Anyone have acceleration radiation?
Hi, I'm new here. My biopsy result was DCIS stage 0. A lumpectomy was performed, my surgeon said no further surgery is needed. Radiation is next but the thought of five days a week for six weeks depresses me. Has anyone did the acceleration radiation? I could handle that to shorten treatment. Can we firmly request it or are we at the mercy of the radiologist recommendation?
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Hi again @pinkrules,
Welcome again to our Community! We are so sorry for the reasons that bring you here, but we're so glad you've found us. You're sure to find our community an amazing source of advice, information, encouragement and support — we're all here for you!
While you wait for the ever-helpful responses of our incredible members, we wanted to share some articles you may find helpful:
- About Accelerated Partial Breast Radiation
- Podcast: Hypofractionated Radiation Therapy and how to advocate for it for yourself
- Research News: Accelerated Radiation Therapy for 1 Week Offers Same Benefits as 3-Week Schedule for Early-Stage Breast Cancer
We hope this helps! Please keep us posted with what your doctor has to say.
—The Mods
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@pinkrules - sorry you’ve had to join us on this forum, but I’d like to extend a warm welcome. I had 5 sessions of accelerated partial breast irradiation. This was per my RO although she did not explain the rationale for the accelerated treatment. It may have been my age (63 at diagnosis), or that I was only Stage 1 or that it was at the height of Covid in January 2021. I tolerated it very well. So far I am doing well, although honestly I haven’t had a mammogram in 2 years (long story 😞). It would certainly be worthwhile asking about accelerated treatment.
Best of luck.
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Thank you, harley. This is
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hello! I was given the choice of 19 long course or 6 short course, more intense radiation treatments. I chose 6 and completed treatment last Wednesday. I’m still in the delicate stage where skin issues can develop, but I’m very happy to not be going to the cancer centre again this week and next! ! Wishing you the best.
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I just completed 5 days Friday 9/1/23 with an additional 4 boosts to the surgical site at Stanford. The 4 boosts because it was 3.3 cm and aggressive. So far I am ok, skin is fine, a few mild, random pains now and then, but totally tolerable. The US is slow to get on board with this. The UK has been offering this treatment for awhile.
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@hannavas1 - We just wanted to drop a note to say hi and welcome to our incredible community! We're sorry you have to come here, but really glad you found us and shared your experience. Let us know if you have any questions for us. We're always here!
Sincerely,
The Mods
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Thank you everyone. Still trying to figure out how to post here. lol My radiologist gave me five options to choose from. It was very empowering. No radiation, accelerated partial 5 day or full breast, 15 day partial or full breast. I chose 5 day partial. Had three treatments already and doing great. Again, thank you everyone for your well wishes!
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@pinkrules Can you share more about your diagnosis and treatment? I am Trying to decide on radiation and no one has offered the partial or accelerated option tho I’m in a grey zone of even getting radiation.
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Hi simpop! Here's what my biopsy report said.
DIAGNOSIS:
1. Right breast, lumpectomy:
- Ductal carcinoma in situ, grade 2, small foci ranging from 0.1 to 0 .3 cm
But the surgeon said I had stage 0. I don't know the difference honestly. Because of my age, 67, I had a choice of no radiation or radiation including partial accelerated (only five days). I chose to have partial accelerated radiation to rest my mind. It honestly was a breeze, no problems or pain. A little darkness. I applied Aquaphor 3-4 times a day. A little tired but not what I thought it was going to be. I was so stressed out for nothing! Today was my last day of radiation!
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PS. Ask your radiologist your options and if you're a candidate for partial accelerated. I look at it as a reassuring boost although I had a choice not to have radiation because of my age and early breast cancer.
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@pinkrules congratulations on your last radiation session! I’m sure you feel so relieved.
When I asked about my options, they didn’t really seem to give me any. Other than to do it or don’t do it I will pursue this again one of the reasons they want to give me radiation is because of my age, I’m 45 if I was older, they said they wouldn’t offer it to me. I also had a micro metastasis in one lymph node. This is where the gray zone lies. So though I might have some benefit from radiation, it’s uncertain to say how much.
