Looking for Hypofractionated Radiation provider

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jennlisa
jennlisa Member Posts: 3
edited January 2020 in Radiation Therapy - Before, During, and After

Has anyone been able to find a radiation oncologist or center that offers hypofractionated radiation? If so, can you supply the radiation oncologists name and/or center they work at so I may schedule with them?

Also, if you received hypofractionated radiation, how was the experience for you? I am reading it gives the same results but with 20-23% less damage to the bodies healthy tissue. So for I have met only with radiation oncologists too conservative/old school to implement it. It does mean a patient will only be receiving about 16 appointments instead of 30.

Thank you!

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  • jessie123
    jessie123 Member Posts: 532
    edited December 2019

    Yes, I had it done at the Mobile Infirmary hospital in Mobile Al. The 16 sessions were so much easier than 30 as by the end I was getting pretty tired. I didn't have any blisters or pain, but my breast was very red and obviously had been through radiation. My Oncologist and surgeon are at the Mitchell Cancer Center which also offers the prone radiation position. That is suppose to protect your heart and lung. My radiologist has since moved to the Mitchell center. He has years of experience. Good luck -- for me radiation was easy.

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  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited December 2019

    Hi Jennlisa! We want to welcome you to our community here at BCO. We hope you find this to be a supportive place where you can find the advice and information you need! Jessie123 has a great rec, and hopefully others chime in with their experiences and guidance.

    The Mods

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  • Ingerp
    Ingerp Member Posts: 2,624
    edited December 2019

    jenn what is the rest of your treatment? I got the accelerated schedule first time around, assumed it would be the same the second, but was told they do the longer/gentler schedule after chemo because the skin is more susceptible to damage. I’m not sure where you’re getting the less damage numbers. It’s the same total amount of radiation.

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  • Cowgirl13
    Cowgirl13 Member Posts: 1,936
    edited December 2019

    Jennlisa, where are you located? I had about 18 rounds and it was very, very easy. It would be good if you put your diagnosis in and that way people can be more helpful in suggesting things. It could be that your tumor might be too big, among other things.

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  • jennlisa
    jennlisa Member Posts: 3
    edited December 2019

    Someone asked why I thought hypo-fractionated was a lower dose and that it caused less damage to surrounding healthy tissue. I am looking for hypo-fractionated / lower dose radiation. I believe in avoiding overly aggressive treatment when I can.
    This is a portion of the article posted in research-news on this website.


    This study, called the UK START trial, looked at three lower-dose radiation schedules to see if they were as effective as the standard schedule. The researchers also wanted to know if the lower-dose schedules had fewer effects on healthy tissue.

    The study was split into two parts, A and B.

    After surgery to remove early-stage breast cancer, Part A randomly assigned 2,236 women to one of three radiation schedules:

    • a total of 50 Gray in 25 treatments over 5 weeks (standard schedule)
    • a total of 39 Gray in 13 treatments over 5 weeks (low-dose)
    • a total of 41.6 Gray in 13 treatments over 5 weeks (intermediate dose)

    After 10 years of follow-up, all three groups had similar recurrence rates.

    There were differences in the effects on healthy tissue. Women who got the standard schedule or intermediate dose schedule had similar rates of side effects including:

    • breast induration (a hardening of some of the breast tissue)
    • shrinkage
    • swelling
    • telangiectasia (dilated blood vessels near the skin's surface)

    The women who got the low-dose schedule had a 20% lower risk of any of these side effects.

    After surgery to remove early-stage breast cancer, Part B randomly assigned 2,215 women to one of two radiation schedules:

    • 50 Gray in 25 treatments over 5 weeks (standard schedule)
    • 40 Gray in 15 treatments over 3 weeks (low-dose)

    After 10 years, the two groups had similar recurrence rates.

    Part B showed a bigger difference in side effect rates between the two groups. Women who got the low-dose schedule were 23% less likely to have any of the side effects mentioned above.

    These results suggest that a low-dose radiation therapy schedule is a good alternative to the standard schedule for women diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer. Other studies offer similar results.

    Source: I tried to post the source but links are not allowed.

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  • DorothyB
    DorothyB Member Posts: 305
    edited December 2019

    I received this at MD Anderson in Houston and was very happy w/ the way it went.

    Not everyone qualifies - must be over 50; stage T1 or T2 w/ clean lymph nodes; no chemo

    HypoFractionated is the same amount of total radiation, but over less visits, so more per visit. A study showed that side effects were not as bad. https://www.breastcancer.org/research-news/benefit...

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  • Cowgirl13
    Cowgirl13 Member Posts: 1,936
    edited December 2019

    I qualified even though I had chemo. Hypo was done at California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco, CA.

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  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited December 2019

    Popping in to post the link Jennlisa references: https://www.breastcancer.org/research-news/2013010...

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  • jennlisa
    jennlisa Member Posts: 3
    edited December 2019

    Thank you for posting the link! :)

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  • milolucymom
    milolucymom Member Posts: 8
    edited January 2020

    I asked my RO, because I seem to fit the guidelines...over 50, T2, lymph nodes negative, etc. He told me he does use hypofractionated on some patients, but that I would not be a good candidate because my breasts are too large and breast tissue dense. I'm not sure I believe him, but am 2 weeks into conventional radiation, so it seems pointless to pursue it now. I hope you fine what you're looking for--best of luck with treatment!

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  • nat_blue
    nat_blue Member Posts: 30
    edited January 2020

    I did my radiation in 5 treatment days with 2 treatments a day. It was done at the James/OSU. I was part of a study where the radiation was performed before surgery to allow an even smaller area to be radiated. They also offer the accelerated radiation schedule after surgery I'm about a year and half out and so far happy with the results.

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