Hello most posts and the breast cancer care book say 3 weeks of radiotherapy but at my oncology appointment today I was told I would need 5 weeks of 5 days excluding weekends. I decided against chemotherapy as only 0.8% increase on a recurrence. Any answers appreciated. Sarah
Hi Sarah. Had my radiotherapy in November last year and it would have been 15 sessions plus 8 boosters (23 in total ie 4 weeks and 3 days) but I was offered a trial which gave me the 8 boosters along with the 15 ‘full breast’ sessions. From talking to others at the time, I would think 4-5 weeks is quite normal. Good luck with your treatment - hopefully you’ll have minimum side effects, Julie
Hi Blossom
I’m just finishing my 5 x 5 weeks sessions (without a boost). 25 sessions was the norm until recently when research such as the START trials showed that higher daily doses over a shorter period worked as well at preventing recurrence over 5 and 10 years. I specifically asked for the old style 25 sessions because the shorter regimes haven’t been used for as long so the long term results aren’t as well tested (and that is what my brother-in-law, who is some sort of radiotherapy bod, advised me to do). Of course it might very well turn out that the shorter regime is even more effective than the long one in the longer term, but no one knows yet.
Might be worth asking your Radiation Oncologist why s/he recommended that dosage for you as I’ve found the Radiotherapy staff to be really helpful at answering questions.
xx
Sharon