how soon should you start radiation after a lumpectomy?
Comments
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I had my surgery April
I had my surgery April 3-2008 and started Radiation may 12-2008
Denise0 -
Things will move fastdisneyfan2008 said:I had my surgery April
I had my surgery April 3-2008 and started Radiation may 12-2008
Denise
after the consult. I started my radiation about 6 weeks after chemo. That's consistent with the time Denise had between surgery and radiation. If you're concerned that this will be too long, call your surgeon or oncologist for reassurance and see if there's something s/he can do to expedite the appointment if necessary. I think they want your surgical site to be well healed before they hit it with radiation because that will delay the healing. They also want you to physically recover before the next unslaught, but not too long for cancer cells to perk up and travel.
Suzanne0 -
rads after lumpectomy
My rads started ASAP after lumpectomy, but I think they started it so soon because I was a teacher & they wanted to get the treatment started before school began. It was about 3 weeks. The first few appmts. are long ones, so that is prob. why you couldn't get in right away. Also, the onc. might have been out of the office for a few days for further training, vacation, etc. I think you are OK--once you get started it will be every day, so driving to a further facility might make things more difficult.0 -
No "standard" timeframe...Double Whammy said:Things will move fast
after the consult. I started my radiation about 6 weeks after chemo. That's consistent with the time Denise had between surgery and radiation. If you're concerned that this will be too long, call your surgeon or oncologist for reassurance and see if there's something s/he can do to expedite the appointment if necessary. I think they want your surgical site to be well healed before they hit it with radiation because that will delay the healing. They also want you to physically recover before the next unslaught, but not too long for cancer cells to perk up and travel.
Suzanne
As you can already see, it's different for each patient. More than 8 years ago (my first DX), had 3 weeks between surgery & starting chemo, 3 weeks between last chemo & starting rads. That DX was an aggressive cancer.
Currently dealing with my second DX, a different type of BC (not mets/recurrence - no chemo). Had 6 weeks between surgery & beginning rads.
Suzanne's suggestion is spot on: check with your doctors to alleviate your concerns.
Best wishes to you.
Kind regards, Susan0 -
Radiation can start quickly
Radiation can start quickly after the consult. They may have set the appointment knowing you will be worked into the daily schedule soon after. 6 weeks sounds like the standard. I had to wait an extra week to improve the range of motion with my arm. I guess it would have seemed quicker if you have surgery first, then chemo, then rads because the surgery site can heal during chemo too.
All the best,
Cindy0 -
I started rads about 6 weeksDouble Whammy said:Things will move fast
after the consult. I started my radiation about 6 weeks after chemo. That's consistent with the time Denise had between surgery and radiation. If you're concerned that this will be too long, call your surgeon or oncologist for reassurance and see if there's something s/he can do to expedite the appointment if necessary. I think they want your surgical site to be well healed before they hit it with radiation because that will delay the healing. They also want you to physically recover before the next unslaught, but not too long for cancer cells to perk up and travel.
Suzanne
I started rads about 6 weeks after my lumpectomy. They want to be sure you have healed from your surgery.
Good luck!0 -
6 weeks
I had 6 weeks and I kind of remember this because I felt fairly decent on my last 2 chemo. I had the notion that feeling good through the last two chemos meant that I had already beaten the cancer. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.
None the less I wanted to hedge my bet so I of course went on with the reccomended radiation after the 6 week break for healing from the chemo regimen. The 6 weeks gave me the opportunity to get a lot of food home canned as the break came at harvest time. I actually was very blessed to have felt as good as I did. I really did not push myself as some worried that I had. I felt good enough to do this. So give yourself the time that they recommend and you might be suprised how good you feel.0 -
My rads start date wasTux said:rads after lumpectomy
My rads started ASAP after lumpectomy, but I think they started it so soon because I was a teacher & they wanted to get the treatment started before school began. It was about 3 weeks. The first few appmts. are long ones, so that is prob. why you couldn't get in right away. Also, the onc. might have been out of the office for a few days for further training, vacation, etc. I think you are OK--once you get started it will be every day, so driving to a further facility might make things more difficult.
My rads start date was almost 6 weeks from my lumpectomy.0
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