Partial Breast Radiation vs Full Breast Radiation

Hi Dianeeo. I decided to go with the Accelerated Partial Breast Irradiation treatment (ACCEL Trial), which is 5 treatments in 5 days, with a stronger dose of radiation. I did a lot of research on it, talked to a radiation therapist every day for a week, asking him numerous questions regarding this treatment. Not everyone is offered it, you have to have the right pathology report that meets their requirements, mainly being low risk of an reoccurrence. In my case, I had Grade 1, Stage 1, tumor was less than 1 cm, clear margins and clear lymph nodes. I also have a heart condition, mitral-valve prolapse, so would like to avoid any radiation that would come near my heart, since my breast cancer is on the left side. The 16 treatments on full breast is done to a fairly large area. The 5 treatments just radiates the area where the cancer was as well as a 7 mm margin outside that area. Most cancers that come back to the breast occur in the same area as the previous one. My OR felt that the 5 would be the right treatment for me as did the radiation therapist. The women who have chosen this treatment in this area have be very satisfied with the results. Very little side effects with this treatment. The UK has been doing it for 5 years and their latest stats show that there is no difference between the results of the 5 treatments vs 16 treatments. In the end I chose the one I felt was right for me and not to second guess myself. Hopefully it will be the right decision. It was all very overwhelming. My treatments start on Nov. 27th, I will let you know how it goes. Looking forward to getting this part over with.

Hi Ceanna, Thanks for your reply and for the threads you posted. I chose to do the partial breast radiation, which is 1 radiation treatment each day for 5 days. Hopefully, all goes well. I start at the end of November.