Side Effects of Mammosite Radiation Therapy
Comments
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The Savi is a relatively newer device. I happened to go to the office of the doc who invented it (his wife was my doctor). Here is a link to some info on it:
http://www.arizona-breast-cancer-specialists.com/treatment/SAVI.html
I did have to change my own (once) while home....but it was no biggie. When you are in treatment, the nurse will do it for you.0 -
I just got home from seeing the surgeon (alot of info to absorb WHEW) and I have opted to go with the Mammosite.. I came on this site to see if there was any information regarding this. I am scheduled for lumpectomy on 4-30-13 with an inseration date 5-3-13 w/ the rad the week later. To be honest I am getting a little scared that I choose this after reading some of the comments.
I guess I still have time to do more research and change my mind? Do I talk to the Surg or Rad Doc if I change my mind. Oh boy overwhelming stuff
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Hello Jude 123:
My name is Judy also. I read your blog and I will pray for your successful lumpectomy surgery and your mammosite as well. If you qualify for mammosite (and many women don"t), you should consider yourself very fortunate that you found a doctor who knows how to do them. Ask as many questions of the surgeon as you have -- how often do you do mammosite? Do you like to do mammosite? This will give you an idea how experienced they are and how well you will be taken care of. I chose mammosite almost seven years ago when it was on the cutting edge and there were no guarantees and I am so happy I did. Yes, I experienced a lot of things such as cysts and fluid in the cyst, but I would do it again. I only went through radiation twice a day for five days and the radiation went strictly to the cancer site. I didn't have time for 33-35 days of radiation. I needed to get on with my life. If you go into surgery with a positive attitude and come out a survivor, what more can you ask for? All of us on this blog are here for you and will be sending you our very best.
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Thanks Judy, to be honest I read alot of your other blogs which did calm me down. All I did yesterday was do research on Mammosite and come to find out that by Dr group was one of the groups that was among the first to utilize this MammoSite and is now recognized as a MammoSite expert. I believe I was told this during the appt with the BS but everything was just so overwhelming... So they do have experience and based on what I read that is a real plus. The DR doing the surgery will be the same DR putting in the balloon. I have started writing down questions that I will discuss with my nurse navigator (she should be calling me in the next day or two) I have appts with the RT on 4-15-13. In addition I guess it will also depend on what the results are after they do the path on the actual tumor and nodes. BTW I am from the ST Petersburg area.
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Hi Jude 123:
I am so happy to hear you are on the right path with the right doctors. St. Petersburg FL has some of the best doctors and I know you will have great care. I had my breast surgery in Fort Myers FL and unfortunately, right after I did, my bs decided to leave the area, marry an oncologist and give up her practice. I'm pretty sure your surgeon will be working with a team of doctors for the mammosite as mine did. Don't hesitate to ask questions and they will give you the information you want to hear. We're all sending prayers and good thoughts to you. Keep us informed.
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Jude 123, Take a deep breath, it is a big decision you are about to make. My first question is are you DCIS or more involved? If you have DCIS there is no chance lymph nodes are involved, so they don't give the oncotype test, but if it is more then they will check the lymph nodes, and in many cases give the oncotype test as well. In my case it was given, and I came up with a score in the gray area which means they don't know if chemo will help or not. I just wish I had been aware that scenario might have come up because chemo is usually given first.
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Thank you both Judy and Kira 1234 for your postive thoughts
According to the path the report of the biospy it states "Infiltrating well differentiated ductal carcinoma, grade 1, ductal carcinoma in situ, grade 1, tumor infiltrates that. At the surgeion office she gave me a check list which listed key points of my breast cancer. She checked off, Ductual and DCIS, but she stated that it is the Ductual that I should focus on (she put a a little * next to that). So what I get from that is yes, it started as DCIS, but it has moved somewhere else?
