shortened term of radiation -- "Canadian version"

sdukowitz
sdukowitz Member Posts: 250
in Breast Cancer #1
Am interested to know if anyone has had the shorter term of radiation . . . Due to a long distance to the radiation center and where I live in Alaska, they offered me the four week special .. .instead of the six to eight weeks . . . yes, I got on an airplane every day and flew back and forth from home to Anchorage for those radiation treatments, taking cabs once I got to the airport , took up the whole day for four weeks, but luckily I started using Aquafor the first day and it really helped with the redness . . . I had no side effects from the radiation, other than getting pink breasts!

I just wonder if that treatment is used very often, but it sure worked with my schedule and may be something to ask about if you are going through radiaition . . . I had DCIS with comedo neucrosis, a higher grade, so went ahead with the rads to help with recurrence isssues. . . so far I am doing fine, but in the back of my mind, I will constantly worry about the recurrence issues, though try to keep busy with daily work and life .. .

Comments

  • Rague
    Rague Member Posts: 3,653 Member
    #2
    Can't help you
    Can't help you with a '4 week special'. The only TX plan that was offered to me was 5 weeks (25 rads). I'm IBC and live 10 miles from my Center so distance had nothing to do with it. I have heard some say they had a shortened but doubled up (2 rads a day) TX for a much shorter time frame.

    Susan
  • JuJuBeez
    JuJuBeez Member Posts: 332
    #3
    I was part of the B39 Trial
    I was part of the B39 Trial Study of partial-breast radiation 2x day for 5 days. I am so thankful that I had that option. The study is to see if the short radiation is as effective as whole breast rads for full 5-7 week treatment. I was dx 3/10, stage 1 IDC, no node involvement.
  • Rague
    Rague Member Posts: 3,653 Member
    #4
    JuJuBeez said:

    I was part of the B39 Trial
    I was part of the B39 Trial Study of partial-breast radiation 2x day for 5 days. I am so thankful that I had that option. The study is to see if the short radiation is as effective as whole breast rads for full 5-7 week treatment. I was dx 3/10, stage 1 IDC, no node involvement.

    Wondering
    You said as opposed to whole breast radiation - is it directed at the site only - sort of like boosters after standard rads for those with smaller areas involved?

    Susan
  • Gabe N Abby Mom
    Gabe N Abby Mom Member Posts: 2,413
    #5
    I'm one of those who did
    I'm one of those who did rads 2x a day. I went for 22 days, a total of 44 days. It had to be a minimum of 6 hours apart, so I went morning and afternoon. Although each dose was less than a 'normal daily dose' I did end up with more greys (or grays?) each day and in total. Even though I was diligent about my ointments I did have some rads rash and some burning toward the end. I still have a 'tan', and of course my tats.

    Hugs,

    Linda
  • VickiSam
    VickiSam Member Posts: 9,079 Member
    #6
    Gabe N Abby Mom said:

    I'm one of those who did
    I'm one of those who did rads 2x a day. I went for 22 days, a total of 44 days. It had to be a minimum of 6 hours apart, so I went morning and afternoon. Although each dose was less than a 'normal daily dose' I did end up with more greys (or grays?) each day and in total. Even though I was diligent about my ointments I did have some rads rash and some burning toward the end. I still have a 'tan', and of course my tats.

    Hugs,

    Linda

    Interesting ... Linda ...
    Twice a day -- You are such a strong, Warrior -- ! I don't think I could of ever endured -- radiation, 2 times each day.


    Vicki Sam
  • VickiSam
    VickiSam Member Posts: 9,079 Member
    #7
    VickiSam said:

    Interesting ... Linda ...
    Twice a day -- You are such a strong, Warrior -- ! I don't think I could of ever endured -- radiation, 2 times each day.


    Vicki Sam

    Sdukowitz -- I am impressed by the
    lengths you go to .. just to receive radiation. Airplane travel, taxi == and return
    adventure back home. Maybe you can shorten you radiation time, by have rad's twice daily ?

    Do you have family or friends in Anchorage that you can stay with?

    I can not even imagine === good luck and gentle hugs.

    Strength, Courage and Hope.

    Vicki Sam
  • Double Whammy
    Double Whammy Member Posts: 2,832 Member
    #8
    VickiSam said:

    Sdukowitz -- I am impressed by the
    lengths you go to .. just to receive radiation. Airplane travel, taxi == and return
    adventure back home. Maybe you can shorten you radiation time, by have rad's twice daily ?

