FAST-Forward (Radiotherapy) trial-pros and cons?

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I’m starting Radiotherapy soon and I’ve been offered a chance to take part in the FAST Forward trials.  I know lots of  forum users have also been offered this choice; I think this is the third year it’s been running.

 

If I joined up for it I would be randomly assigned to one of three groups- control (15 sessions as currently planned) and two test groups involving only 5 sessions of differently calibrated radiation.  There will be questionnaires to compliment the study and followups at frequent intervals for 10 years after, whatever group I am allocated to.  The risks are- 1 in 20 risk of worse side effects and 1 in 100 may have a recurrence of cancer in the breast.

 

The advantages are that I will be have at the most one week and a half of rads, and that I will have more detailed followup than not being in the study.  And, not only am I helping to achieve a good size study, but also, the study may help people with cancer have better outcomes for fewer visits to hospital.  When I think how the self-sacrifice of 100,000 plus women led to the use of chemotherapy as a weapon against this disease it makes me want to give something back, especially when I am not fit enough to do a sponsored event!

 

What do people who have taken part in the study think?

 

 

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I’ve been offered this too and am undecided although the thought of closer monitoring is appealing! I’d like to hear anyone’s thoughts who has done this

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Spoke to my CS about the trial.  He says rate of local recurrence is 2-3% (that would be overall and not including the trial) and if it were him or his wife he would opt for the trial despite the extra 1% risk. 

 

I’ve decided to put my name forward and even though my radiotherapy planning appointment has been postponed because of fluid in the affected side, I will hear on Tuesday which “arm” I am on.