hi everyone, hope you are all o.k.,
i had a lumpectomy, chemo and rads 10 years ago left side
i have now had mx chemo 4 of 6 regime tax. right side.
will i be able to have rads on the right side being as i had them before even though it was on the opposite side of my chest.
my onc said to me i would have them once chemo finished, but i have read on here somewhere that you cant have them in the same area twice, or does that mean the exact same area.
sounds a bit confusing, or is that just the tax,messin with my head again… any information would be gratefully received love liz xxxxx
I had a discussion about my rads yesterday and just remember them talking about permanent tattoos so that they know exactly which area has been done. My assumption is that that means they could do any other area except exactly that bit (and the reason for that was to do with some muscle or area around the collar bone which is sensitive and which might cause restriction to movement of the arm. They didn’t mention any problems with having rads to the other side. I would guess from what they were saying that there is no problem with that. Your BCN could probably tell you? x
HI Elizabeth, yeh I hope your BCN can help - I do know they are now using much more targetted rads than 10 years ago and shielding more of the body that doesn’t need to get the rads so perhaps this will have an influence on the Onc decision re what rads you can have and to where…learnt all this from a nieghbour who is 13 and had rads when she was 18 months and now needs more!
bw Nicola
hi i think i will be getting radded again, because its the opposite side of the chest this time, i was just wondering whether it travelled across or whether it only goes where its targetted, i got tatoos the last time its just to make it easier when lining up the machine saves time they are only like little dots, oh well something else to look forward too the nearest hospital that does rads is miles away, a day out every day for a month lol all the very best love liz xxx
Liz - my understanding is that the radiologist would have kept very detailed records of your original treatment, and as part of the planning process would know exactly what areas have been exposed and to how much radiation. Will you be seeing your radiologist soon? Every MDT has a radiologist, so they should be able to explain it all to you. If you don’t have an appointment to see them, I think I would ask for one, as your case is a little more complex than usual.
finty x
hi finty, i am currently 4 of 6 tax 5th next thursday (dreading it) so i wont be starting my rads until round about june time i think, i will ask all about it then, it was just me overthinking about things and i had visions of them saying i couldnt have them again because it was the chest area, i think they targetted the left side only, and this time its the right thanks all the best liz xxxxx
I had rads for a DCIS in my right breast 2 years ago, and I will be having rads for IDC in my left breast in a couple of months. The treatment is very focussed.
hi
over the last 2 years I have had rads 3 times to different areas,ten before chemo and 31 since.They knew about my first when I told them about it as I changed hospitals,but told me they would have picked up the permenant tatoos in any case.My understanding from my onc is that they cannot repeat rads to the exact same area.The rads were not entirely successful in reducing the mass in my axilla despite having the maximum allowed,so now hoping for femera to do it,s job.
Hope everything goes well for you.
You can definitely have rads on both sides as its very focused. So the treatment you had on the left side would not affect the right side.
Good Luck
Dot
xxx