    Do you have family or friends in Anchorage that you can stay with?

    I can not even imagine === good luck and gentle hugs.

    Strength, Courage and Hope.

    Vicki Sam

    I had the same protocol
    16 days full breast rads, 5 boosters to the tumor site. 21 sessions total. I was happy as a clam when I didn't have to do 6 weeks - and then I got nervous. I talked to the rad onc about it about halfway through and she told me the data shows the protocol to be as effective as the 6 week one (of course, she'd say that) and that the amount of radiation I got is the same as the 6 week version. I don't know why I was offered this protocol. When I first met with the resident, he told me about the possibility and then when the rad onc examined me and went over everything, she said that's what I was getting.

    I can't imagine what you must have gone through to get your treatments! Good grief!

    Suzanne
  • sdukowitz
    sdukowitz Member Posts: 250
    #9
    VickiSam said:

    Sdukowitz -- I am impressed by the
    lengths you go to .. just to receive radiation. Airplane travel, taxi == and return
    adventure back home. Maybe you can shorten you radiation time, by have rad's twice daily ?

    Do you have family or friends in Anchorage that you can stay with?

    I can not even imagine === good luck and gentle hugs.

    Strength, Courage and Hope.

    Vicki Sam

    shortened radiation
    Thanks for your replies ......done with the daily flights aand back to work finally .... the great news is that my Aflac cancer policy I
    Just hung onto all these years paid for all the flights ..... great policy in lots of regards.... now I will only have to go to Anchorage for oncology
    Appts as we don't have any oncoologists here in Kenai either....... by the way it is minus 20 degrees the past two weeks so glad i am done with " the
    Four Week Special!""Blessings to you all ... now i am dealing with tamoxifin issues hot flashes and leg cramps but more positive outlook
    With this whole experience.... it does make us all stronger than we ever thought we could be!
  • JuJuBeez
    JuJuBeez Member Posts: 332
    #10
    Rague said:

    Wondering
    You said as opposed to whole breast radiation - is it directed at the site only - sort of like boosters after standard rads for those with smaller areas involved?

    Susan

    Rague,
    Yes, the PBR (not
    Rague,

    Yes, the PBR (not Pabst Blue Ribbon, lol)is directed to the site only. They use a 3D beam. It was wonderful, intense though. I was warm and smelled funny, I thought. But no burning, no peeling, no blistering for me. I went at 9am and 3pm for 5 days. I am large bosomed, and my tumor was in the left one, so the partial-breast radiation cut down on potential damage to surrounding tissue and heart and lung. I had more side effects from it the couple weeks after, like being super tired and hot all the time. It was July when I had it done. Now we'll just see how long-term the effects are.

    Julie
  • Rague
    Rague Member Posts: 3,653 Member
    #11
    sdukowitz said:

    shortened radiation
    Thanks for your replies ......done with the daily flights aand back to work finally .... the great news is that my Aflac cancer policy I
    Just hung onto all these years paid for all the flights ..... great policy in lots of regards.... now I will only have to go to Anchorage for oncology
    Appts as we don't have any oncoologists here in Kenai either....... by the way it is minus 20 degrees the past two weeks so glad i am done with " the
    Four Week Special!""Blessings to you all ... now i am dealing with tamoxifin issues hot flashes and leg cramps but more positive outlook
    With this whole experience.... it does make us all stronger than we ever thought we could be!

    Potassium
    Get your potassium level checked. Leg cramps are often caused by low potassium. Since 1/2 way through Taxol I've had problems keeping potassium levels up so take mega doses of it. If I forget it for a day or 2 the leg cramps come back so I know to take some which starts working within a relatively short time. May not be your issue but it's an easy check and fix. If you aren't due for blood work soon you might ask your Dr about taking it anyway and see if it helps. If it does - then are low.

    Susan
  • ThycaAnne
    ThycaAnne Member Posts: 68
    #12
    JuJuBeez said:

    I was part of the B39 Trial
    I was part of the B39 Trial Study of partial-breast radiation 2x day for 5 days. I am so thankful that I had that option. The study is to see if the short radiation is as effective as whole breast rads for full 5-7 week treatment. I was dx 3/10, stage 1 IDC, no node involvement.

    I'm scheduled for APBI, as well.....
    I will have my lumpectomy on Friday. Depending on the final path, I am scheduled to do the 2/day for 5 days, too. I am also Stage 1 IDC--.5 cm tumor. So ready to get this behind me.......

    Anne
    Houston

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