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Thank you so much for the congratulations, Simpop! Tomorrow I see an oncologist in the same breast cancer facility to discuss hormonal treatment. Wow, it unfortunate you are in a situation that doesn't go into detail or even seem to know about your radiation options. I'm so sorry, we don't need more worries. Where I went, one of Summit Health's centers, they have all new up to date radiation equipment. My radiologist said when she was an intern, partial breast acceleration wasn't even being performed yet. A lot has changed, thankfully. Please keep the forum updated! Ask right out about this treatment. If not satisfied, and if possible, go elsewhere? The radiation while I was on the table was only five minutes long! I was in and out. Setting up my position on the table did take a few minutes too.
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I know it’s been a year since this thread was active, but here goes. Anyone recently gone through accelerated ? I’m 66 and going to do the 5 day whole breast accelerated program. I was glad to read how easy it was for you @pinkrules . And only 5 minutes ! Was it only one dose a day? Or multiple ? Hope you are still doing well, Rhonda
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I just finished my accelerated radiotherapy. Invasive breast cancer, stage 1c, grade 2, 11 mm. Partial mastectomy with balancing reduction and lift at the end of July. Finished 5 treatments 5 days ago. To be quite honest I thought I would sail through it as it was “only” 5. Everyone talks about the skin issues, but for me I had breast pain from the get go and intermittent fatigue. The pain bothers me because I am already having issues with hypertrophic scarring under my breasts from the surgery. That being said I have read enough to understand that everyone reacts differently and there appears to be no way to know how you will react. Just don’t think that only 5 means less risk of reaction. Best of luck. P.s. the treatment itself is really not an issue, no pain or anything during. The first was the worst because of the fear of the unknown.
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thanks @ismacurler for your post. Sorry to read about your breast pain. I hope you can find relief for that, and it does not last too long. Perhaps your medical team has stretches or meds or creams to help? I agree, the fear of the unknown is always worse, it’s the uncertainty of it all. Can weigh on the mind, good to notice it when it pops up and as much as possible and let go. I visited the radiation dept today for my mapping CT scan, and the radiation therapist was very helpful answering my questions. Rhonda
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Hi! It's been over a year since my radiation and I'm doing very well. Recently had a breast MRI, no cancer detected. I had one dose per day for five days. I think that's what you meant? Three days the first week, two days the second. I chose partial radiation instead of whole breast out of fear but because it was so easy, I wished I had chosen whole breast radiation. I wish you the best of luck! Ringing the bell after the last radiation and getting a certificate was a great moment!
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True, only five days for me meant only five days of treatment compared to 15 days. I just couldn't go through traveling five days a week for three weeks. So I chose acceleration radiation, which is a stronger radiation treatment.
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@pinkrules thanks for the update. Wonderful that you are cancer free. I’m glad they offered me the option of accelerated over 5 days. I work full time and fixing my schedule for a week I can manage lol… 3 or 5 weeks would be crazy ! Take care - Rhonda
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@pinkrules Thank you so much for the update. I'm on the verge of agreeing to accelerated over probably 5 days. I'm 84 so long term recurrence is less important than if I were younger. My osteoporosis (-3.5 spine) is also a consideration in terms of quality of life, making hormone therapy a negative in my mind. But I'm thinking reducing possible recurrence in the same breast over next few years might give me some peace of mind.
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My radiologist explained this to me like this. She said whatever you choose. It's still the same TOTAL dose. She said it's a choice of 5, 16 or 25 treatments. She recommended 16 treatments for me. And honestly I also would choose that.
The place I am going is less than 5 minutes drive for me. And I don't work currently so I don't see the point of accelerating my dose.
It will always be about what us, patients like/choose anyway. Personally I would rather not have radiation but unfortunately I was not a candidate. Supposedly I am not that old I guess at 52.
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I ended up going with 15 treatments not the 5. I needed a bolus to encourage the skin to be responsive, and the RO decided it would be kinder to my skin to spread it out over three weeks. I finished 3 weeks ago, and it worked well. The skin seems to be healing and the sunburn effect starting to lessen. All in all, it was fine.
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