When do you start radiation?

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JoniB
JoniB Member Posts: 346
edited June 2014 in Radiation Therapy - Before, During, and After
When do you start radiation?
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  • JoniB
    JoniB Member Posts: 346
    edited December 2007

    Good Morning, I had my surgery yesterday (lumpectomy) and so far so good.  I had my surgery in NY but want to have radiation in NJ, since that is where I live.  My follow-up appointment with my surgeon is next week.  How long after surgery does one start radiation?  Can anyone recommend a facility in NJ?   

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  • blackjack
    blackjack Member Posts: 1,010
    edited December 2007

    Joni702., welcome to the board, I hope you are feeling better post surgery. I also had a lumpectomy in May and I started radation 6 weeks after surgery. I think it depends on if you need chemo which I did not need. I interviewed 2 rad onc before I decided which one to go to. I waited the 6 weeks because I personally could not deal with the thought of radation to my chest. I have lung issues and radation only made it worse for me. If you read more post there are women who have minimal side effect from radation and do very well. I think everone is different. I don't know of any places in NJ, but I would recommend going to a large univerity hospital who has the most up to date xray machine. You may want to ask about mamaosite if you are a canadate which is given x2 day for 5days. Hope all goes well and get us posted on your progress.

    Blackjack

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  • JoniB
    JoniB Member Posts: 346
    edited December 2007

    Thank you blackjack.  I was thinking of Memorial Sloan Kettering - as they opened a NJ facility.  I am glad about the 6 weeks.  It gives me an opportunity to find the right radiologist. 

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  • blackjack
    blackjack Member Posts: 1,010
    edited December 2007

    Joni0702, I wanted to let you know that if you are a canidate for mamosite it needs to be done within 2-4 wks due to the healing process. You can look up info on the mamosite web site. Ask lots of questions and you also can down load questions from the Susan B Koman web site under radation. Hope this helps. Keep me posted and I hope you are feeling better real soon. I know it is a long journey but we are all here for each other.

     Blackjack

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  • JoelKM
    JoelKM Member Posts: 205
    edited December 2007

    If you are interested in partial breast irradiation (pbi) but you don't qualify for mammosite, you might want to look into 3d conformal radiation. There is a current NSABP study that is accruing right now. Ask your oncologist about it if you're interested (NSABP-39).

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  • JoniB
    JoniB Member Posts: 346
    edited December 2007

    I am starting to worry.  I don't have an oncologist and I don't know what type of treatment I will receive.  I just had the surgery and will meet with the surgeon on Monday.  I guess they need to be sure that I have clear margins first.  I am going to spend today and tomorrow (off from work for a week) looking at possible physician options.  I cannot travel to NY for the treatment very day and I am wondering if my physician can recommend a NJ oncologist.  

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  • blackjack
    blackjack Member Posts: 1,010
    edited December 2007

    Joni0702, Your surgeon can recommend an med onc for you that he deals with. Make sure your doctor explains your path report to you. This will usually tell you what type of tx you will need. Bring all your questions with you to your visit. You will have many team doc's, surgeon, med onc, onc radologist, family md just to name a few. If you have any question pm me. Hang in there. Thinking of you.

    Blackjack

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  • italianrose
    italianrose Member Posts: 22
    edited December 2007

    Joni0702,

    I had surgery on 11/7/07 and I just started radiation on Dec. 10th.  I go to The Cancer Center at Hackensack Hospital in Hackensack, NJ.  Where in NJ do you live? 

    They are very nice there, do not rush you and will answer any question you may have.  Before the actual radiation starts, you will need a consult with the radiation oncologist, then another appointment is a simulation mapping session.  This is where they made a mold of me with my left arm over my head.  This way they can be sure you are in the same position every day.  During that session also, they tattooed me 7 times.  This will mark the range that they will radiate because since it is my left breast, they want to avoid the lungs and heart.  I went back the next day and they did a CAT scan to make sure all the numbers were correct for the radiation.  To be honest, all of this was not bad at all part being they are so nice and comforting there.  If you want to know more, you can email me at italianrose@optonline.net  I can give you more info. 

    All the best, Rosemary

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  • ilenee
    ilenee Member Posts: 120
    edited December 2007

    I just had surgery on Dec 11. They said I will probally start radiation in a few weeks. Right after Christmas they said.

    Ilene

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  • blackjack
    blackjack Member Posts: 1,010
    edited December 2007

    Joni0702 I sent you a pm . Blackjack

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  • basil16883
    basil16883 Member Posts: 42
    edited December 2007

    I would suggest the MSK in Basking Ridge.  I had my first surgery consult with them but they are not in my plan. Like you,I live in NJ and will have my surgery in NYC, most likely NYU. Do you mind saying where you went or how you selected a surgeon

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  • JoniB
    JoniB Member Posts: 346
    edited December 2007

    basil16883 - Oh my - I did not realize you responded to my post when I sent you a pm about my surgeon.  Please read my messages.   

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  • JukieF
    JukieF Member Posts: 9
    edited January 2008

    I started rads two weeks after my surgery. I think the standard is six weeks post-op, but I was leaving for a month and a half and I barely had time to get the six weeks of rads done before I left. As it is, I'll have my last treatment the day before I leave! The surgeon's main concern was that my incision was healed well enough to tolerate radiation, and I'm a good healer, so I got the go-ahead. It would have been nice if I could have waited longer, but this is working out OK.

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