Has anyone done MammoSite Radiation Therapy?

I  had mamosite this past Sept and I am very pleased with it. It was the right choice for me. 

 I had no ill effects from it.  My breast became a little red but that went away in a week or so.  Some seem to get a hardness in the lumpectomy area after a couple of months, but this didn't happen to me.  My biggest problem was the reaction I had to the tape holding the bandage around the catheter.  Gold Bond extra medicated lotion did wonders. 

You asked why it wasn't more common.   There are some things needed to qualify for it and this would not fit everyone.    According to the web site the tumor must be 3 cmm or smaller,you must have clean margins, and the nodes are negative.   The cavity from the lumpectomy cannot be too close to the skin surface.   Even after they insert the ballon, a CT Scan is done to measure the distance. 

My surgeon has used mammosite for the last 5 or so years and offered it as a choice to the 5-7 week radiation.  My local hospital/cancer radiation center has the qualified people to do the procedure.  There were a couple of other ladies getting this the same week as me.   

If you have any more questions just ask.  I would be more than glad to answer any type of question.

Hi, I am curious also about mammosite, first of all I read that the cathereter has to be inserted at the time of the surgery, if you are a candidate, however how do you know you are?, when, like in my case I dont have the pathologist report, and I already had the lumpectomy, I really wish this would have being discussed with prior to surgery, as an option.  any feedback will be greatly appreciated.

Angie

My surgeon placed a temporary catheter and balloon during my lumpectomy surgery.   After consulting with the radiologist who confirmed that I was a viable candidate for mammosite, I had an office procedure at the surgeon's office to remove the temp balloon and insert the 'real' one.   
The reasoning behind the way he does it saves one less operation and general anesthesia.   The removal of the temp and insertion of the real balloon was done with a local and the incision was already there so no more cutting. 

Also, in order to qualify a woman has to be over 45 years of age. 

I had mammosite done in Oct 2007.  I had the lumpectomy and later had the balloon placed.  They almost couldn't do it because I had too much air space (pockets) around the balloon.  They worked it out.  Treatments went well.  I did find myself tired at the end of them.  A good nap was all that was required.  The insertion of the balloon was done in the doctors office with a local.  It was quite quick.  They also removed it in the doctors office and without a local to numb it.  Only felt like a small bandaid being removed when they took the balloon out.  Remember, the balloon is deflated and rolled up tight when it goes in.  You will do fine.  Hope this helps.  Good luck with your treatment.

I didn't do mammosite, but I did 5-day twice a day external beam through the NASBP-39 Phase III clinical trial.

Cheryl

I had mammosite in Dec. 07 and it wasnt bad. I had the temp balloon during surgery and then the cath placed in docs office 3 days later.  It was a little tiring, but not bad, most of the time I felt like I had a mild case of the flu.  About 2 weeks afterwards I had some skin issues, but nothing that Aquaphor didnt easily take care of. (I am a fairskinned blond)  I still have some residual pain, twinges etc, but its not bad.  I too am a Mammosite volunteer and do feel like it was a good choice for me to make.

It has been 3 months since I completed my mammosite treatment.  All went well and I would do it again but I wonder if anyone out there has a had a hardness and discoloration develop at the cavity area?

I was considering Mammosite until my rad. told me I was too young & since I had DCIS - I had another 30-40 years to live.  She said that the Mammosite only has results for a five-year study - what about the other years like full breast - I think it's 20 yrs.  I'm 54 & I am ER-&PR- & her2+3 so I'm thinking I shd. go with the full breast. I am sch'd for lumpectomy 5/6 & can't make a decision.  How do you decide?

MAA123, all the things you describe are completley normal.  The nerves in the breast area are very sensitive as we all know so, unfortunately they are sensitive to the pain that comes from surgery and radiation.  Ice really helped me.  The swelling will go down and the nipple area will regain feeling as the nerves heal once treatment is over.  It seemed as though my aereola area had a mind of it's own and would harden and hurt.  It was so sensitive that I couldn't stand anything touching it for a couple of weeks.  I spoke with my breast surgeon's physician assistant and we came up with putting oragel on it and guess what, it worked. 

I know it's tough but you'll be done aand on the road to healing so much sooner than if you had had regular rads.  Good luck to you and feel better soon.

Jackie

MAA123, how did your last treatment go?  Now, be sure and watch for signs of infection.  I did not get one thank goodness, but I've read here that a few have had them.  I had to talk to my breast surgeon's p.a.about the pain I was having because as a woman she could sympathize with me and the pain I was having. Men don't get it.  My radiation oncologist was sympathetic but was of no use to me because he hadn't done many Mammosite treatments before. 

You just have to look at it this way.  We still got radiation the same way women with whole breast radiation gets, only twice as much at one time.  Sure there is a water filled balloon in there, but the radiation still permeates it or what use would the treatment be.  Not only is the radiation hitting the tissue and cells around the site where the cancer was but also all of the sensitive nerves in our breast that are there to stimulate let down so we can nurse our babies and arousal when we are intimate with our mates.  Those nerves  are extra sensitive and they don't magically become less so for us to have radiation treatment.  They take time to heal so don't get discouraged or frightened if it get's a little worse before it gets better.