I talked with my nurse navigator and she also told me that it was highly unlikely that it spread to the nodes, because of the fact that I was deemed a candiate for MammaSite so the test will probably not be necessary. She also told me that most of my questions that I asked her, the RO will be able to answer. And boy have I been writing questions down I have learned that you just have to do that because once the doctor starts talking you get overwhelm again and forget what you wanted to ask. I am just grateful that I am able to have somewhere (here) to be go to express my concerns and emotions. The amazing part is everyone totally understands this roller coaster ride. Just Awesome.
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Jude,
Many of us have both DCIS as well as the IDC or as in my case ILC. Because you have IDC they will need to take the node to check it. Even a small tumor can have the Oncotype test run on it, and I really do encourage you to have it run. It will give you an idea of how aggressive the tumor is. I's funny because some small tumors have high scores you just don't know if the test isn't run.
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Kira1234, I guess you are an early riser too.
I love my mornings, when everyone is still sleeping and I have some me time. Regarding the Oncotype, yes I am definitely going to request it.0 -
The funny thing is usually I hate to get up in the morning, but today for some reason I am up.
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I have chosen to do the mammosite radiation. After speaking with the RO I believe this is the right choice for me. My BS and RO have been working as a team for the last 4 years. I also have spoken with several ladies that have gone on this same journey with these doctors and had nothing but praise for them. I am trying to stay as positive as anyone can and the overwhelmness has subsided a bit. However the closer I get to the surgery date (4-30-13) I feel the overwhelmness coming back. When I first received the DX I was just in shock but now I am just plain scared. I just want to get the tumor out, treat it and move on with my life..
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I had 6 weeks to wait to my surgery too - i went back and forth with that feeling of overwhelmingness. I stopped coming here, stopped reading...once i made my decision. I had to really just give it up to the universe, it was just too big for me. Once I did that, I just wanted the whole thing over.
Its been almost a year since LX and internal rads. Looking back, I would have made the same choices - even after all the post research ive done since. I made the right decision for me. Im not looking back, but forward. Ive moved on. I sleep at night. Youll get there too. Good luck with everything!0 -
Thanks Shayne
I had an appt with a LSW 2 weeks ago and he did indicate that I needed to stop surfing the web because that was contributing to me feeling so over whelmed. I did what he said, and it really did help me. Once I made my decision on my treatment plan I was able to focus better at work and at home. It lifted alot off my shoulders. Tomorrow is my last day of work, so I will be able to get my house in order, so when I get home from the hospital all I will need to do is concentrate on getting better and prepare for the following week of radiation. There will be no looking back, only forward.
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Glad it gave you some relief to make a decision. Try to fill your days doing what you love. Being with friends and keeping busy, or you mind busy with other things. I was so ready when surgery day came, I wasnt even that nervous (could have been the xanax I took
) Keep us posted after your treatment.......Treatment for me was 90mins away, so we stayed the week down there and made it like a vacation, going out to dinner/movies/naps. The Am Cancer Soc paid for our lodging - it went by quickly.
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My ride is only about about 45 minutes each way, which I will be planning on coming home in between treatments. Were able to drive yourself?
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No, i could have tho. My husband took time off of work. The very last day I was really tired. Make sure you take your vitamins and eat well, get lots of sleep. I had no issues sleeping either, and I had the savi device.
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Jude123
I just lifted you up at Mass today for a successful surgery and a total and complete healing on Tuesday. Just remember it will be over soon. I would make sure you have home care for your mammosite. You don't want to take care of it yourself. Don't be in any hurry to drive or anything else. You need time to heal properly. Everyone on this blog is pulling for you and we are there for you. Never stop asking questions of your doctors. We'll be waiting to hear from you. All the BEST!
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Judy, thank you for thinking of me and for your prayers..I am in count down mode right now. I don't even know what time surgery is they are going to call me today between 2pm and 7pm. I am so ready. My husband will be driving me to the rads appts the entire week. Regarding home care, are you talking about during the week of rads or after?
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Jude 123:
Today is your day and everyone is pulling for you. As far as home care, I meant someone coming in to change your port for the mammosite during rads. No one told you about that? You are entitled to help. Please inquire.
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They do it for you at the rad place. I only had to do it once the weekend before rads started. It was nothing.
