Short-course Radiation, has anyone completed the 3 week radiation treatment?

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sassafras
sassafras Member Posts: 10
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
Hello! I'm hoping to connect with ladies who have experienced the short-course radiation. I have DCIS-0 stage, 7mm tumor removed via lumpectomy, Hormone positive. Great margins. I am to begin rx of 16 treatments on Wednesday, very nervous. They are 266 rads vs the 188 given in the 6 week treatment, so a few more rads and half the time. I'm curious to know if the additional rads also cause more affects?

I am still feeling a little conflicted about getting radiation at all. I"m still fairly young (52) and radiation does cause long term side affects and changes to the skin/breast. I'm also concerned about cancer coming back (or secondary cancer) and how radiation may affect my ability to have reconstruction if cancer does reoccur. Also concerned about lung scaring and later cancers caused by radiation.

Another question about radiation...how large was your radiation area? I have non-invasive, stage 0, clear margins, no node involvement and my mapping went 2 inches under by breast, half way up my chest an into my armpit..I'm concerned the area is large and also covers part of my lung below my breast, which seems very agressive since my cancer is the mildest form...

I'm still shocked to realize the lack of information available to women from their doctors and hospitals. The is SO MUCH to know for us to make these life -changing decision, THANK goodness for sites like this one!

Comments

  • smalldoggroomer
    smalldoggroomer Member Posts: 1,184
    #2
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    Good morning Sassafras
    I am also worried about Rads. I didn't know you could double up so to speak.. Is there another reason other then cutting time? It seems like getting burnt would be more likely with a heavier treatment. I look forward to hearing if any one else has done this. And what the results were. Sorry I wasn't any help. Take care Kay
  • Jean 0609
    Jean 0609 Member Posts: 2,462
    #3
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    Hi Sassafras,
    Sorry, I didn't have rads so I can't answer any of your questions. I was supposed to have them after my lumpectomy. However, my margins weren't clear, so I decided to have a mastectomyy instead. I do want to welcome you to the site. I'm sure someone will have answers to all your questions. This is a wonderful group of ladies & gentlemen. Just remember we are all here for you, whether you need answers or just need to vent. Hugs, Jean
  • Heatherbelle
    Heatherbelle Member Posts: 1,226 Member
    #4
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    Hi Sassafras
    Hi Sassafras & welcome -so sorry you have to be on this site but I'm glad you found it - the people on here are amazing & so helpful, I've found it to be such a source of support and encouragement, and peace.
    I'm anxious to hear other's response on your question. I had a bilateral mastectomy, so I won't be having radiation. But my mom was diagnosed 2 months after me, and this friday she will be having a lumpectomy -her's is less than half a centimeter in size, the Dr's are not expecting to find any lymph node involvement- barring that she will be having radiation treatments as well. They are thinking she will be able to have the partial breast radiation with the small packet of radiation seeds implanted into her breast for 7-10 days. I'm trying to learn & read up as much as I can about radiation so that I can help mom out, honestly since it wasn't included in my treatment plan, I don't know much about it!
    Best of luck to you & keep us posted on how you're doing!
    *hugs*
    heather
  • sassafras
    sassafras Member Posts: 10
    #5
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    Short course Radiation
    Short Course Radiation is fairly new and the response to a study in Canada, where they found that 3 weeks and 6 weeks radiation had the same result. It is also helpful to those who have jobs or have to travel far for treatment. The one caveat is that only small-breasted women qualify, the larger breasted women tend to burn with the higher rads. (finally, being small-breasted has its good points!) I'm having trouble finding women who have experienced the short course radiation and want to know if they experienced long term or extensive burning...

    Thank you all for you kind words and support, its so dearly appreciated~! No one can understand this experience unless they've walked in theses shoes...God Bless
    Kim
  • Sher43009
    Sher43009 Member Posts: 602 Member
    #6
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    sassafras said:

    Short course Radiation
    Short Course Radiation is fairly new and the response to a study in Canada, where they found that 3 weeks and 6 weeks radiation had the same result. It is also helpful to those who have jobs or have to travel far for treatment. The one caveat is that only small-breasted women qualify, the larger breasted women tend to burn with the higher rads. (finally, being small-breasted has its good points!) I'm having trouble finding women who have experienced the short course radiation and want to know if they experienced long term or extensive burning...

    Thank you all for you kind words and support, its so dearly appreciated~! No one can understand this experience unless they've walked in theses shoes...God Bless
    Kim

    Rads
    Hi Kim

    My rad.oncol. didn't want me to have the shortened course. He said the chances of having a disformed breast after treatment is a lot higher than the longer treatment. I had 35 treatments with 7 being boosters to the tumer site. I finished in Jan.2010 with no ill looking effects. Still have my "rad tan" but the skin is very soft. Keep the creams and lotions on--makes all the difference. I asked about heart and lung damage and was told the rads are only going to the breast not other organs.

