Proton radiation therapy?

I don't have any personal experience but have been investigated the pros and cons of proton therapy vs conventional radiation. From what I've read, proton is so zone specific that it will target a pinpointed area as opposed to conventional radiation which can be likened to shooting in the dark with an automatic weapon and hoping to hit something. Because you still have your lymph nodes, proton seems like the best solution for you (only my opinion!). I wouldn't know how to answer if you had the lymph nodes removed (my case). If I get any medical answers (asking my MO about it); I'll share them with you.

Hi, Tewks, I'm doing traditional xray therapy and am typically on the table no more than 20 minutes. Sometimes it's longer, but thats usually because they have to make an adjustment. Is it that long every time? Did they say the sessions might get shorter/more efficient once you're further into treatment?

I'll try to answer all of you at once. After having a nightmare experience with chemo (and cancelling it), I was very skeptical about radiation. After surgery and reconstruction last June I was told I was cancer free but both chemo and radiation were highly recommended as preventive measures, so I followed the advice and took the plunge...against my better "gut feeling" judgement. Chemo did not go well at all, we took a break mid-A/C then cancelled completely after one Taxol. So going into 6 weeks of radiation was not real high on my list of winter activities, especially consodering the possible heart/lung damage down the road. It was only by chance that I learned about Proton therapy from, of all places, a television commercial. And yes, it is very zone-specific and that alleviates my fears about the side effects.

I have 27 total treatments, each lasts about 40-45 minutes. I've had only four so far and the radiation itself is painless but what's almost intolerable is lying in one position totally immobilized for such a long time. I'm doubling my Xanax and gabapentin and have added naproxen in hopes that either my shoulder joint is less inflamed or that I'm so zonked out I don't know the difference. No one has said the time might get shorter, maybe I'll get lucky and that'll happen.

I am lying in a mold made for my body and haven't yet been told to hold my breath...except perhaps to alleviate my anxiety 😉. My husband keeps telling me I have his permission to quit, no questions asked, should I ever feel the need to bail out. So for me it's one day/one treatment at a time, no longterm commitment and that makes it easier.

I'm just curious to hear from anyone else who's done this for breast cancer. I shudder to think what this must be like for the prostate cancer patients, it must be so much more uncomfortable and that's one of the many thoughts that keeps me going. That and the little kids...cannot imagine.

So, I doubt this has helped anyone else but thanks for the time and space to whine. This whole ordeal really sucks...

Yes indeed the entire scenario sucks... Radiation was not fun laying in that mold in a weird position during thoser 33 treatments! But since I have refused chemo, and debating on taking Femara, what other choice did I have to beat that beast??? Time will tell the story and with God on my side, I might just make it! lol!  

Tewks, maybe getting physical therapy for your shoulder will help you to be more comfortable. Do you have frozen shoulder since surgery?

I just now re-found this thread, couldn't find it anywhere! Whew!!

I'm now done with 12 put of 27 treatments, most taking up to 40 minutes on the table but I think that's just waiting for an available beam. My skin is turning pink, I have a slight rash and it's starting to itch a little. My RO advised more aquaphor and a prescription cortisone cream if I need it. The techs are super nice about the time, almost apologetic that we don't get in and out instantly. I'm thinking I'm very lucky to live where I do and have access to such great medical facilities

Shoulder update: it's not my shoulder joint at all, it's the muscle that cramps. It's happened three times and I'm controlling that with naproxen, Motrin, and Xanax. And I must tell you all that I realized two days ago that im actually meditating my way through the treatments, much like the self-hypnosis of Lamaze. The techs are playing some great stuff on Pandora and I'm really surprised at how easily I can zone out what's happening with treatment and concentrate only on the music, just by training my mind. 40 minutes has never flown by so fast...

All I can say is that I hope this all works...I have zero patience for cancer, I don't have time for it, either in my day or my week or my life and there's zero room in my body for it anywhere. So it had better take a hike,and fast, cuz I'm done with it!

Please everyone keep in touch, good luck, we can do this!

congratulations!! What do you mean by boosts to your incision? New info to me... thanks

JenRuns - I noted you had your nodes out and are doing proton. Were they all out? How did Dr explain that the proton would work were nodes were removed?

Hi Ladies, I will be starting Radiation in a few weeks and I've already had consultations with 2 different ROs where we discussed the standard radiation treatment. However, today I happened to hear about proton therapy from someone in my local cancer support group . In my research today (I've been at my computer for literally 10 hours straight), I see a lot about the benefits of proton therapy particularly for women who have left side tumors as it helps to protect the heart and lung. I was wondering about right side tumors but I don't see much about it. I am being treated for a right side tumor and my thinking is that while the heart is on the left and one of the lungs is on the left, the 'other lung' is on the right side - so won't proton therapy be beneficial for me to help protect the right lung? Would love to hear your thoughts / info on this. Thanks

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ArielR, my understanding is that proton is only considered for left-sided breast because of the heart, with the lungs being a bonus. (The risk of heart damage is well documented ... lung, I think, is rarer.)

Many centers use active breathing control for protecting the lungs during traditional radiation therapy

Do any of the proton group have tissue expanders? I was asked for a clinical trial and not sure if it excludes me or not.

SCRV and everyone else, can anyone tell me the implications of skipping the last three treatments? And why do we have differing numbers of treatments, e.g., 24, 25, 27? What's the difference between them? I've had 24 of 27 and have taken a three day break because of severe burns, along with bad weather. I don't want to go back to finish up but rather I want to skip the last two treatments and am curious to know if anyone else has done this, cut short the treatments. Yes, I could ask the RO, andof course he's pushing me to finish (Easy for him to say), but the center is closed today because of a snow storm so I can't.
My MO says it's up to the RO, But I just plain don't feel like frying my skin anymore. I have terrible blisters and can't describe how painful it is. Even oxycodone didn't help.
Thanks all!

JenRunsThank you! I saw a covering doc tonight but you’ve just given me a clearer answer than anyone. That really does explain it in a way my feeble chemo brain can comprehend. This guy was very sympathetic, told me to take the rest of the week off and go back next week for the last three. We’ll see how much more I heal over the weekend.
He also told me I’m not taking enough meds to ward off pain which is another reason I’m still so miserable. Just my luck.
Bottom line in case anyone else asks: yes, the last three are very important, especially for my kind of tumor that had slightly broken through the skin.
As far as right vs left boob, everyone needs to be evaluated independently. There’s no set answer that applies to everyone. CYA sis alive and well in the world of medicine...
‘Night all. Sleep well and thanks for the support!!

Jen thank you! Per the ROs instructions I took oxycodone plus Motrin yesterday and it did help the pain a lot. Problem was that I had really bad itching so I got nervous about that, thinking it might be an allergic reaction, so I haven't taken it since and today the Motrin plus gabapentin is working just fine.

I had lunch yesterday with my oldest daughter, today my son is here cooking rib eye steaks as I write this, my youngest daughter is coming tomorrow, so...pain and/or itching be damned, my kids are sticking around so all isright with my world.

congrats Tewks! Enjoy the free time!