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I did the same thing, I waivered, I went thru planning and treatment for the "traditional" radiation ( 6 weeks) but then changed my mind, had my surgeon place the mammo-site, then back to rad-onc for a 2nd planning/treatment. I completed the treatment April 10th, looking back, I'm glad I did it. You will have to wear a bra 24/7, two trips per day approx 4-6 hrs apart. You will be fine, think positive, be glad you have this option. good luck.
Now, I go for a bone density scan and need to research the medications discussed.
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Congratulations vrsedond:
You are a survivor thriver! Before you or anybody else having bc surgery agrees to take meds after, you need to ask your doctor "what is my survival rate if I don't take meds after surgery versus what is my survival rate if I do?" I don't know too many women who took tamoxifen or other drugs who stayed on it very long. They are nasty drugs and can do more harm than good. I refused all drugs after surgery because I took a gamble. No one knows how long we will live except God. Do you want quality of life or do you want to take drugs that could do damage? If you have any conditions such as weak bones that could be affected by these drugs, be sure to tell your doctor. I'd like to know how many women on our blog have been taking these drugs, how long and their side effects? The doctor won't tell you anything unless you ask. My doctor didn't push me.
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Judy,
I am puzzled by your statement, "I refused all drugs after surgery because I took a gamble." Your signature says that you were ER-/PR-/HER2- so tamoxifen or other hormonals would not benefit you and should not have been recommended by your doctor.
Although we all should look carefully at our likely benefits and risks, your situation made this decision easy for you -- unlike those who have hormonally positive cancers.
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Surgery went well. I am very uncomfortable, but do not have alot of pain. I can not shake the nausea feeling. The BS told my husband that they only had to test 1 node and it was negative. This was very good news. I go see both BS and Rad dr this Friday to get the ballon inserted. So far all is going as planned. I will inquire about the care of the site.
Have a great day everyone!
Judy
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Jude 123, so happy your sugery was a success and you are now on the road to a complete recovery. Redsox, my Florida Cancer specialist, one of the best on my surgical team, did suggest taking drugs after my surgery as most doctors will. He even sent my tests to Cornell University for review. His response: 85% survival with drugs; 80% survival without drugs. I'm taking the gamble!
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Good Morning ladies.. I am recovery well from my LX on 4-30-13. I started radiation on Monday via Mammosite and I am starting to feel the yuckiness from it. It came on so suddenly, one minute I was feeling good and then it was boom and it hit hard. Friday will be the last day, so really I am blessed to have to endure the side affects for only one week compared to the standard 6-7 weeks. I hope everyone has a great day.
Jude123
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Hang in there Jude! Eat healthy and drink a lot of water....lots of sleep.
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Jude: My prayers are with you...I too had the mammosite...I remember it was about Wednesday that it started to really burn inside of me...The doctor told me to make sure that I was taking Advil that Naproxin just didn't touch the pain...once I did that, it was much better...I was especially nervous about them taking the balloon out of me - when they changed it from the fake to the real balloon, that was done under anesthesia...After that last treatment, I was shaking like my dog did at the vet! Honestly, it felt like a bandaid was ripped off real fast...don't worry about that, okay? I now have an area that is a bit "hard" but no real pain after 3 years...never filled with fluid, no issues, other than my areola is almost the same color as my skin (I'm blonde and fairskinned) However, I had BC 18 months later in the other breast (DCIS) that required whole breast and let me tell you, mammosite was a breeze comparatively...And that other areola is skin colored as well...at least I match...(gotta find the silver lining, right?) Good luck honey, you're going to be fine...
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ritaz: Thanks for the positive encouragement! Today is the day it comes out and I am little nervous about it. When they switch the fake to the real, it was done in the doctors office with just numbing medicine, yes it did hurt. However the the best part is I will be able to finally take a shower
after almost 2 weeks!0 -
I was so nervous about having the Savi taken out......I ended up taking a pain pill - so I didnt feel ANYthing! Enjoy your shower!! that was the best part!
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