# of Rads?
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Topic: # of Rads?
Posted By: Roxanne
Subject: # of Rads?
Date Posted: Aug 17 2009 at 8:11am
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I hope this isn't a dumb question but I was wondering why different people receive different amount of rads. I thought I was originally scheduled for 42, then I it was 33 and I and heard from the rads. tech today that it was 28. Personally I like the higher number just to make sure. What is the reasoning behind the different numbers and do we as patients have a say in it? Thanks  Roxanne www.roxannesjourney.blogspot.com ------------- DX 1/09 Metast. Adenocarcinoma Stage IIIb Grade 3 TNBC BRCA 1/2 Neg. Lumpectomy & Ax. Node Dissect. 4 Tx A/C finished 5/09 12 Tx Taxol finished 8/09 35 rads finished 9/09 |
Replies:
Posted By: Nancy
Date Posted: Aug 17 2009 at 10:05am
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Roxanne,
My Lori had 28 rads but was scheduled for more also. She would not have had any since she had a mastectomy, but her first surgery, a lumpectomy, was to remove what they said was a "fibrodenoma cyst", which it was not. That surgeon did not get clean magins, even though the second surgeon did.
I do believe that it depends on where your tumor was located, and if did they got clean margins. If you have a lumpectomy then rads usually follow. You do not want to have any more radiation than is absolutely necessary, as radiation causes cancer. Radiation is not without problems, as some doctors would lead you to believe. Just ask the women on the site. The after affects can be long lasting.
Hugs,
Nancy ------------- Nancy DD Lori dx TNBC June 13,2007 Lumpectomy due to incorrect dx of a cyst mastectomy July 6 2007 chemo ACT all 3 every 3 weeks 6 tx Aug-Nov 28 rads ended Jan 2008 |
Posted By: Terri
Date Posted: Aug 17 2009 at 10:30am
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Roxanne,
Nancy is correct that it depends on the onc, the margins, etc. I had 28 whole breast rads, then 7 Boosts, which target the tumor site in a more concentrated way. The reason was that my margins were close so my rads onc wanted to give me a good zapping. His words were that he really fried me. There are studies now that might show that a shorter regimen of rads is just as good for preventing recurrence with less side effects. Others on this site know more about that.
Hugs,
Terri
p.s. there are NO dumb questions!  ------------- IDC DX 8/17/07 (age 41) Stage 1 Grade 1-2, 1.35 cm 2 nodes neg, Lumpectomy 10/07 Chemo: FEC 100 x 6, 35 rads BRCA 1/2 NEG PET/CT & Brain CT Nov 09 Brain MRI Aug 2012 NED |
Posted By: Paddler
Date Posted: Aug 18 2009 at 5:57pm
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In theory you could get a single big blast of radiation. But it's divided into multiple small doses to help minimize side effects. Studies have shown that patients who can tolerate slightly higher doses per treatment can have the number of doses reduced with the same outcome. That was the explanation given to me when my number of treatments was reduced from the estimate initially given to me after my surgery.
Leslie
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Posted By: Bunnysmama
Date Posted: Aug 20 2009 at 10:35am
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I agree with what the other ladies have said here. In addition, my radiation oncologist explained to me that there is a TON of work that goes into the planning for each patient because no two people are the same. There are so many moving parts that get taken into consideration, such as breast density, age of patient, location of tumor, depth of tumor, proximity to ribs, lungs, heart... He told me there is as much physics as chemistry involved in the decisions about the dose of radiation that is given. Hope that helps. ------------- Dx 11/06 @ age 37 IDC Stage I, Grade 3 BRCA2+ |
Posted By: PauldingMom
Date Posted: Feb 24 2010 at 3:31pm
| I had 33 with 5 boost for a total of 38. It was crazy trying to find someone to cover for me everyday at work for 3 hours as I had a 1 hour trip each way. Glad it's over. |
Posted By: kazza1
Date Posted: Feb 24 2010 at 4:53pm
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I had 20 on the chest wall and 25 on the suparvascular (neck area). I had a mast with clear margins - but they really wanted to hit the skin on the chest- just to make sure. I was told that the neck area is done slower at a lower dose( for safety reasons) hence the extra 5. I have just come back from the last one and have to say I am very happy it is over.
Good luck - use the creams liberally as instructed. By the time you get to number 20 you will be thrilled with the lower number.
Hugs
Kazza
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Posted By: Kellyless
Date Posted: Feb 24 2010 at 4:58pm
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28 regular, 5 boosts - total 33. Maybe he means 28 regular and then the boosts? you probably see your doc at least once a week, you can ask him/her when you see her.
I agree - at about 20 I was OVER IT. Slather slather, all the cream you can get on it, and aloe gel for "cooling" affect. ------------- IDC, 2.2 cm, Stage IIb,lumpectomy 1/30/09 ACx4,Tx4 36 rads 6/1/16 Local recurrence same breast, same spot 1.8cm Carb.4x every 3 wks, Taxol 12x once wk. Dbl Mast. PCR!! Reconstruction fail, NED! |