Have you had a break in radiation treatment/

I had 5 radiation treatments left when I ended up in the hospital due to burns and low blood counts. I'm 3 years post treatment and no evidence of disease. A few days before I went to the hospital, the radiation tech asked the radiation dr to look at the burns. He said to continue with treatments. I almost didn't finish the last 5 but the break helped.

Ann

I had a week off at the end too.  My radiologist said my inside and outside was inflamed and I should have a break before the last chemo and last 7 radiation treatments.  This really upset me but he said that it would not affect my outcome and that most times when they didn't give someone a break they wish they would have.  I finished everything in March 2013 and have had no evidence of recurrance on all my scans and check-ups since.

I am sorry to hear you are at the point where you need to take a break, I hope the break does you well and you get right back on track. It seems so many wind up needing to stop for a break near the end or wind up in the hospital, for those of you that have needed a break or wound up in the hospital do you ahave any adivice for those of us in treatment that may help us to muddle through without being hospitalized or to keep our skin from extreme burns in order to eliminate the break ?

Sierra28: I had Stage IIIB and had to stop radiation treatments with 5 treatments left due to a two-week hospitalization for low blood counts and then C-diff. The Radiation Oncologist would not continue the treatments afterwards, saying it would do no good at that point. He was quite negative, telling me when I was at my very lowest point and sick as a dog that I would need surgery because "you still have cancer". The Chemo Oncologist was more positive, and had already told me that radiation continues to work for quite a while after treatment ends.  The Scan three months later showed no evidence of cancer. The Colo-rectal surgeon was quite surprised because he also expected to see a tumor remaining but there was nothing but scar tissue.  Two years later, my scans and all tests are still coming back clear. I know it's very scary at the point where you are now.... Keep thinking thoughts for a positive outcome!

sierra28 said:

Rang my bell today.

I only had to take 6 days off.  My break was because of low platlettes. Finished my treatments today and the Dr. said the tumor is almost gone.

Congratulations on being done with your treatment!  Now you can focus on healing.  I wish you all the very best in your recovery!

gabby_ca said:

In a couple of weeks now, I

In a couple of weeks now, I will be EIGHT YEARS NED.

I did 5400 Gys but in only 24 doses which was BRUTAL. I did m-f for 2 weeks and then a m-tuesday and then had a 3 week break before doing the same thing again.  Radiation is cumulative which means that it builds up the further you go and will continue doing its job for a few weeks even after you are completely done.  My counts were never an issue.  This was a new way of treating the cancer that I had here in Canada.  I also had gene therapy as well with Mito/5FU.

That's fantastic that your 8 years Ned.  If you don't mind me asking, what stage were you and what type of gene therapy did you have?  I had the most radiaction a person can receive. I was very burnt but it only hurt when I went to bathroom  .  i too am from canada. Close to toronto area. I healed fairly quickly and was back to work a week and a half after treatment. I've had a few scares in my lung area ad well as nodes behind lungS. The dr had meetings about me cause they don't think my nodules look like a typical nodule. I do have asthma must it scares me that they are really kinda just guessing it's related to my asthma. I had quite a few nodules , but they say they got smaller on a second scan. But I just had my third scan and again more nodules are in new places some are gone but they still think some kind of infection related to asthma .  If that's the case then how come no one is trying to fix this problem. I do sometimes feel a tightening or a feeling like something is in my back area like a knot or something when I do house work or something strenuous . I keep asking myself if I should get a second opinion. The dr that treated you, did they have experiance with treating anal cancer ?  I think I was my oncologists second patient Only. He is great don't get me wrong, but this is my life and I want to be around a lot longer.   God bless you. Pem