I hope you heal quickly and all goes well for you in the future.  Will you be using any hormonal treatment now? 

Jackie

MAA123, WoooHoooo, you're done.  Isn't it good to be over?  Now the healing can take place.  I only used aloe and vitamin e on my scarring and tanned, peeling skin.  Now you can hardly see where my incisions were.  My breast surgeon has to look hard, which makes him very proud of himself. 

I think it's funny that the radiation teams look at Mammosite as a piece of cake that shouldn't cause any pain or burning.  Heelloo!  We're getting twice as much radiation to a smaller area, why wouldn't we get burns and nerve damage.  When I would address these issues with the rad onc, he would say it's from surgery, and when I would address them with the surgeon, he would say it was from rads. UGGGH...  Anyway it is done and you can move forward.

As far as hormonals go, I'm not the best one to offer advice.  I was on Tamoxifen for 9 months and just couldn't take it anymore.  I'm on a hormonal "vacation" so to speak.  I have other health issues that cause me alot of fatigue and muscle aches before Tamoxifen, then add that into the mix and I couldn't get out of bed and the constant hot flash that never subsided was too much.  Not to mention elevated liver function tests that had to be monitored monthly, so, the break.  I am having some neurological testing done at UAB Hospital in Birmingham Alabama done right now and so onc said to stay off of them until testing is done.  I am premenoposal so no other options as far as hormonals go for me just yet. 

You might check out the Hormonal thread for some good advice.  It's always a tough decision.  Some women have no se's at all.  Wish that were my case.

Anyway sorry for long post.  Hope all continues to go along well for you.

Jackie

MAA123, I got my test results back from UAB yesterday, all normal.  I am still awaiting one blood test that was sent out but so far so good. The stuff they were testing for was a bit scary. Thank you for the blessings.

I hope you are doing well with your recovery.  Did you have any fatigue with your treatments. After the second day I would come home from my morning rads and crash until I had to wake up and go back for my afternoon ones and for about a week later, I slept alot.  Take care and God bless you, too.

Jackie

Thanks, Sue.  I am glad I could be of some help.  I am not physically able to participate in Relay for Life or any of the other walks or activities that promote bc awarenes and fundraising so I try when I can to help with others by sharing what I've experienced.  I found more help on this website when I was seeking information and support than anywhere else when I was first diagnosed and I want to return the favor.  That is also why I volunteer for Voices of Mammosite because that website was not available one year ago for me.  I am glad that you are offering support to others as well. 

Hope your doing well.

Jackie

Karen, I'm glad you've come through your surgery well.  I am assuming that your visit back to radiation oncologist on Friday will be to check for placement.  They will do a CT scan at that time to make sure there is enough tissue between the catheter and the skin and also the catheter and chest wall.  I'm not sure but I wouldn't think you will have treatment that day. 

As far as the travel.  I live about 45 minutes from where I had tx.  The first day I went to my Mothers house between txs and did fine but the next time and thereafter I drove home because I felt a little uncomfortable at my mom's because she was newly married and I didn't know my new stepdad very well and felt uncomfortable going without a bra around him (couldn't stand a bra for very long at a time).  I would come home and lay down in between treatments.  I have issues with fatigue anyway so I may not be the best to answer but all in all I got through it okay and was able to drive myself back and forth from treatments fine.

There will probably others that will come along soon that can offer other experiences but from what I've read.  Many women have very little if no fatigue at all, go shopping, have lunch,etc. in between their treatments.

Good luck to you,

Jackie

Hi Jackie and MAA123,

Thank you so much for your replies.  I appreciate all the good suggestions and am glad to know up front what might happen.  I bought the Aloe gel yesterday, and also some Gold Bond lotion after reading about it here, too.

My surgeon inserted the catheter this morning - for some reason I had not realized that she would be making another incision to do it.  OUCH!!  I wasn't numb enough and it hurt until she gave me another injection.  I had taken a pain pill before going this morning, but I don't think it did much good.

By the time I got to the radiologist, my bandage was pretty well saturated, so they re-bandaged me, but by the time we got back home, those bandages were soaked through.  So, I called, and the nurse suggested that I put more gauze over the bandage and wrap an Ace bandage around myself, like they did at the hospital.  So, that's what I did and also took another pain pill.

You were right about today's rad/onc visit - they did 3 CT scans and then I came home.  I start Monday  - 8:30 AM and 2:30 PM.  Sure wish the facility was closer, but I know it's going to be worth it to get it all over in a week.

I forgot to ask them about music - I don't have an IPod, but I do have a portable CD player that I'll bring and hope they'll let me use it in the room.

I appreciate your advice and am glad to have ladies to talk to who've been through it.

I hope you have a wonderful weekend.

Karen