Accelerated Partial Breast Radiation method
I had a lumpectomy with SNB a month ago. Negative nodes. My RO offered me three choices - APBI (twice a day for one week), the Canadian protocol (4 weeks) or what he called the "gold standard" of six weeks whole breast radiation.
I'm leaning toward APBI, but have more questions for my next meeting with the RO. I haven't found any comments on this board from anyone who has had this option using either 3D conformal or intensity modualted radiotherapy. I need to ask my RO if it will be 3D conformal, IMRT or both. The center offers both and their website mentions that they sometimes use them together, and the center also is running a clinical trial comparing them.
I know ABPI is still in clinical trials. My RO said predicted outcomes for me are very similar among the three choices - it's a matter of preference based on length of radiation, the question of commuting to the center twice a day for a week vs. once a day for four or six weeks, etc.
My MO expressed much more enthusiasm for APBI than my RO did - he didn't seem to want to influence me among the three. She (the MO) said if I have the APBI, I have the option of radiation in the same breast again if it recurs. That wasn't the only point she mentioned, but I don't remember hearing that from the RO.
Any input about these options would be welcomed!
Comments
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Hi Bedness, welcome to Breastcancer.org! We're so glad you've joined our community.
Until you get responses from other community members here, you might want to make a search to find find other threads discussing this type of radiation. On the left hand side of this page, you will see a blue box, and a line that says "SEARCH." If you click on that, and type in "3D conformal" (without the quotes) in the box that comes up, you will see a number of posts where those words have been mentioned.
Also, you may find some helpful information on this pages of our Research News section:
Three Types of Partial Breast Irradiation Have Similar Outcomes
Many Women Treated With Brachytherapy Aren't Good Candidates
Partial-Breast Radiation Offers Survival, Recurrence Rates Similar to Whole-Breast Radiation After Lumpectomy
Hope this helps!
The Mods
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Bumping for more responses from our wonderful members!
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Thank you, Mods. My question is somewhat moot now because my RO told me insurance won't cover the IMRT on the right side. So it will be 3D conformal. I will have the gold seeds placed next week and will start the week of radiation on May 9.
The RO doesn't expect me to have many side effects as far as fatigue or skin problems, but he said to allow a few days after the treatment is finished to recover. I'd be interested in hearing what side effects others who have had ABPI have experienced.
I appreciate the info on searching for relevant posts and the articles on the site are very helpful.
Debbie
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