    Hope this helps.
    Sher
  • seof
    seof Member Posts: 819 Member
    #7
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    sassafras said:

    Short course Radiation
    Short Course Radiation is fairly new and the response to a study in Canada, where they found that 3 weeks and 6 weeks radiation had the same result. It is also helpful to those who have jobs or have to travel far for treatment. The one caveat is that only small-breasted women qualify, the larger breasted women tend to burn with the higher rads. (finally, being small-breasted has its good points!) I'm having trouble finding women who have experienced the short course radiation and want to know if they experienced long term or extensive burning...

    Thank you all for you kind words and support, its so dearly appreciated~! No one can understand this experience unless they've walked in theses shoes...God Bless
    Kim

    my experience
    I had the 6 week dose after chemo and surgery and before more chemo and reconstruction. As far as the "long term" effects: The typical wait after radiation before chemo or surgery is 6-10 months to allow the skin to regain flexibility and healing from internal effects. My "tan lines" faded several months later. I think modern techniques and instruments are very good at targeting the specific area including surface and internal area. I think lung damage and lifelong effects are rare. The surface area you describe sounds about the same as what I had, and the same as many of the ladies reciveing treatment at the same place and time as mine. Other than the 3 week instead of 6, it sounds like what your Dr. is planning is pretty typical.

    As always, talk to your Dr. about your concerns.

    Hope this helps, seof
  • greyhoundluvr
    greyhoundluvr Member Posts: 402
    #8
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    Sassafras -
    My radiation oncologist told me about this (although it was from the standpoint of why it would NOT apply to me:) She just wanted me to be aware if I ran into ladies in the locker room who were having this done. I did run into several of them - all of them had lower grade pathology with no lymph nodes which is apparently the type where this approach is used. I will say that they all did great with the rads with few side effects (I had 33 treatments so I got to see some of them come and go).

    I would suggest talking to your radiation oncologist about the area being marked so they can better explain it. They can be very precise now with the area treated and how deep the treatment goes. For example, I have tissue expanders in and they radiated the sides of the expander but not the back wall (i.e. not deep enough to get the lung in that area). Some women do get scarring of the lungs but my understanding is that applies to women who had radiation around the clavicle (like me)to get to those nodes - they actually radiate through the body in that area. I was told that there would be scarring at the top of the lung on that side and just to be aware so I wouldn't worry if it showed up on xray. I don't believe this would apply to you with no positive nodes.

    As far as reconstruction, this is an area where every plastic surgeon seems to differ. I had expanders put in at the time of my mastectomy. I see my plastic surgeon in two weeks but he told me if my skin did well with the radiation, that he would do the exchange surgery in 3 months and if I needed more healing time (which I don't think I will) 4-6 months. My radiation oncologist said thay they are seeing very little in the way of problems with reconstruction. I have seen notes about some plastic surgeons requiring less time and some requiring more. Since you are looking at possible problems down the road, I don't think this would be as much of a concern because more time will have elapsed. You could consider seeing a plastic surgeon for a consult before having the radiation to get some of your questions answered.

    I wish you the best!

    Chris
  • sassafras
    sassafras Member Posts: 10
    #9
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    greyhoundluvr said:

    Sassafras -
    My radiation oncologist told me about this (although it was from the standpoint of why it would NOT apply to me:) She just wanted me to be aware if I ran into ladies in the locker room who were having this done. I did run into several of them - all of them had lower grade pathology with no lymph nodes which is apparently the type where this approach is used. I will say that they all did great with the rads with few side effects (I had 33 treatments so I got to see some of them come and go).

    I would suggest talking to your radiation oncologist about the area being marked so they can better explain it. They can be very precise now with the area treated and how deep the treatment goes. For example, I have tissue expanders in and they radiated the sides of the expander but not the back wall (i.e. not deep enough to get the lung in that area). Some women do get scarring of the lungs but my understanding is that applies to women who had radiation around the clavicle (like me)to get to those nodes - they actually radiate through the body in that area. I was told that there would be scarring at the top of the lung on that side and just to be aware so I wouldn't worry if it showed up on xray. I don't believe this would apply to you with no positive nodes.

    As far as reconstruction, this is an area where every plastic surgeon seems to differ. I had expanders put in at the time of my mastectomy. I see my plastic surgeon in two weeks but he told me if my skin did well with the radiation, that he would do the exchange surgery in 3 months and if I needed more healing time (which I don't think I will) 4-6 months. My radiation oncologist said thay they are seeing very little in the way of problems with reconstruction. I have seen notes about some plastic surgeons requiring less time and some requiring more. Since you are looking at possible problems down the road, I don't think this would be as much of a concern because more time will have elapsed. You could consider seeing a plastic surgeon for a consult before having the radiation to get some of your questions answered.

