Radiation 16 vs 25 treatments

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Walden1
Walden1 Member Posts: 202
edited June 2018 in Radiation Therapy - Before, During, and After

My RO gave me the choice of 16 or 25 radiation treatments after my mastectomy without reconstruction. Later I learned that the use of 16 rather than 25 is common in Canada but not as common in other parts of the world. My RO says both are equally effective and have the same risks (except for cosmetic results of breast reconstruction, 25 is better for that). Curious if anyone out there has heard differently from their RO's, or in other studies. I'm not doing breast reconstruction so the cosmetic factor is not of much concern. Just not sure I trust that 16 is equal to 25 because it's not been studied as long.

P.S. it's rare I know to do radiation after mastectomy when you are node 0, but I'm 44 with two-2 cm tumors, so RO strongly recommends chest wall and inter mammary nodes despite the fact I'm in a grey area. Armpit and clavicle nodes were recommended by 4 ROs and not recommended by 4 other ROs. I’m doing all nodes although feeling conflicted about that part of it

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  • Okkate75
    Okkate75 Member Posts: 151
    edited June 2018

    I did the short course of radiation at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore. My rad onc said this is the new standard, though many places are slow to shift to it. Unless contraindicated by age or other health problems, everyone at Hopkins does the shorter course. It is the same amount of radiation, just given over a shorter time frame. That's what I was told, and it eased my mind. And I was happy to be done earlier! Good luck with this next phase of treatment.

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  • edwards750
    edwards750 Member Posts: 3,761
    edited June 2018

    I did 33 treatments. No suggestion of less but my SIL did the mammocite radiation which is only 2x a day for a week. She had DCIS - I had IDC plus I had a micromet in my SN so my RO said too risky to do mammocite.

    I agree with you about 16 vs 25. That’s a big difference whether it’s the new standard or not. You are in the gray area but your doctor still thinks you need some radiation treatments so that’s telling.

    My MO told me women have been over treated for years so they are scaling back on treatments. Go with your gut feeling and one you won’t look back and think what if?

    Diane

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  • Walden1
    Walden1 Member Posts: 202
    edited June 2018

    Edwards750-Thanks for the advice. Seems I am in a grey area for a lot of my choices so gut feeling is really what it comes down to. Curious about what they recommended for you with a micromete. Does that mean they included node radiation with the breast/chest radiation?


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