☺RADIATION TREATMENT ☼☼☼ QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS☻

DebbyM said:

Nope. I just had the
Nope. I just had the "regular radiation treatments". I got along really well and felt very good about having them. My oncologist at my cancer center also felt that there wasn't enough "long term" facts on survival and recurrences with mammosite rads. And, I didn't want to take a chance on going thru that if there wasn't any clear data on if it works. I wanted to be done with bc. You might ask where you got your treatment at Connie for anyone that might be done longer than you.

Debby

crselby said:

brachytherapy
Hi Sandy. I had the 5 day, multicatheter interstitial brachytherapy (not the Mammosite device) starting August 30. Four days prior to that I had 45 multicatheters inserted through my breast that had had the lumpectomy. It took 2.5 hours for that procedure but the Mammosite insertion takes far less. Both are surgical procedures and so you will need to be very careful to avoid infection before, during and after you begin the radiation treatments. You should be fine if you do what the nurses tell you, down to the last detail.

Four days after the insertions, I started the treatments, twice a day, at least 6 hours apart. Although whole breast radiation, like these other women are talking about, takes very little time with each session, my treatments required a little radioactive seed to traverse each catheter. That takes a little longer. My sessions were 45 minutes long, but treatment with 45 catheters was a record amount (my surgeon took a huge amount of tissue out) and most women will not have more than 25. The Mammosite device does not have catheters but has a "balloon" into which the radioactive seed is placed for a short time during each session, then it is removed. I watched women with Mammosite devices come and go in 15 minutes! Treatment takes up a lot of your time during these 5 days, but then it's over sooner, right?

After the second treatment on day 4 I hit the "fatigue wall". Out of the blue, I could do nothing more than sleep for the rest of that day. Same feeling hit after the next morning's treatment! It made the removal of the catheters after the final, afternoon treatment on day 5, a great great relief!

Now that I am 2.5 months out from all that, I feel various lumps in that best that come and go, some are tender some are not. I figure, since the rad onc doc was not concerned about it, that these are signs of the tissues healing. That includes, probably, the fat dying and changing, too.

I've read that the resulting fat necrosis makes future mammograms hard to read, so I'm hoping to push for them to be read by someone very experienced, when that time comes. Don't want any more unnecessary biopsies.

But, like you, I too would like to hear from someone who had brachytherapy internal radiation years ago. I'd like to know how things progress for us. Anybody out there who had this newer treatment done a few years ago? Looking for info. Connie

Kylez said:

This thread helped me a lot
This thread helped me a lot when I was having rads Sandy. Ask anything and you always get an answer. I had the "norm" rads and got along pretty well. Wishing you good luck!

KYLEZ ♥

survivorbc09 said:

Pain
Is anyone still having pain in their boob after rads are done for a couple of months? Mine is still sore. My rads oncologist said this can last for up to a year. Has anyone else had this or been told this? Thanks!

LadyParvati said:

So Much GREAT Info!
Wow! I love this thread--there's so much great information! It's nice to learn about the range of possibilities for radiation and its consequences and realize that my experience won't necessarily follow the worst I've read yet be able to prepare mentally for the worst while hoping for the best!

I'm having a bit different rad than most I see here--I'm having accelerated partial irradiation--the MammoSite version--which means rad twice a day for 5 days beginning Dec. 7. I've been told it has a higher risk of fat necrosis--has anyone experienced any problems with fat necrosis? Did it improve over time?

Thanks! Sandy

aztec45 said:

Thanks for the Post
Thanks for the post. I will be starting my RADS tomorrow. I am concerned about the fatigue. I am already fatigued as it is since I can't seem to get my red cells back up. I am taking 2 iron tablets per day and have also resorted to eating liver. I can't afford to get even more tired. I am one who has worked through chemo and will work through RADS. I need the money and to keep my insurance up.

Anyway, thanks for the post. I think it has been helpful.

P

Noel said:

Hi Peggy
I am glad that it has helped so far. Don't be nervous about Monday Peggy. You will be fine. And, the treatments go so fast. It will take you longer to undress than to get zapped. You don't feel anything when the machine is working. Once you get the first one out of the way and you see what happens, you will feel a lot better. I had several wonderful techs everyday that were so nice and helpful. And, I loved my rads oncologist. I saw him about 3 times a week. I hope you have the same experience.

♥Noel

Akiss4me said:

Hi Survivor....
I have not completed my rads yet (getting close) but I was told that it is possible to experience what you are going through. They wanted me to be prepared. I was also told that I would continue to get tired as the acumulative effect from rads lingers for several weeks once treatment ends. Continue to moisturize!! I can't wait till rads is over so I can use a moisturizer I know will not make me itch. All I can use right now is Aloe which also is suppose to help with the hot feeling. They also sell Aloe with Lidocain in it at Walmart or most any drugstore. ♥ Pammy

survivorbc09 said:

Great post
This is a good post for someone starting rads. It has good info from everyone except one.

Good luck to all of you!

HUGS

aztec45 said:

Great Post
Great post, Noel,

I finished 33 rounds of RADS January 21, 2010. I will be happy to answer questions or share experiences.

P