INSOMNIACS place to talk in the wee hours

Boyd--I was pre-menopausal before Dx and mine showed up. As did my numerous non-cancerous fibroid cysts. They are, however, easier to see on an ultrasound. As for the pain, I didn't have it with the mammogram but after my lumpectomy. The nerves in the breast tend to fan out from the nipple area so they might have hit one when they did your biopsy.

Jazzy--thanks. I'm anxious for it to be done but also a little leery because some friends that have had it said it was worse on them than the chemo. One friend had to be hospitalized with cellulitis. Kaiser doesn't even have a RO in my area so they referred me out to local group. What was the name of type of radiation that you had? The RO they're referring me to also uses something called Mammosite and "Contura by SenoRx" as well as traditional radiation but I'm not sure what my insurance covers.

Marlanab- Mammosite is similar to what I did, it is another type of internal radiation. If you can do this versus external, I highly recommend it. Women who have early bc (you are stage 1A like I was) and without node involvement (also appears to be your case) are usually who they do recommend it for. Far easier on the body, less rads to the chest wall. My BS has almost all her early bc dx patients do it (I had to go to AZ for it, but think they are starting to do it here more in my city). It was still sort of cutting edge when I did it in 2013, but is becoming more and more available now. You might want to ask about that too where you live, sometimes it is only available in the larger cities/cancer center. But you should be able to find someone in LA who does it. I had BSBC when I went through treatment (still have it now too) and they paid for it.

I did a lot of research on this and talked to two different RO's before I decided whether to do internal vs. external rads so PM me if you want to chat after you have your consult.

Sas--this one?

http://www.hngn.com/articles/117512/20150809/breast-cancer-patients-who-receive-shorter-courses-radiation-better-quality.htm

Boyd: another "I'm pre-menopausal and all my mammograms showed calcifications and lumps." Though debiann's right; the different tests show different things.

This is what they look like, inflated... The tubes hang out of your breast, and you hold them down with this "sleeve" they put on you. But it's only for awhile.... It's all worth it!

Just ask about this type of Radiation........

Good morning ladies- getting my day going here and reading about your internal rads postings, comments and questions.

Sassy- I definitely think the internal rads is the way to go to help minimize SEs and give the best chance to long term quality of life. Given my more complex case at the time of dx, my doctors felt I would not get my energy back if I did anything different. I had two major surgeries (open abdominal and breast surgery) six weeks apart, and the rads to the chest wall would have tanked me. I found the rads to be the easiest part of my treatment between surgery and the AIs. I do feel any woman who is offered this should discuss it thoroughly with her medical team. It is important to note, they usually won't offer it to women who have node involvement> However, I talked to a woman on this site whom went to do the same treatment on a tumor found in one of her armpit nodes at the same place I did did my treatment in AZ. So perhaps there is more clinical data to support that location now too. When I say node involvement, I was told no node involvement from the biopsy of the sentinel nodes.

A couple years ago when I went through this kind of treatment, there were studies being done on internal rads effectiveness short and long term. With reoccurrence, quality of life, etc. My BS told me with my every early bc that was small and slow growing, their goal was to treat it without over treating me. I was 52 at dx, and she said we need to be sure we don't take away your quality of life for the next 30 years. Because it was not considered standard of care at that time, I had to sort through that. I got two different opinions, talked to the RO on the phone in AZ who ultimately did my treatment, and did a consult with an RO here in my city at one of the local cancer centers. There have been more studies since that suggest this really does work to help improve quality of life as well as to treat early cancer. There are other studies that say sometimes women find themselves with a mastectomy in the area longer term. But that can be true with external rads too. It is far more accepted now than it was a few years ago.

Benefits: shorter treatment time, less exterior damage to the breast skin, less exposure to the chest wall, heart and lungs. Quicker recovery.

Downside: You may need to go outside the area where you live to do this, but because it is a shorter cycle of treatment, you can get through it. Less long term clinical data around this than external rads (like 30 or more years). I also have a lot of scar tissue from both the surgery and rads, but that is better with time. I do my follow ups every 6 months with mammos and ultrasounds.

Marlanab- here is a video on internal rads, that includes the kind I had (multi-cather) and the kind that is being discussed with you (balloon or mammosite). This will give you a good sense of the difference, the pros and cons, and what this looks like to the person actually having the procedure.

I know you are doing chemo, but don't see any positive nodes in your footer (there may be other reasons you were recommended to do chemo), so you may have a good chance here to be a good candidate. I think after chemo, internal rads should be way easier for you. Given you work, it will help you to keep going with your job. I just worked remote for my client when I had to go out of state but was able to get back to work the week after treatment. Yes, I was tired, but really from everything.

Internal Rads Link

I hope this is helpful to everyone here who is interested to know!

Susan- my recent yoga festival reminded me that our body is constantly detoxing through not only our digestive system, but also through our skin and breath. Perhaps some of the toxins your body has in excess from chemo are coming out at night. After a few days, that airs out? Just a thought.

Jazzy..... good post! Imagine what they thought when they saw ME! They probably thought "isn't she too old to get breast cancer?" I'm surprised she can still stand! Ha!

Also Sass.... So they saw me in the Dentist's chair? Ha! I never thought of doing THAT one, when I was younger.... and I wouldn't do it now.... It's just too hard picking your Dentist up off the floor in a dead faint..... with my blouse un-bottoned.

I will never ever watch anything or read anything about anyone connected with the Kardashians including whatever her new name is.

Tang - I'm with you sister. My porch reads 103 already. Geesh. Just took dog out for potty break and right back inside. One thing good, this heat has just about killed my appetite. Haven't had the oven on in over a week. Church sanctuary was freezing yesterday, wishing I'd brought a cardigan. Hope Missouri is cooler and a productive work time. I think I'd give a call to some higher up at the mammo center and let them know to take you off the mammo list and never send another letter.

I worked all the way thru rads, traditional rads. Reported at 0730 and was on the work clock by 8. Only a few knew I even was doing it, mostly the on call overnight nurse. I had some nip stuff going on at the end but no breaks, no holidays, M-F for 33 tx. I have no idea how close lumpy was to chest wall. Not offered brachytherapy, but I do see by his resume one of the ROs where I went does do that. I really asked few questions, trusted my RO, she was wonderful. Wishing so much she was a MO rather than a RO.

Susan3: Oh, I'm sure she could come up with a few more questions!