Hi All
My friend has breast cancer and is currently halfway through her RT treatment. She’s to have 3 weeks but has been offered an additional weeks worth. She told the doctors that she didn’t want to have unneccesary treatment and they basically said ok that’s fine if you don’t want it. She’s 33 and the cancer is genetic. She’s now wondering whether she should have it as she doesn’t really understand the benefits of additional treatment. If there were big benefits to have extra RT then surely her doctors would have encouraged her to have it but they didn’t seem to mind that she said no - so why bother offering it her in the first place if it won’t make any difference?
Has anyone had any experience of this? Or does anyone know what sort of percentage benefit is involved with additional treatment. She’s trying to weigh up whether it’s worth having or not. I offered to do some online research for her and this seemed like a good place to start.
Thanks
liz
it does not sound as if they have given her much information to make her decision on does it. I am having 3 weeks radiation and then an extra week of boosters, a different ray that just realy blasts the site of the tumor, I was not given any option.
I think the move is now to patient choice. Perhaps they are not supposed to try and persuade you nowadays and that is why they were so blase about it.
i am realy not one who believes in overkill, but given its only one extra week I would probably opt for that even if the percentage improvement in results were small. You’ve got the cream, had the mapping, got used to the routine etc. Ok its another week of treatment, but if there is a recurrence later that is going to be more than one week of disruption.
why dont you get your friend to ring the help line, they are very good at explaining treatment options
I hope someone comes along that have had simular experience as I too have never heard of this they usually know from the beginning of the planning what you will be needing, to suddenly offer her extra’s half way through her treatment don’t make sence to me, I think I would be asking some BIG questions if this had happened to me … I personally wouldn’t turn it down until I knew what the reasons for this were … Have they made a mistake at the original planning ? Is this what her oncologist is surgesting … I would seriously be wanting a GOOD chat with my Onc about this she should be seeing him atleast once a week during her treatment prehaps she should get this cleared up … I cant see that Extra rads would be offered out just in the likelihood that a patient might want some extra’s this is a very complex cancer treatment not left over puddings on the dinner ladies tray !
please keep us posted
Mekala x
A common thing to be offered is 3 (or 4 or 5) weeks of radiotherapy to the entire breast, with a week or so’s worth of “boosters” specifically to the site of the tumour at the end of the first course. I suspect that might be what the extra week is, but your friend should have a word with her breast care nurse and ask for the whole thing to be explained so that she understands what’s being offered.
leftover pudding on the dinner ladies tray–love the analogy.
since posting i did have another thought. the booster is a different machine, perhaps that machine has only just become available at your friends hospital, or perhaps they have just got a second one and can offer it to a wider range of patients
it is a bit odd,definately worth more investigation
lets hope your friend gets a good explaination I just had difficulty getting my head round this one as treatment is known before they do your planning ? the onc knows how much treatment is needed before you even go there … strange one this for sure
do keep us posted
Mekala
Thanks for all your comments. I think she’s planning on having a big chat with her Oncologist (who offered it her in the first place) about it all as it seems quite odd. She’s currently having treatment to the tumour area as well to other specific areas such as up by her collar bone. So maybe she’s already getting her ‘boosters’ included in this 3 weeks. It might also have something to do with the fact that she has found a couple of new lumps as well (only told me on Friday) so perhaps they think an extra week will help with that. They might just be the remaining lymph nodes playing up though I suppose. Won’t know until the RT is finished.