Albinism & Radiation

lotstohopefor
lotstohopefor Member Posts: 1
in Breast Cancer #1
I am an albino with breastcancer. I had a short time ago a successful lumpectomy and am now facing radiation. For that I have a choice between a low dose radiation for six weeks or a high dose radiation for five days. Is there somebody out in a similar situation? To hear from your experience would help me a lot.

Comments

  • mamolady
    mamolady Member Posts: 796 Member
    #2
    bump
    I had the 6 week course of radiation. Only one area blistered. Not bad otherwise. Different situation as I had mastectomy. I read that how you respond to the sun normally does not indicate how you will respond to the radiation. Like, if you burn in the sun easily, you won't necessarily burn easier with radiation. I don't know that being an albino is an indication of any reaction to rads.
    The five day thing is new and it would be good to get more info from here so I am bumping this thread back to the top.
    Cindy
  • CypressCynthia
    CypressCynthia Member Posts: 4,014 Member
    #3
    I don't have albinism, but I
    I don't have albinism, but I have had radiation twice: once in 1987 and then again in 2009. I just had a very mild sunburn the first time and only mild queasiness the second time. Good luck to you! I am praying that you will have and easy time of it.
  • skipper54
    skipper54 Member Posts: 936 Member
    #4
    CypressCynthia said:

    I don't have albinism, but I
    I don't have albinism, but I have had radiation twice: once in 1987 and then again in 2009. I just had a very mild sunburn the first time and only mild queasiness the second time. Good luck to you! I am praying that you will have and easy time of it.

    no easy answer
    I usually burn like crazy inthe sun but didn't have problems with radiation until the end of week 5. I did blister and peel and get pretty miserable but found that using the creams the offered and going topless when at home alone (staying away from windows since you can see straight in our house from the street) helped with all of that. I, too, would suggest getting more info on the 5 day treatment. I know a woman who went twice a day for 3 weeks instead of the 6 1/2 week run but each person is different. Sometimes the best question to ask is "what would you do if you were in my shoes?" Or "what would you suggest for your mother, wife, sister?"
  • Gabe N Abby Mom
    Gabe N Abby Mom Member Posts: 2,413
    #5
    My rads were twice a day for
    My rads were twice a day for 22 days...not to shorten the duration but to increase the dosage and efficacy of the rads. I was pink in the treated area the first evening, stayed pink for a while. Then went to red, but I never had any blisters or open skin. The last few days I had a rads rash, and then the skin turned brown and peeled after treatments were over. But again never any blisters or open skin.

    However your skin reacts, the docs have creams and ointments that can help. So if it were me, the question would be about which will be more effective in the long term. Does one route give you a better chance at beating the cancer long term? You might consider asking if your rads onc has treated others with albinism, or getting a second opinion.

    If the long term effectiveness is equal, then it does come down to how your body will react. Unfortunately, no one can answer that for you because we are each so very different...two people with the same skin type, same treatment, and same diagnosis will react differently. And since no one can predict that for you, then you have to go with what feels right for you, go with your gut.

    My best wishes go out to you. Please come back and let us know what you decide and how you're doing.

    Hugs,

    Linda

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