home today after treatment, I went for a nap and slept for three hours.  Very unlike me, but I woke up and felt great.  My skin is slightly red with one spot a bit itchy.  Hoping it holds up for 14 more zaps!