    I wish you the best!

    Chris

    Chris
    Thank you for your kind words of encouragement. Much appreciated
  • sassafras
    sassafras Member Posts: 10
    #10
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    Heatherbelle said:

    Hi Sassafras
    Hi Sassafras & welcome -so sorry you have to be on this site but I'm glad you found it - the people on here are amazing & so helpful, I've found it to be such a source of support and encouragement, and peace.
    I'm anxious to hear other's response on your question. I had a bilateral mastectomy, so I won't be having radiation. But my mom was diagnosed 2 months after me, and this friday she will be having a lumpectomy -her's is less than half a centimeter in size, the Dr's are not expecting to find any lymph node involvement- barring that she will be having radiation treatments as well. They are thinking she will be able to have the partial breast radiation with the small packet of radiation seeds implanted into her breast for 7-10 days. I'm trying to learn & read up as much as I can about radiation so that I can help mom out, honestly since it wasn't included in my treatment plan, I don't know much about it!
    Best of luck to you & keep us posted on how you're doing!
    *hugs*
    heather

    Radiation
    Thank you Heather! I appreciate your thoughts.

    K
  • MyTurnNow
    MyTurnNow Member Posts: 2,686 Member
    #11
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    Hi Sassafras and welcome. I
    Hi Sassafras and welcome. I didn't have the short-course radiation but wanted to answer your question regarding reconstruction of a radiated breast. I was originally diagnosed with IDC last year and had a lumpectomy in July with chemo completed in October and radiation completed on Christmas Eve (best Christmas present I got). Then, weeks before my first mammo I discovered another lump in the same breast but different location. Well, it ended up being a recurrence and I opted for a bilateral mastectomy with immediate reconstruction. Due to one of my breasts being radiated, my plastic surgeon recommended the latissimus flap with tissue expanders placed at the same time. This is a pretty extensive surgery where they bring the latissimus muscle from your back and tunnel it under the skin to the front of the new breast. I am 5 weeks out today and am back at work. I was not a candidate for some of the other reconstructions because I am a fairly thin person. I would recommend that you meet with a plastic surgeon just to get an idea of what options you would have. Good luck and if I can help with any additional information, just ask away. Good luck!!
  • sparkle1
    sparkle1 Member Posts: 242
    #12
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    I start radiation on
    I start radiation on September 20th. My doctor did speak to me about the short-course radiation but advised against it because of the higher dose of rads needed. He did however mentioned that the study was done in Canada and the results were there was no difference in the short-course vs. the long-course treatment. He also mentioned that the standard course of treatment after having a lumpectomy is radiation to make sure no cancer cells remained. When he did my mapping, the area was exactly where you mentioned. I'm anxious to get started with rads so I can finish in time for an end of November cruise to Jamaica.
    Sparkle
  • KayNYC
    KayNYC Member Posts: 495 Member
    #13
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    mine was the accelerated radiation schedule
    I completed a total of 21 days of rads that includes the five days of boosts. Mapping did not include the axilla;I had no lymph node involvement and my mass was <6mm, hormone positive with clear margins.The skin of my left breast is slightly tanner than the other side and I do have some edema left. I completed my rads on June 11. I have been having some tenderness above the breast under the axilla. I saw my surgeon today. She says she doesn't feel anything unusual and attributes my discomfort to late radiation effects. I am scheduled for my six month mammo and ultrasound at the end of this month. I chose the prone position during radiation treatments.It is supposed to cut down on the radiation to heart and lung (it was my left breast). Since I have a D cup, I was offered this as an option, evidently, you need to be at least a C to use this positioning.
    I have been on Arimidex since June 25th.
    Hugs, K
  • KayNYC
    KayNYC Member Posts: 495 Member
    #14
    Options
    mine was the accelerated radiation schedule
    I completed a total of 21 days of rads that includes the five days of boosts. Mapping did not include the axilla;I had no lymph node involvement and my mass was <6mm, hormone positive with clear margins.The skin of my left breast is slightly tanner than the other side and I do have some edema left. I completed my rads on June 11. I have been having some tenderness above the breast under the axilla. I saw my surgeon today. She says she doesn't feel anything unusual and attributes my discomfort to late radiation effects. I am scheduled for my six month mammo and ultrasound at the end of this month. I chose the prone position during radiation treatments.It is supposed to cut down on the radiation to heart and lung (it was my left breast). Since I have a D cup, I was offered this as an option, evidently, you need to be at least a C to use this positioning.
    I have been on Arimidex since June 25th.
    Hugs, K

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