How long after mastectomy to start radiation?

Options
CassieCat
CassieCat Member Posts: 1,257
edited February 2015 in Radiation Therapy - Before, During, and After

What is the typical time between have a mastectomy and beginning radiation? I'd love to hear your experiences. I'm finishing chemo next month and my BS told me it would be roughly 4 weeks of recovery time before surgery. But I don't know what to expect after that. Any shared experiences would be welcome. Thank you!

Edited to add that I did see 3-6 weeks in this article.

· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • Kicks
    Kicks Member Posts: 4,131
    edited November 2014

    We are all different!  As is our TX plan often.  Not all types of BC have the same protocol.

    For me - I had UMX 2 weeks after neoadjuvant chemo.  Started adjuvant chemo 3 weeks later.  1 week after last adjuvant, I started rads.  A week after starting rads, started Femara.

    Bottom line is there are no "One Size Fits  All".

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • CassieCat
    CassieCat Member Posts: 1,257
    edited November 2014

    I hope I didn't give the impression that I thought there was one set path. I know that there isn't. :) I was merely trying to start to get a sense of what I might expect, now that I'm nearing the end of chemo and starting to look ahead to the next parts of this journey. Thank you for sharing your experiences.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • DaLyA08
    DaLyA08 Member Posts: 4
    edited November 2014

    Hi CassieCat,

    It has been 8 weeks since my surgery, and I have not had any radiation therapy yet. I was supposed to start 4 weeks after my surgery, but due to complications with my incision, which had to be restitched I will be having my first session on November 18. I asked a friend of mine who is an oncologist and he told me it can be done within 4 to 8 weeks. I guess the standard time is 4 weeks. I guess the sooner the better, but in my particular case, i had to wait until the scar was completely healed.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Miscraw
    Miscraw Member Posts: 45
    edited December 2014

    I was told 2-3 weeks after chemo to start rads.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Spookiesmom
    Spookiesmom Member Posts: 9,568
    edited December 2014

    I think it was 4-5 weeks for me

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • CassieCat
    CassieCat Member Posts: 1,257
    edited January 2015

    I still don't have a date yet to start - in fact, I don't know for sure yet what I'll need, but I should know more by the end of the week.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • CassieCat
    CassieCat Member Posts: 1,257
    edited January 2015

    It looks like the earliest I'll start will be one month after surgery, though I don't have a start date yet.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Evilmidget
    Evilmidget Member Posts: 40
    edited February 2015

    I'll be starting radiation on Feb. 23rd, four weeks after my MX. Next week is a DEXA scan, the week after I get the tattoos/CT scan etc. Then it starts.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • CassieCat
    CassieCat Member Posts: 1,257
    edited February 2015

    I had my CT scan yesterday, which is almost 4 weeks post MX. They said my first treatment will be 7-10 days from that. So we're looking at 5-5.5 weeks post MX before rads start.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Jmo06
    Jmo06 Member Posts: 159
    edited February 2015

    hey Cassiecat moms surgery was Jan 21st we have consult w/radiation doc on Feb 23rd

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories