saw rad onc today, booster question cleared up

confused123
confused123 Member Posts: 251
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
I saw my radiation oncologist today and asked if I was going to have the boosters. She said she did not think I need to do them. She said there is no data on effectiveness of having them done with mastectomies and some hospitals don't do them for women with mastectomies at all and some do. All women who had lumpectomies get them because they target the tumor or incision site. The studies were done for boosters given to women with lumpectomies and the reoccurence rate for women that had boosters was 4% and without boosters was 7%. She said the risk of reoccurence is less after mastectomy over lumpectomy anyway. So I may not do them. It would mean 28 treatments. Has anyone with mastectomy only had that many? What made you decide.


Kim

Comments

  • Jeanne D
    Jeanne D Member Posts: 1,867
    #2
    Hey Kim!
    I had a lumpectomy, so, I can't answer for someone having a mastectomy. And, yes, the boosters target the tumor or incision site. I had 25 regular rads and 12 boosters this time, this year. I didn't have boosters the first time as they weren't doing that back then. In my case, my oncologist said that the chance of a recurrence was about 20% if I did not do the rads with boosters, so, I did them.

    I am not sure Kim, but, I think the long term survival rate is the same with a lumpectomy or a mastectomy. That is why some women that can, opt for a lumpectomy, as it has been proven that the survival rate is the same.

    I am sure the bc survivors here that had a mastectomy and rads or no rads will answer you a lot better than I can.

    Mainly, I just want to wish you good luck Kim!

    Love, Jeanne
  • Ltalcott
    Ltalcott Member Posts: 119
    #3
    Jeanne D said:

    Hey Kim!
    I had a lumpectomy, so, I can't answer for someone having a mastectomy. And, yes, the boosters target the tumor or incision site. I had 25 regular rads and 12 boosters this time, this year. I didn't have boosters the first time as they weren't doing that back then. In my case, my oncologist said that the chance of a recurrence was about 20% if I did not do the rads with boosters, so, I did them.

    I am not sure Kim, but, I think the long term survival rate is the same with a lumpectomy or a mastectomy. That is why some women that can, opt for a lumpectomy, as it has been proven that the survival rate is the same.

    I am sure the bc survivors here that had a mastectomy and rads or no rads will answer you a lot better than I can.

    Mainly, I just want to wish you good luck Kim!

    Love, Jeanne

    Long-term survival rate is
    Long-term survival rate is the same for lumpectomy vs. mastectomy.

    It's the recurrence rate that is different. If you have virtually no breast tissue, your chance of recurrence is much lower.

    Or so explained my oncology surgeon.

    Lias
  • susie09
    susie09 Member Posts: 2,930
    #4
    Ltalcott said:

    Long-term survival rate is
    Long-term survival rate is the same for lumpectomy vs. mastectomy.

    It's the recurrence rate that is different. If you have virtually no breast tissue, your chance of recurrence is much lower.

    Or so explained my oncology surgeon.

    Lias

    I am having the boosters as
    I am having the boosters as it is part of my treatment. I had a lumpectomy. I know some have it with mastectomy's and some don't. Everyone is different. Your oncologist will determine what is best for you.

    And, you still have breast tissue left, even with a mastectomy. Just ask your plastic surgeon and he will verify that. There is no way they can take all of your breast tissue even with a mastectomy.

    Wishing you good luck! Keep us posted!
  • rjjj
    rjjj Member Posts: 1,822 Member
    #5
    susie09 said:

    I am having the boosters as
    I am having the boosters as it is part of my treatment. I had a lumpectomy. I know some have it with mastectomy's and some don't. Everyone is different. Your oncologist will determine what is best for you.

    And, you still have breast tissue left, even with a mastectomy. Just ask your plastic surgeon and he will verify that. There is no way they can take all of your breast tissue even with a mastectomy.

    Wishing you good luck! Keep us posted!

    Not Sure
    They only had me down to have 28, I had a mastectomy. But I asked for the boosters and they gave them to me , I just figured it couldn't hurt.
    hugs, jackie
  • CR1954
    CR1954 Member Posts: 1,390 Member
    #6
    Kim.......
    I had mastectomy and had 28 rads and no boosters.

    I trusted my rad onc to decide on that. I went with what he thought.

    CR
  • DianeBC
    DianeBC Member Posts: 3,881 Member
    #7
    CR1954 said:

    Kim.......
    I had mastectomy and had 28 rads and no boosters.

    I trusted my rad onc to decide on that. I went with what he thought.

    CR

    I am in rads now, but, soon
    I am in rads now, but, soon to be done. Doing the boosters now. But, I had a lumpectomy too.

    Luck to you!
  • angel23
    angel23 Member Posts: 28
    #8
    Booster's
    I am having a lumpectomy with possible simple mastectomy on the 28th. My surgeon said if you have a lumpectomy, rads were for sure. What is "Boosters"?? Does Chemo come before or after rads?/ I am new to all of this terminology...

    Thanks, Angel 23
  • confused123
    confused123 Member Posts: 251
    #9
    Thanks ladies for
    Thanks ladies for answering.

    CR thanks for telling me you did not do them. My rad onc said she doesn't think I do but would do them if I want.
  • confused123
    confused123 Member Posts: 251
    #10
    confused123 said:

    Thanks ladies for
    Thanks ladies for answering.

    CR thanks for telling me you did not do them. My rad onc said she doesn't think I do but would do them if I want.

    angel
    Boosters are part of radiation. They are a higher dose given at the end. Usually around 28 regular doses and then 4 of the "booster" dose. As far as chemo or rads first it depends. Everyone has different cancer, hormone positive/negative, her2 pos/neg and all other differences we can have. Also different doctors sometimes do things different. Sometimes chemo even comes before surgery.

    I read on another post that you are a nurse. My friend is also and is learning new things about cancer treatment from me every week.

    Kim
  • DianeBC
    DianeBC Member Posts: 3,881 Member
    #11
    confused123 said:

    angel
    Boosters are part of radiation. They are a higher dose given at the end. Usually around 28 regular doses and then 4 of the "booster" dose. As far as chemo or rads first it depends. Everyone has different cancer, hormone positive/negative, her2 pos/neg and all other differences we can have. Also different doctors sometimes do things different. Sometimes chemo even comes before surgery.

    I read on another post that you are a nurse. My friend is also and is learning new things about cancer treatment from me every week.

    Kim

    I am having 25 reg rads and
    I am having 25 reg rads and 10 boosters. I think it is different with facilities, radiation oncologists and what the patient needs.

    They are not a higher dose of radiation, they are just a different kind. I forget now what it is called, but, I will find out and post it.
  • Noel
    Noel Member Posts: 3,095 Member
    #12
    DianeBC said:

    I am having 25 reg rads and
    I am having 25 reg rads and 10 boosters. I think it is different with facilities, radiation oncologists and what the patient needs.

    They are not a higher dose of radiation, they are just a different kind. I forget now what it is called, but, I will find out and post it.

    My boosters were a higher
    My boosters were a higher dose of radition and they are the ones that burnt me. I was ok until them. But, I got over the burns. They are so quick though. You just lay down, they zap you and that is it. lol

    Good luck!
  • confused123
    confused123 Member Posts: 251
    #13
    Noel said:

    My boosters were a higher
    My boosters were a higher dose of radition and they are the ones that burnt me. I was ok until them. But, I got over the burns. They are so quick though. You just lay down, they zap you and that is it. lol

    Good luck!

    Well I have decided, no
    Well I have decided, no boosters for me. There is no research to support me doing it and now I have heard it is an increased risk of sarcoma which runs on my family. Thanks all for your comments.

    Kim

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