How many weeks of radiation?

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I wanted to do the shorter version of rads too, but my RO said no because I had had chemo. I looked at the studies and I believe it has not been studied for women who have chemo. Curious what your RO will say. I'm not 1a so that might make a difference.

I had 19 rounds and it was so easy. No side effects.

I am pretty sure I did 33 rounds of rads with 5 of them being boosts to the tumour site. I also used a bolus the entire time. I was doing well until about the last 2 wks ...it really wasn't easy...but a year later and my skin is great. The one complaint is the tattoo in the middle of my chest that my DH says looks like a blackhead..yay. I think I want to change it into a heart...

I did the Canadian protocol of 16 hypofractionated (extra-strength) treatments, but based on a just-completed study in which my RO participated, for node-negative small (<1.5cm) Luminal A tumors in women >60 yrs. old, they were all to just the tumor bed and a small area around it. In effect, they were all “boosts.” I had some reddening and enlargement of the mammary seroma, plus some fibrosis over the seroma, but no other side effects. No itching, irritation, broken skin or even fatigue.

Hi ChattyKat, How far is it to the nearest (NCI) center? It might help you to get a second opinion. That might help confirm your local RO's recommendation or lead you to a new center. I would also be uncomfortable with an RO who seems to have a monopoly in the area. I know nefarious, greedy people are out there in the cancer world but don't believe there are many of them. I feel lucky I have so many choices here and have never felt any of my docs were in it for the $$. Keep us posted.

I live in a semi-rural area and the closest radiation center/location is a 45 minute drive from me. For this reason, I wanted the Canadian shorter protocol, as I planned to (and did) work through radiation, and doing all of that driving back and forth especially in winter (heavy, dangerous fog is an issue around here in winter) just did not appeal..I just don't drive that much (my work commute is 4 miles, I could even walk it if I were ambitious). When I asked my MO and RO about it they expressed doubt as to whether I would be an appropriate candidate. However, my RO, while still in a small town, had an affiliation with a large center (Stanford) and said he would run it by the entire Stanford Rads Board after doing the sim, getting x-rays, sharing my charts with them. End result: the board gave their ok to the shorter protocol and we did it.

I did reasonably well, but I did have rather bad skin peeling and burning. I was amazed at how quickly it healed once rads stopped, however. And, even with only three weeks of awful driving, I decided that it was as good an excuse as any to treat myself to a new car...:)

So, I agree with those that recommend you seek a second opinion at a NCI Center if at all possible. Knowing that the experts at Stanford were on board with the decision gave me peace of mind.

Octogirl

I did 25 rads - no boosts. Am Stage IIIc IBC so a very different DX.

We are each so unique! For me, the 4 neoadjuvant DD A/C were easy - did not slow me down at all. The Neulasta shots were no problem at all - only reaction from them was, that almost to the minute, 2 hrs after the injection I would go to sleep for 2 hrs. 2 weeks after last A/C, I had UMX followed in 3 weeks with 12 weekly Taxol. The Taxol was NASTY - I was utterly and completely EXHAUSTED the entire time. A week after last Taxol, I started rads and felt better every day. I had no skin issues during rads just a very slight pink after number 24. Unfortunately, though, the day after last (25th) rad, the entire area (mid-chest around to back and up side of neck). that had been irradiated was blistered - from then on it got worse. (Have the scars to prove it .). What finally healed it was Domeboro soaks. Last Rad was in early March and last scab finally came off on June 29.

If you don't trust your Dr find another one!

How long a port remains in place is as much a personal choice as a medical need for most. Personal I prefer to keep my 'Little Soldier standing guard and ready for battle if needed' (my port) as it has for 7+ yrs. For me, it is a positive 'just in case'.

I actually got the treatment options from two ROs. The first RO I was seen by suggested a shorter treatment protocol (20), and the second a longer treatment protocol (33). Of course I then asked my MO for advice and was told to follow the longer course. I have just begun the radiation treatments and I already wish I had gone with the shorter protocol. The MO said two things about the decision -- the shorter protocol doesn't have as much data based on the fewer number of studies because of a shorter history, and since the radiation dosage per session is stronger in the shorter protocol there would likely be stronger side effects. I am having to go through the breath hold process during treatment (left breast radiation can cause lung and heart damage so the breathing technique is used to lessen the radiation to these organs) and this is making me really annoyed.

Hi all, I wanted the shorter course also, but my RO was uncomfortable with that as I'd had chemo. He said there haven't been studies including those who've had chemo (I think that's correct, from my on-line research). I'm 11/30 done today and no skin effects. I do have a dry cough which they do think is from the rads. (internal mammmaries, center of chest and high). Looking forward to being done by Christmas as someone else said! We have a 3 day trip to Old Quebec planned right after I'm done.

ChattyKat, can you post the reference to this article? I am not sure why the RO I am using decided to use the longer treatment plan. I am wondering if it is due to the fact that the tumor didn't respond to the chemotherapy I received neo-adjuvantly. I asked the radiation techs today what the dosage and fraction was for my treatment plan and was kind of shocked to hear that the cumulative dose will be 61 Gy (25 treatments at 1.8 Gy, and 8 boosts at 2 Gy). I plan on asking about this when I see him again next week. In the meantime I am struggling to cope with the time between the daily imaging done to position me and the start of the actual radiation dose. The deep inspiration breath hold technique in itself isn't bad, but laying flat on my back in a cold room on a cold table while staying completely still for what seems like an eternity with all the breathing apparatus is making me lose my mind and get very angry. Add in the extra 13 visits this treatment plan offers and you get a picture of how wild I am at the end of each treatment.

I am looking forward to hearing what option(s) you were offered.

I am triple negative ILC and had 4 ACs and 12 Taxols, just finished the rads. I had a 2cm tumour, a lumpectomy with clear margins and no lymph node involvement, grade 3, stage 1. I was given 16 rads and told that they are equivalent to having 33 due to the fact that they are slightly stronger but at the end of it you get the same amount of radiation, it is just more convenient to only have 16. I had no side effects. I have been attending a very up to date hospital that keeps abreast of all the research and have been told that 16 is now being given to all radiation patients. It is not any less effective than having 33 rads. So if you get 4 weeks of a slightly lesser strength for each treatment and it equals the same radiation in the end as the 3 weeks one then you will end up with the same treatment, but it will just be less convenient for you to have to do 4 weeks as opposed to 3 weeks.