I had an appointment with the radiation doctor this past week. Radiation is something you must do to prevent a local recurrence if you have a lumpectomy, like I did. I was really puzzled why my surgeon wanted me to see the radiation specialist because that usually comes AFTER chemotherapy. Turns out, they want to enroll me in a clinical trial of partial breast radiation versus whole breast radiation. They are doing research to see if radiating the lumpectomy site alone is as effective as radiating the whole breast.
Conventional whole breast radiation requires you to be treated once a day, five days a week, for 5-7 weeks. The partial breast radiation is different. You receive radiation treatment twice a day for 5 days and then you are done. They also do it BEFORE chemo. Now I finally understand why I was sent to see the radiation doctor so soon!
The short time frame of the partial breast radiation is appealing... but they only have five years of data to show that it is a viable option. While I would like to help out in the name of research - I just don't think this trial is for me. If I lived far away from a treatment center that made daily treatments problematic, then maybe I'd be willing to give it a go. But the treatment center is less than 2 miles from my office and maybe 10 miles from my house. Going there every day for 5 weeks won't be a problem. I think I'll stick with the conventional treatment and choose whole breast radiation. That will come after chemo.
Speaking of chemo... I may start sooner rather than later. Because of holidays and other commitments, I may start on Thursday, May 15. That's next Thursday! I had said I wanted one more week of healing, but the calendar is pushing me. I am *sleeping* on the idea this weekend and will decide by Monday morning if that's what I want to do.
Another reason to start is that the waiting is making me anxious. Sometimes my imagination is my worst enemy! Left to ponder, I can make things much worse in my mind than they are in reality! Every time I really think about the chemo I start to feel nauseated and develop a mild headache. I think I just need to get started before I work myself into a frenzy!!
I'll post my decision on Monday.
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4 comments:
Boy oh boy, I love the "Let's get it started in here, let's get it started in ha.." attitude. I would just want to get on with it, oh yeah, just get going.. So get your nails done, and eat lots of Nilla wafer banana pudding, and get some tie dye head scarfs, and Go!!! Then you'll be done! Mimi
PS. And if you get nauseated, just remember those donuts! If you could hold a pitcher through those, then you know how to get the best of nausea!
Sherri Jo,
I tried to post on your last entry, but it did not go through for some reason. I pray that the chemo will be uneventful and successful--maybe the fact that you are having 2 different types of meds will increase your chance of having at least 3 tolerable treatments. Everyone is different--some folks don't get very sick. It's ok to be scared, but think about all of the things that you have been scared about that turned out to be not so bad after all. It is much better to get it over and done with than to worry about it. You'll do fine! I thought you weren't going to have radiation? Maybe I read that wrong? There are so many people thinking about and praying for you...don't worry about the what if's. If you guys need a meal, or anything else, let us know!! Love, Cathy
Sure sounds like good logic to me, on both the chemo and radiation questions. Clinical trials can be wonderful ways to contribute, but not if you feel the risks are greater than the potential benefits. Isn't it amazing how "knowing the data" takes on new meaning! You've made great decisions so far; so onward!
Better get those nails done quickly! Nail loss is one of my expected side effects!
Cathy - You have a good point. Nothing has been as bad as I thought it would be.
Jean, for me, the decision making is worse than any of the treatments! Maybe, just maybe, this whole cancer thing will help me to gain some strength in that department.
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