left breast radiation

Hi, I had rads to left side.
Hi, I had rads to left side. That was 5 yrs ago and I have not yet had any problems. Actually I have never heard of anyone getting broken ribs from radiation. They will probably do a MUGA test or something similar to that on your heart before starting treatment and maby during treatment.

Rads are very doable. Just be sure to take care of your skin during treatment. Best of luck to you whatever you decide to do. Keep us posted.

Jadie

Left breast radiation
I, too, will have left breast radiation. These days they are very careful with how they plan your treatments so that they are not harming the lungs or the heart. I had a radiation simulation recently where they put me in the exact position I will be during treatments and did a "test run" to see where the radiation will fall. A few weeks later, they called because the medical physicist did not like how much of my heart was exposed to the beams. They said if I could hold my breath during the treatments, this would increase the distance between the chest wall and the heart and thus move the heart out of the way of the rads. I went back in yesterday to repeat the simulation while holding my breath for 20 seconds. It worked. They were very pleased with the results and I will be holding my breath every day for 20 seconds.

Mimi

zahalene said:

Back in the dark ages...
they never told me that radiation could affect the heart or lungs. I had left-side radiation in 1989 after a radical mastectomy on that side. About 5 years later I was in a car crash and cracked 2 ribs on that side. A few weeks later I say my onco for a regular follow-up visit and they did a routine chest x-ray. My onco flipped when he saw the cracks, thinking it was mets to the bones! He was soooo relieved when I told him I had been in a wreck.
Anyway, I suffered no damage to the heart or lungs from the radiation as far as I know. But ALL YOU LADIES and GUYS TOO, be sure if you ever have broken bones after cancer treatment to let your onco know what caused it so he doesn't think it is bone mets.

I'm a lefty
Had radiation to left side only. They are very careful to map out your breast-being very careful to avoid the heart. No issues with any rib pain, breakage or such. No lung issues either, and I have had asthma since I was a child.

I had radiation on the left
I had radiation on the left side during which time I had soreness in the first rib under that breast. Oncology Radiologist and Oncologist felt it was a rib that had been burned on the inside and it did resolve when treatment ended. No other problems for me except a moderate burn area that was nearly healed one week after treatment ended.

Left breast radiation
I've just completed my 2nd week of radiation to my left breast after a lumpectomy for Stage 1 cancer (clean lymph nodes) . I had heard stories about damage to the lungs, etc. and expressed my concern to my radiology oncologist, who assured me that with the newest technology, they can exactly pinpoint where and how deep the beams are directed. Each time I go I fit myself into the mold which was previously made (which I assume is standard) so that I'm in the exact position each time. At this point, I'm just starting to see the redness around the area, which I expected, but the fatigue I've heard about hasn't set in yet. Go with the radiation. In my doctor's words, it's your insurance. I'm 72 and aside from this cancer have always been healthy and I intend to live a long time with God's help. I've never heard about broken ribs after radiation. My daughter was diagnosed a couple of years ago with DCIS but opted not to have radiation. She's pre-menopausal and decided that since she was Stage 0, she would "save" the radiation in case she should ever need it in the future. I'm also taking Arimidex which is for post menopausal women with early stage cancer which is hormone receptor positive.

I have never heard of broken
I have never heard of broken ribs from radiation....that really happens? I had it on my left side years ago and no damage that I am aware of and that was a long time ago.