Radiation or not.

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JudyKRN
JudyKRN Member Posts: 45
edited July 2016 in Stage IV/Metastatic Breast Cancer ONLY

Soooo, I have been having aching pains and some tingling, radiating down my right arm (tumor is in right axilla) for about 2 weeks. It comes and goes but I can't sleep on my side at night, I need to sleep on my back with my head elevated on several pillows. My Oncologist says it's from the disease and referred me to the radiologist. But because I have arthritis throughout my body and I told the radiologist I have felt similar pain like this, when I didn't have cancer, he sent me for an MRI of the area. I saw the results today, on "my chart" And from what I can understand (I'm an RN but these readings can be daunting, for all of us) the impression is that the pain is being caused by BOTH the cancer and the arthritis. The radiologist had recommended 25 tx of radiation (lower dose of rads due to nerves and blood vessels at site, hence more time) depending on the MRI results. Now, I am not keen on 5 weeks of radiation. I was thinking more like 3 weeks. We have so much traveling planned and I hate to kiss the rest of the summer goodbye. Quality of life and all…..does anyone have any input or a similar situation as mine? THANKS!!!

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  • pajim
    pajim Member Posts: 2,785
    edited July 2016

    I don't have any medical advice (having no idea there), but what about postponing it until fall? You'd have to live with the pain in the meantime, but to me this is akin to the "tail wagging the dog". You should like your life first and fit your cancer treatment into it.

    Or in the immortal words of the 1980s Boston Red Sox fans, "don't ruin ma summa!"

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  • ibcmets
    ibcmets Member Posts: 4,286
    edited July 2016

    Judy,

    I've had spinal bone mets from the start. They only radiate when I'm in a lot of pain, but it worked for me. They did targeted radiation for 10 days 3 X to various spots on my spine.

    Terri

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  • Longtermsurvivor
    Longtermsurvivor Member Posts: 1,438
    edited July 2016

    Here's an interesting story by a woman with MBC who followed advice from the Choosing Wisely campaign and received only a single dose of radiation for painful bone mets.

    http://www.jhartfound.org/blog/adventures-in-choos...

    healing regards, Stephanie

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  • cb123
    cb123 Member Posts: 320
    edited July 2016

    Thank you Stephanie.

    Again, you're sharing excellent information that's just what I need.

    Thank you so very much.

    cb



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  • JudyKRN
    JudyKRN Member Posts: 45
    edited July 2016

    I saw the radiologist yesterday for my "planning session". I told him I didn't want 5 weeks of radiation. He said he had consulted with a colleague and the consensus was to only do 10. That made me very HAPPY! THANKS for all your support!


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