QUESTION: Mammos during Radiation?

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LoveBabyJesus
LoveBabyJesus Member Posts: 1,679 Member
in Breast Cancer #1
Hi ladies!

I have some questions/concerns. Originally, it was confirmed I would get my first mammo – since my dx – next week. But I am undergoing radiation treatments now so my Dr. said I cannot do a mammo while getting radiation. I was dx in January (they want me in a 6-month check up schedule). So she wants me to move it to Oct. and let that be my “yearly date” – but I am supposed to be on a 6-month? My question is, has any of you done mammos/sonos/mri’s during radiation? And has any of you been tested after 6 months since your dx? I wonder how timing can affect me. Thank you.

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  • TraciInLA
    TraciInLA Member Posts: 1,994 Member
    #2
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    No mammograms during radiation
    My surgeon, oncologist, and radiation oncologist all said that radiation really "messes with" or "screws with" your breast tissue (I'm sure there's a more medical term than those, but those are the words they used.). And they all wanted me to wait 3 months after finishing radiation before having my first post-treatment mammogram.

    The National Cancer Institute and American Society of Clinical Oncology recommend the first mammogram at 6 months following radiation, but my doctors all preferred 3 months. So...I was fine with either 3 months or 6 months, whatever they wanted.

    6 months after that first post-treatment mammogram, I had my 2nd one, and the radiologist even made a comment about this being the first "real" one after treatment -- it seemed like he felt that 3 months was maybe a little too soon to get a good reading.

    Don't know if that helps?

    Traci
  • LoveBabyJesus
    LoveBabyJesus Member Posts: 1,679 Member
    #3
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    TraciInLA said:

    No mammograms during radiation
    My surgeon, oncologist, and radiation oncologist all said that radiation really "messes with" or "screws with" your breast tissue (I'm sure there's a more medical term than those, but those are the words they used.). And they all wanted me to wait 3 months after finishing radiation before having my first post-treatment mammogram.

    The National Cancer Institute and American Society of Clinical Oncology recommend the first mammogram at 6 months following radiation, but my doctors all preferred 3 months. So...I was fine with either 3 months or 6 months, whatever they wanted.

    6 months after that first post-treatment mammogram, I had my 2nd one, and the radiologist even made a comment about this being the first "real" one after treatment -- it seemed like he felt that 3 months was maybe a little too soon to get a good reading.

    Don't know if that helps?

    Traci

    Traci - It sure does help, a
    Traci - It sure does help, a lot actually! I was concerned about both the race (with c) and the tissue. I guess this means Oct. is still too soon. :-/ I'll talk to my Doctors again.

    Are you on tamoxifen? I started it while on radiation - now I wonder if this makes a difference? Ugh.

    thank you for your help Traci. Glad you're doing well.
  • mamolady
    mamolady Member Posts: 796 Member
    #4
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    I have never done a mammo on
    I have never done a mammo on a patient having radiation. I think typically the 6 months is standard.
    The radiation changes the characteristics of the breast tissue. That is what is in the books. It is kind of similar to scar tissue. You may experience more than the normal discomfort during the mammo because of that. If you can, take a mild pain reliever about an hour before.
  • TraciInLA
    TraciInLA Member Posts: 1,994 Member
    #5
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    LoveBabyJesus said:

    Traci - It sure does help, a
    Traci - It sure does help, a lot actually! I was concerned about both the race (with c) and the tissue. I guess this means Oct. is still too soon. :-/ I'll talk to my Doctors again.

    Are you on tamoxifen? I started it while on radiation - now I wonder if this makes a difference? Ugh.

    thank you for your help Traci. Glad you're doing well.

    Yes to Tamoxifen
    I am on Tamoxifen -- 21 months and counting!

    I started it during the period between chemo and radiation -- my oncologist said it didn't really matter if I started it before or after radiation. He also remarks at every visit how "normal" my breast tissue feels now, and how well it healed from radiation -- so I don't think Tamoxifen has an effect on that.

    Traci
  • deeb111
    deeb111 Member Posts: 141 Member
    #6
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    rads and mamo
    my docs said no as well i was diagnosed in feb 2011 and finished rads july 21 my doc said she wants to wait till november so to make sure tissue has healed more so i wonder myself but I guess we have to put our trust in God and docs
  • disneyfan2008
    disneyfan2008 Member Posts: 6,583 Member
    #7
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    deeb111 said:

    rads and mamo
    my docs said no as well i was diagnosed in feb 2011 and finished rads july 21 my doc said she wants to wait till november so to make sure tissue has healed more so i wonder myself but I guess we have to put our trust in God and docs

    I did not get mammo for
    I did not get mammo for about 3mths after I was done with Rad...or about that..

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